Lead Guide Adam Smith called in from the Southeast Fork of the Kahiltna Glacier.  The team flew onto the glacier today after a brief weather delay in Talkeetna.  Arriving at 7,200′, they spent the afternoon sorting their kit into individual loads and rigging the sleds that will help them haul all that gear.

They plan to spend tomorrow reviewing skills ta Base Camp.  This  will help make sure that all team members are familiar with the nuances of glacier travel and are familiar with the basics of crevasse rescue, etc.  They will get to bed early and awaken at midnight to prepare to head upwards.

Strange but true – initially, the team will descend about 600′ down the Southeast Fork to the point where it joins the main body of the Kahiltna Glacier.  The Kahiltna is huge — stretching around 40 miles as it travels slowly from north to south.  The team will turn right when they join it, heading north and climbing about 1200′ over the course of close to four miles until they arrive at a spot where the glacier is quite compact and devoid of large crevasses.  This will be their Camp 1, at about 7,800′.

Here’s Adam!