Trip Reports

Final Dispatch from the May 13 Team

  Dear Friends and Family, It’s been a pleasure sharing the journey up and down the West Buttress of Denali along with the team consisting of fellow guides Logan, Kakiko, and the climbers Linda, Mike, Katsuya and Mark, all returning safely with all fingers and toes. Denali never gets easier and is always a challenge…

May 17 Team at a very blustery High Camp

Mountain Trip lead guide Aaron Diamond called in an update on the May 17 Denali West Buttress Team, waiting out more wind at High Camp. The team has a few days left on their expedition schedule before their turn-around date and they plan to continue to wait it out, in hopes of a better summit window,…

May 20 Team Holding at High Camp

Lead guide Kristin reports that the team is holding steady at High Camp, resting, eating and hydrating in preparation for the push to the summit. The team will be watching the weather closely for an opportunity to ascend. Until then, they are staying warm and well fed in camp. Here’s Kristin: recording

May 24 Team Caches at 13,700′

The May 24th team seized an opportunity with a break in the weather to move a load of equipment and supplies to a cache site at 13,700′. Guide Brett reports that the team moved well and everyone was feeling good with the change in altitude. Thankfully Windy Corner did not live up to it’s name,…

May 20 Team moves to High Camp!

Guide Matt Park called with the great news that the team moved from 14 Camp to High Camp (17,200′) today. It sounds like the conditions were cold and windy, but the team reached their goal and they were met by two other Mountain Trip teams hunkered down at High Camp. It’s a real morale booster…

May 21 Team Moves to High Camp!

It’s a Mountain Trip party up at High Camp! The May 21Team joined, moving from 14 Camp to High Camp today. Guide Nick Nason reports that the move went well and everyone was feeling good, but tired, upon arrival at High Camp. The team is hunkered down, resting and eating and hydrating in preparation for…

The Waiting Game: May 17 at High Camp

We’ve all heard the saying “Patience is a virtue”…..but it’s difficult when you are at 17,200′ at High Camp on Denali. The team is watching the weather carefully and standing by for the opportunity to ascend. The challenges of keeping mentally strong are just as real as the physical challenges of a climb, and we…