May 23, 2024
Fortified snow walls surround tent at 14000′ camp, photo by Peter Spagnoli.
Team 4, led by Forrest Baldwin, got that call today from Talkeetna Air Taxi…. it’s a go! Arriving on the lower Kahiltna glacier at 7200′ they wasted no time unloading their plane and preparing to move uphill. For some climbers, this is the first experience wearing large packs and pulling heavy sleds at the same time. By the time they get to their first camp at the base of Ski Hill, they are veteran sled pullers, and welcome putting them to bed at night.
Teams 2 and 3, lead by Gilson and Sackett are checking in again today from 14K camp, where climbers are playing the waiting game. Waiting for weather to improve, waiting for breakfast, waiting for dinner, and waiting to finally move up the fixed rope. At the top awaits the ridge of the west buttress, leading you to the next camp at 17,000′.
We wish all of our teams “Good Luck”!