Trip Reports
June 5 team reports “Perfect flying conditions and smooth landing on the Kahiltna. Following an afternoon of training we enjoyed our first team meal in the shadow of Mt.Hunter. Early to bed for an early start tomorrow. We will be on night patrol on the lower mountain to avoid the heat of the day. Everyone is in good spirits…
We would like to welcome the June 7 West Buttress team to Alaska! We’re so excited to be along for the ride and don’t take lightly that touching the pearly white slopes of Denali is a life goal for many after several months of training and years spent on mountains locally and around the world. The team…
Yesterday the team left camp at 14,200′ (4328m) and descended to their cache site at 13,200 (4023m). After digging up their supplies, they packed them up and climbed back up to Camp 3. The team took the rest of the day to practice some skills. The next step in the expedition will be to put…
Lead guide Ty called in last night from Camp 2 at 11,200′ (3413m). Yesterday the team packed up personal gear, tents, cookware, etc. and started their day by climbing 1,200′ (365m) up Ski Hill. After topping out on Ski Hill the team experienced rolling terrain as they approached their cache site at 10,200′ (3108m) from…
The May 26 team calls in from the summit!! Congratulations to all! This the seventh Mountain Trip team to stand on the summit this season. We are so proud! It takes a lot of strong effort and determination as well as good weather and good planning to make this day happen. We hope the team…
After a successful summit of Denali, the ski team dropped into the Rescue Gully (one of those couloirs we mentioned previously). The Rescue Gully is still a fairly steep descent and must be approached with caution. The team found ice, which is not uncommon, and was able to descend via ropes down a portion of…
David calls in from Camp 3. The team had a rest day yesterday after putting in a cache the day before on the 16 Ridge. The “16 Ridge” is the ridge above the Headwall (where the fixed lines are anchored) named such because the ridge is at 16,200′ (4937m). To get to the ridge, the…
Yesterday the team moved up to High Camp! They retraced their steps to the cache, climbing first for a couple of hours to the start of the Headwall where the Fixed Lines are. They ascended these ropes to the ridge at 16,200′ (4937m). Once a top the ridge they climbed another 1,000′ to High Camp.…
Not only did the team summit yesterday (yeehaw congratulations!!) they skied from the top of North America!! Many a ski team heads up this tall peak, but conditions are often not favorable for this kind of a move. So it is an extra special summit. Good job team. They are also very lucky to be…
The team was able to put in their first cache at 10,200′ (3108m). Caching is a great system that is indicative of an expedition style of climbing. Teams will pick supplies; gear, food, fuel, etc. that are not needed for a few days and climb to a point between the camp they currently reside at…