May 16 team: Alan
recording This one got cut short, but the team still sounds like they are in great spirits!
Trip Reports
West Rib team cached at 9,300′ (more or less)
Assistant guide Nick Aiello called from camp 1 to report the team had made a successful carry of gear and food to a safe camp at 9,300′. The northeast fork of the Kahiltna can offer devious crevasse fields and difficult routefinding, but our team moved efficiently up and back again, reporting only a few crevasses…
MEET THE MAY 22ND TEAM!
The days are growing longer in Alaska, which can mean only one thing… It is Denali Season!!! Yesterday a group of climbers from around the world met in Anchorage to begin an incredible journey. Each climber spent months preparing and training for climbing Denali, the “great one.” The climbers began the day by having a…
UAE TEAM #2 HEADED TO THE GLACIER!
The second UAE group meet in Anchorage yesterday. They had a team meeting, picked up last minute supplies, and in general, rest and relaxed. Today the team is headed to Talkeetna to check in with the NPS and our air services provider. If the weather cooperates, the team will fly to the glacier this afternoon.
May 12 Team at Camp 3
The team carried the remainder of their food and fuel up to Camp 3 from their cache site down near Windy Corner today. The next move is to cache food and fuel for the eventual move to high camp, so they’ll see what the weather brings for tomorrow. The 14,200 ft Camp 3 is a…
May 8: attempt to move to high camp
Word was passed through the Mountain Trip grapevine on the West Buttress: the May 8 team attempted to move to high camp today but ultimately made the decision to return to 14 camp. They are settling back into camp and all is well. Any time a team moves up to a higher elevation is a…
UAE #1: weather hold at camp 1
The team decided not to press their luck by pushing into snow and windy conditions, instead they took advantage of some bad weather to work on mountaineering skills and prepare the team for the rigors ahead. The plan is the same as always: poke their heads out of the tent, and go ahead up the…
May 12: backcarry at 14k
Word came through the Mountain Trip grapevine: the May 12 group traveled a short distance down the glacier to pick up their gear at 14 camp. Weather has been hitting the entire mountain today, but at least at 14 camp the afternoon turned relatively balmy and the team took advantage of the day to acclimatize…
West Rib team at Camp 1
Lead guide Con Severis reported a 4-hour move from basecamp to camp 1 today. The weather was not quite cooperating but the team persevered in excellent time despite heavy loads, a stiff headwind and blowing snow. If the weather cooperates they will move up the Northeast Fork of the Kahiltna glacier tomorrow to cache food…