The May 17th Team flew safely into the SE fork of the Kahiltna glacier on a 25-minute flight through some of the most stunning mountain terrain in North America. Following their landing, the crew unloaded the hundreds of pounds of gear, fuel, and food that will keep them going on their climb from 7,200 ft (2195 m) towards the summit of Denali at 20,300 ft (6187 m)! Lead guide, Karl Welter, reports that the weather on arrival was beautiful with mild temps and sun filtering through the clouds above the jagged, snowy peaks that surround the Denali basecamp.
The adventure begins here! The team is already applying the skills they practiced during “ground school” in Talkeetna. This involves getting to know the sleds, snowshoes, and 75+ liter packs that they will be climbing with for the next few weeks. After a hearty dinner, the team went to bed early to rest up for tomorrow’s alpine start towards Camp 1 at 7,800 ft (2377 m). Anticipation is high for a fun trip ahead!
