Trip Reports
Frank Fumich called in from 11,200′ to update us all on the May 6th Denali team. Today, they did a “backcarry” downhill to the site of their previous cache. This entailed a 20-30 minute stroll downhill and then they dug up the supplies they buried under the snow a couple days ago. Loading up their…
The team arrived at Base Camp! Lead guide Yoshiko reports that it was a smooth flight to Base Camp, and the team is enjoying a hot meal and a beautiful, calm evening. The plan is to eat, relax, then head up the Kahiltna glacier tomorrow to Camp 1 at 7800′. Here’s Yoshiko: recording
Welcome to Alaska, Eric and Kevin! This will be our 46th consecutive season guiding on Denali, and we’re honored to welcome the May 13 Private West Buttress team and all of the other climbers that have trusted us to help them test their fortitude on the highest mountain in North America. At 20,310 feet (6190…
Welcome to Alaska, May 13 Denali Team! This will be our 46th consecutive season guiding on Denali, and we’re honored to welcome the May 13 team and all of the other climbers that have trusted us to help them test their fortitude on the highest mountain in North America. At 20,310 feet (6190 m), Denali…
After caching yesterday, the team made the move up to 11,200′, Camp 2, today. This is a 4.5 mile push up the glacier with 3400′ of elevation gain. It sounds like the move went well, and the team is settling in camp for a hot dinner. Roland has a special message in Dutch for…
Lead guide Jacob Schmitz called in the team report today. The team moved a load of equipment and supplies to a cache site at 13,200′. Jacob reports the team is doing well, and the plan is to move to 14 Camp tomorrow. And we also have a special message from the team: recording
Mountain Trip Guide Jed Porter called in with an update from Camp 1, located at 7800′ (2377m) on the broad Kahiltna Glacier. Today, the team packed up roughly half of their supplies and carried it all up to an elevation of about 10,000′ (3109m), where they dug a big hole in the snow and buried…
Mountain trip Guide Mason Stansfield called in, but his satellite phone dropped the call after he mentioned “good chocolate.” Strange… Well, satellite phones at high latitudes work best when they have a clear view toward the equator and from the beautiful basin in which the team is camped, the view south is blocked by towering…
The May 3rd Team checks in from Camp 2, where they stayed put today, due to weather. This camp is nestled deep in a stunning bowl, with tall ice cliffs to the south, and steep snow and ice ringing the east and northern aspects of camp. A challenge with satellite phones at such far…
Goulven Couzon lest a message in French that (I believe, and please correct me if I’m wrong in the comments) John Molloy then translated for us (j’ai oubliez mon français…). The team has moved up the Kahiltna Glacier approximately five miles (8km) and established camp at the junction of the Kahiltna and the Northeast Fork…