This morning a group of climbers from around the world will meet in Anchorage, Alaska to finalize their preparations for an attempt on the classic West Buttress Route of Denali.  The team has been preparing for months, training and acquiring the highly specialized clothing and gear that their ascent requires.  Today, they will meet three guides from Mountain Trip to finish their preparations, pack up their packs for one last time and get ready to fly to the glacier tomorrow.

Today’s agenda includes a morning team meeting and a thorough equipment check.  If anyone is missing something, we’ll take the team around to the very good climbing shops in Anchorage to make any last-minute purchases.  After shopping, the team will enjoy a lunch at one of our favorite restaurants before heading back to their bed and breakfast rest for the evening.  Tomorrow, we’ll pick the team up early in the morning and make the 2-hour drive up to the small town of Talkeetna, where they will finish their registration with the National Park Service and attend an orientation that the NPS provides to all Denali climbers.  If the weather permits, they will load up in ski-equipped fixed wing planes and fly to the glacier!

Let’s meet the team!

Climbers:

Karin Schoeman from the UK

Matthew Foote from Australia

Markus C. Thielen from Hong Kong

Tessa Walker-Linderman from Washington, USA

Rosemary Gardner from South Africa

Sanet Venter from South Africa

Roman Mocik from Germany

Francisco Arredondo from Guatemala

Guides:

Adam Smith from Alaska

Karen Bockel from Colorado

Nick Aiello from Massachusetts