Trip Reports
This is our last dispatch for the June 15 West Buttress Denali Ski team. The team has arrived back in civilization and everyone is doing well. They accomplished a pretty impressive ski descent, first from the summit at 20,310′ (6190m) to High Camp at 17,200′ (5242m). Then they descended through the Rescue Gully down to…
The Brazil crew took some time to work on technical skills that they will need to be proficient at as they move higher up the mountain. One of these skills is using an ascender. An ascender is a progress capture device. An ascender is used on a fixed line. In this scenario, the fixed line is…
Listening to this recording really warmed my heart. It is so nice to hear the wild rounds of laughter coming from a team cook tent. Everyone here is sitting on snow benches, probably wearing their down booties and down jackets. Not what your typically comfortable dinner looks like, but it is easy to tell the…
It’s not an easy day, moving from 14,200′ (4328m) to 17,200′ (5242m). But it sounds like our crew here did an excellent job and found themselves some nice conditions and low traffic. Yesterday the team left camp and first climbed up a somewhat steep slope known fondly as the Bunny Hill. After about 1,000′ of…
After bringing all of their supplies up to Camp 3 (14,200′ 4328m) from Windy Corner (13,200′ 4023m) the day before yesterday, the team took the opportunity to catch up on some well deserved R&R. This included a little field trip from camp to the Edge of the World, where Genet Basin drops an unbelievable 6,000′…
The crew was able to enjoy a nice day with good weather at Camp 3 (14,200′ 4328m). Kaylee reports they did a little team building activity known as “yoga”. While we are unfamiliar with this term in the context of expedition mountaineering, we have been informed it involves some fancy stretches meant to limber up…
The team was able to take some time yesterday to hike up towards the Fixed Lines and use the slope there to practice some of their technical skills. At this point, moving up the mountain requires proficiency in the use of ascender as well as running protection. Running protection is the use of snow pickets…
Our crew has made it into Camp 3 at 14,200′ (4328m). Tackling first Motorcycle Hill, followed by Squirrel Hill and Windy Corner, they found themselves in Genet Basin where Camp 3 lies. The backdrop of the basin is dramatic and inspiring. Behind camp, the Headwall rises up to meet the ridge at 16,200′ (4937m). The ridge climbs…
Our rockstar ski team made it back to High Camp after a 10 hour day yesterday. Jon says he skied the best powder ever! Wow! That is the benefit of a mid June ski trip, usually later in the season is when you find better ski conditions on Denali. Sounds like they had perfect weather…
Our crew here enjoyed a well deserved rest day at 14,200′ (4328m). They took a little trip to the Edge of the World. A gorgeous and dramatic viewpoint, where Genet Basin drops an astonishing 6,000′ (1828m) (although Jason said 3,000′ on his call, we believe it is at least 6,000′) to the Southeast Fork of…