Trip Reports
The May 24 Denali West Buttress team called in an update from Camp Three at 14,200′, back in camp after a day of skills practice. The team spent the majority of the day practicing ascending the fixed ropes and running belays, and practicing essential ice axe and crampon techniques, like self-arrest and different methods of…
Guide Nicole Lawton called in an update on for her and Leah at High Camp, after returning back down yesterday at around 18,000′. They made an attempt on the summit yesterday but were unfortunately turned around due to severe weather moving in on the upper mountain. The team set out for the summit from High…
Mountain Trip guide Aaron Diamond called in an update for the May 17 team, who made an attempt on the summit yesterday but were unfortunately turned around due to severe weather moving in on the upper mountain. The team set out for the summit from High Camp at around 9 am, after the sun warmed…
Climber Julia Zhou called in an update from the June 4 West Buttress team, who made their way up the lower Kahiltna to Camp One! While the move does not have a lot of vertical rise, the journey from Base Camp to Camp One weaves through large crevasse fields. The team also carried the heaviest…
Climber Hilary Kunz called in an update on the May 24 Denali West Buttress expedition, who reached Camp Three at 14,200′. The team will spend a few days at Camp Three, a crucial acclimatization stop along the route. Next order of business for the team will be shuttling gear up from their previous cache at…
Guide Nicole Lawton called in an update for the May 19 Team, after their sixth day at High Camp at 17,200′ on the West Buttress. Nicole and Leah hope to make their summit push today, June 5, if the winds have abated. We will update you on whether or not they decided to make a…
Climber Bec (Rebecca Heah) called in an update on the May 21 West Buttress Team, holding strong at High Camp on the route at 17,200′. The conditions have been challenging on the upper mountain, with high winds keeping teams in camp and preventing summit attempts. The team spent yesterday exploring around camp and resting up.…
Once again, the winds have unfortunately prevented teams from going to the summit. The May 20 Denali West Buttress team called in an update from High Camp at 17,200′. They hope to make their summit push TODAY, June 5. We will update you on whether or not they decided to make a go for it.…
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…
Welcome to Alaska, June 3 Team! This will be our 46th consecutive season guiding on Denali, and we’re honored to welcome the June 3 team and all of the other climbers that have trusted us to help them test their fortitude on the highest mountain in North America. The June 3 Denali West Buttress team…