Mountain Trip guide Adam Smith called in with an update on the May 19 West Buttress Expedition on Denali. After a long, tough day gaining 3,000′-plus elevation through the snow while pulling sleds and carrying heavy packs loaded with gear and food. The team will likely leave their sleds behind at 14-Camp, because the route is too steep up to High Camp to continue on with them.

The team walked out to a popular viewpoint outside of camp often called the “End of the World”, which overlooks a spectacular 7,000′ rugged drop down to the Kahiltna Glacier.

Yesterday the team practiced with their crampons and ice axes, running belays and ascending steep terrain. Today (6/2) they will spend their day carrying a cache tomorrow up to around 16,000′ and putting some of the skills they practiced yesterday to the test.

Here’s Adam with the update: