Trip Reports

June 22 Team – Rest Day Remembrances

Well, this was kind of cool! Each team member of our June 22 West Buttress expedition took some time to share his or her favorite experiences thus far from their climb. It was really nice to hear each climber’s voice and the warmth and comradeship in their voices was pretty incredible. Today the team took…

June 15 Ski Team Final Dispatch

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…

June 22 Team Caches at 16,800′

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…

June 20 Team Moves to High Camp!

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…

June 22 Team Rest Day at Camp 3

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…

June 20 Team Rest and Skills Day

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…

June 22 Team Moves to Camp 3

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…