Mountain Trip would like to welcome and introduce our next group of adventurers who will be headed out to Denali Base Camp today to make an attempt on the classic West Buttress route.

As always, Mountain Trip appreciates the trust and support of our climbers to help them realize their big mountain dreams on the highest peak in North America. Denali, which soars to an elevation of 20,310 feet, a full 18,000′ above the Alaskan tundra.

Let’s meet the climbers on the June 15th team!

Wolfgang and Franzi Pfaeffel, husband and wife, are joining us from Austria.
Stephen Smith, from Pennsylvania, USA.
Katsuya Fukunaga, who has traveled from Tokyo, Japan.
Fan Zhou, joining us from New Hampshire, USA.
Briana Faulstitch, from California, USA

Our Mountain Trip guide team consists of:

Lead Guide: Sean McManamy, from Girdwood, AK, USA.
Nick Aiello, from New Hampshire, USA.
Kate Fitzgerald from Alaska, USA.
The team was treated to an orientation by Climbing Rangers from the National Park Service earlier today. Right now, they are likely loading all their food and gear onto planes for the flight to the Southeast Fork of the Kahiltna Glacier, courtesy of our friends at Talkeetna Air Taxi. Weather permitting, they will fly out to Denali Base Camp later today.

The team also had a briefing in Anchorage, where the guides checked everyone’s gear, helped each climber select and pack lunch snacks for the planned 22-day expedition, and acquire any last-minute gear or personal items before heading north to the small town of Talkeetna.

The guides and climbers will try their best to call in updates each night, but often, work and/or conditions could easily prevent them from connecting via satellite phone. Enjoy the posts as they arrive, and don’t worry if they miss a day or two.

Mountain Trip wishes all the climbers the best of luck on their endeavor to the highest point in North America, the formidable summit of Denali.