Climber Celine called in with the dispatch for the May 21 Team to report that they have made it to Camp 4 17,200 ft (5242 m). This is the highest climber camp on the West Buttress route and the last stop before the highest point in North America, the summit of Denali 20,300 ft (m). Getting here is a huge accomplishment in itself! Congratulations to this entire team.

To arrive here the team moved from Camp 3 14,200 ft (4328 m) up the fixed lines on the headwall, unburied their cache on the 16,000 ft (4877 m) ridge, and then hauled all of their gear another 1,200 ft m. This can certainly be one of the most strenuous but rewarding days of the trip! Funny how those circumstances often go together. Upon arrival, the team dug in an exceptionally well-constructed camp complete with snow walls to protect tents from the high winds that have been hitting the mountain as of late.

Next up the team will rest and ensure that all team members are acclimatized well before assessing a summit bid for the team. We are hopeful the team will get the opportunity to give the last 3,000 ft of the route a go! Stay tuned and tap below to hear Celine’s full update.

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