Trip Reports

May 12 Team calls from Camp 2

Our guide Gary Falk called in a report from the stunning basin at 11,200′ at the base of the West Buttress proper.  His team moved up to their Camp 2 in windy conditions, but it was fairly warm, so they were able to press on.  This camp is really beautiful, and looks out over the…

May 16 Team Is On The Glacier!

The crew awoke early this morning and were picked up by the guide team, along with their chauffeur for the day, Todd Rutledge.  We drove north to the interesting town of Wasilla, Alaska for coffee and sandwiches, before continuing north to Talkeetna.  Caroline was slightly disappointed as we drove north, because she had set her…

May 16 West Buttress Team – Meet the Team!

Denali.  “The Great One.”  Mount McKinley. By any name, the behemoth that dominates south central Alaska is something to behold in awe and to treat with the utmost respect.  For climbers, the mountain presents what many might consider the challenge of a lifetime, as they pit themselves against brutal winds, arctic temperatures and the thin…

May 8 Team – Camped at 14,200′!

Cyrille called in a nice post in French from the large basin camp at 14,200 feet.  The team moved up today and had some excitement, when one of the members, Ryan, found himself suddenly chest-deep in a crevasse at about 13,700 feet!  The glacier was quite wind-swept and the trail crosses a number of well-known…

May 8 Team – At 11,200′ Camp

It has been a few days since we heard from the team.  They have had a bit of challenge with communicating, due to the terrain in which they are camped.  They are at the beautiful basin camp located at 11,200 feet, that is bordered on three sides by steep walls, with one open side facing…