The June 15 West Buttress team is officially on the mountain! After flying into basecamp yesterday, the crew took time to settle in, rest up, and enjoy the surreal surroundings of the Kahiltna Glacier.

This morning kicked off with lox and bagels — a true backcountry luxury — before the team made their way across the lower glacier in excellent midday weather. Spirits are high, bellies are full, and the pace is steady.

The plan tonight is a late-night cache run to Kahiltna Pass, taking advantage of colder evening temps. Moving during the cooler hours helps the team avoid postholing in the soft afternoon snow and keeps glacier travel safer and smoother.

Between climbs, the food game has been strong:

🥯 Lox + bagels for breakfast

🍕 Pizza + miso soup for lunch — a Denali climber favorite

Expect more delicious dispatches (and big vertical gain) in the coming days as the team moves toward Camp 1.

Stay tuned for climbing updates — and, of course, more food highlights from the glacier. 🏔🍲

Tap the recording link below to hear from the team themselves:

recording