Please help us welcome our 18th Denali team of the season: the June 15th West Buttress Denali Expedition!

The June 15th Team, with Denali way back there in the background!

The June 15th Expedition consists of:

• Climber Matt Calkins
• Climber Chris Burt
• Climber Grace Lee
• Climber Victor Carcamo

Led by their amazing guides:

• Lead Guide Matt Park
• Assistant Guide Boaz Cesaretti

The June 15th Team is a unique expedition for Mountain Trip, and that is because this team is following an expedited climbing itinerary that we’re calling our “Quick Ascent Trip”. These climbers did some specialized training and have the requisite experience to move up the mountain a bit quicker than average and we’re excited to report that they have already made it to 9800′ on the route! 

Denali, in all her glory.

We are excited to follow along as the team begins their journey to ascend the snow and ice-covered slopes of Denali in a quest to stand atop the highest summit in North America at 20,310 feet (6,190 meters). Denali, which is Athabaskan for “The Great One”, rises a full 18,000 feet (5,486 meters) above its surrounding landscape; that’s 5,000 feet more than the elevation relief of Mt. Everest!

Our team will climb Denali via the classic West Buttress Route which will ascend over 13,000 feet from Basecamp on the Southeast Fork of the Kahiltna Glacier to the sky-scraping 20,310 foot (6,190 meter) summit. The West Buttress will lead the team through heavily glaciated terrain from Basecamp on the Kahiltna Glacier at 7,200′, to Camp One at 7,800′, Camp Two at 11,200′, Camp Three at 14,200′, High Camp at 17,200′, to (conditions permitting) the 20,310′ summit.

To get a better understanding of the route, check out our interactive map on SummitDenali.com.

Throughout the team’s expedition, please keep in mind the adage of “no news is good news” in terms of the updates from the field. There are some days when certain circumstances, like poor satellite phone reception (this happens frequently at Camp 2 at 11,200′, as it is situated in a high-alpine basin with massive peaks on all sides), fatigue from a particularly long day, or no change in their situation due to weather, will prevent teams from calling in an update.

Friends and family are encouraged to leave comments for their loved ones on this expedition, but keep in mind that they will not be able to see posts or comments until they return to Talkeetna after the end of their expedition.

Also, don’t forget that you can subscribe to this expedition’s Field Reports by entering your email address in the form to the right. That way, you never miss an update!

Interested in more information about conditions and happenings on Denali? Be sure to also check out the Denali National Park’s Denali Dispatches Blog where they post weekly Field Reports.

WE WISH THE BEST OF LUCK TO OUR JUNE 15TH TEAM!

PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR MORE UPDATES ABOUT THEIR PROGRESS ON THE MOUNTAIN.