Trip Reports
The entire team of our May 18th West Buttress expedition stood on the summit of Denali last night! It sounds like they had a good day and skies were clear as they climbed from their high camp at 17,200′ to the 20,310 foot summit. Congrats to all the climbers! Enjoy! recording
Nick Ciuzio called in with a very special message from 14,200′ in a broad basin known as Genet Basin, right below the massive West Buttress of Denali. The team broke camp at their Camp 2, strapped crampons to their mountain boots and carried their heavy packs up a series of moderately steep slopes that commenced…
The May 27th West Buttress expedition had a sort of active rest day today. They dropped down from their 11,000′ camp to dig up and retrieve the cache they placed at around 10,000′ a couple days ago. We call this making a “backcarry” or “backcarrying.” It only took them about a half hour to hike…
Asher Perez called in from our May 30th Team’s Camp 1 at 7,800′ on the Kahiltna Glacier. Today, they carried loads up to an elevation of about 10,000′, below Kahiltna Pass, the very start of the 40-mile long glacier. They day started with a long, moderate slope as they headed up glacier. Known as Ski…
The May 23 Team took another weather day at Camp 2 (11,200′) yesterday. It stormed most of the day with a lot of snow and wind. The team took advantage of the down time to get their strength up for the move to Camp 3 (14,200′). The day consisted of a leisurely morning of coffee…
The May 27th team took an “Active Rest” day from Camp 2 (11,200′) yesterday. The team hiked down from Camp 2 to retrieve their cache from 9,800′ in “variable” conditions fo wind and snow. This was good training for the team! These days are easier and I good chance for the team to keep acclimatizing…
Lead Guide, Karl Welter called in last night under the midnight sun from high camp at 17,000′. The team experienced a windy, snowy morning at high camp that dissipated in to clear, windless skies. The team plans to summit today, so here’s wishing the team the best of luck and conditions! Hopefully the next dispatch…
The May 30 Denali West Buttress Team moved to Camp 1 yesterday. The move to Camp 1 is a big day, 5.5 miles and 1000′ of elevation gain, with the most weight of the entire trip (about 110lb/person!) so the team was grateful to have some cloud cover. When the sun is shining on the…
Lead guide Kristin Arnold calls in to let us know the whole team is at Basecamp! A beautiful and bluebird flight to basecamp with Talkeetna Air Taxi is an ideal way to start the expedition. The plan is to leave Basecamp at 4am during the colder part of the day to make their way to…
Bryan calls in from High Camp at 17,200′! A beautiful, windless and bluebird day allowed the team to ascend the fixed lines and walk the 16,000′ ridge in ideal conditions. Expressing gratitude for those who have served our country, they settle into their new camp prepared to push for the summit after a some rest…