Lead guide Matt Park called in an update from High Camp at 17,200′.

Matt mentioned that the teams had a “super alpine day” on the 16-Ridge, battling wind and cold temperatures to reach Denali High Camp yesterday evening, one step closer to reaching the summit. From Camp Three, the team ascended the steep headwall above 14,000′, up the fixed lines, to meet the long ridge that leads to High Camp. This ridge, exposed on both sides, with impressive views out over the expanse of the Alaska Range, is some of the most engaging climbing of the entire West Buttress route. With its exposed nature, it is also prone to high winds and cold, which the team got a good taste of yesterday.They set to work immediately making camp, cutting blocks to abate the wind on their tents, and settling down to rest.

Both the May 10 and May 7 team will make their summit attempts either today (May 25) or tomorrow! Their summit day will take up to 12 hours or more, and the team is often too tired to call in an update. However, if they have good reception, they will try to call from the summit!

Here’s Matt with the update:

recording