Trip Reports
May 31 Traverse Team – A Long, Hard Day
The descent out to the north side of Denali is always much more arduous than descending the West Buttress, and this year, the conditions are more challenging than in recent memory. The team checked in early this morning while lead guide Chris Kerrick was in the process of lowering climbers down one of many very…
May 29 team- hello from 14k
[audio:http://mountaintripdenali2011.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/audio-post-2011-06-10-20-19-21.mp3|titles=Audio Post]May 29 team- carried up the fixed lines
We got a relay through another Mountain Trip group that the May 29 team made a carry up the fixed lines to 16,400′ to cache their last load of gear up high. This sets the stage for a move to high camp on a few days. Most teams take a rest day the day after…
Drew Ludwig calls in
He can’t remember what they had for dinner. Must have been an exhausting day. [audio:http://mountaintripdenali2011.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/audio-post-2011-06-10-06-39-30.mp3|titles=Audio Post]
May 31 Team- Jamaican Rottweiler? What..?
I’ll leave this audio posted, but am pretty much perplexed as to who it might be from. I could catch “The Jamaican Rottweiler” and “Kodachrome” and some jubilation at finally being free of the sled now that they are at 14,200′. OK Whartonite fan club- help me out with who this is! The first commenter…
May 31 team- at 14,200′
Mike Burmeister and his expedition moved successfully to camp 3, which is at 14,200′ on the West Buttress. Looking up out of camp, you can see almost to the summit of North America, Mt. Foraker, and Mt. Hunter, and dozens of other lower unnamed peaks. The TAT webcam (www.talkeetnaair.com/webcam) shows clear skies above a mid-level…
Checking in from Eldridge Glacier
[audio:http://mountaintripdenali2011.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/audio-post-2011-06-09-07-56-54.mp3|titles=Audio Post]Happy Birthday Kristen! from 14,200′ on Denali
[audio:http://mountaintripdenali2011.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/audio-post-2011-06-09-05-29-57.mp3|titles=Audio Post]Safely back in camp
Kerrick called to report a successful and safe descent from the summit of Denali. The entire team is in their sleeping bags waiting for the first round of hot drinks, I could hear the sounds of the stoves melting snow into water in the background. Congratulations team, have a good night’s rest.