Denali 2005: Alpine Ascents Denali 2005: Team 5 chooses a name and caches at 10,000 feet

Denali (20,320ft/6,195m) Alaska

Team 5 chooses a name and caches at 10,000 feet
May 25, 2005: Greetings, this is Ben Billings calling with Denali 5. Today is Wednesday the 25th and we are calling with our first on-mountain cybercast at 10,000 feet. We’ve had a very productive, successful trip so far, we were able to fly into the glacier on Sunday afternoon, although we were way behind schedule at the airport and didn’t think we were going to get out, but we did, which everyone was very excited about. Sunday night we set up a good camp at the airstrip and had hamburgers and spent a nice night. The next morning we woke up and headed into the glacier for a day of skills practice before heading out on the route. On Tuesday we headed up glacier to 7,800 feet and made our second camp after a long and white-out day we got into camp in some snowy conditions, everybody enjoyed the whiteout however because it was a good respite from the sun. Tuesday night was a beautiful clear evening and we woke up Wednesday to a clear but cold sunny day, perfect for moving our cache up to 10,000 feet.

Everyone is in great spirits and doing wonderfully. Everyone is happy and comfortable and being very productive and team oriented, a fun group all together. We will be moving back down to 7,800 to spend the night at camp, tomorrow moving up to 11,000 feet, where we will spend 3 nights including a back carry to 10,000 to pick up our cache and a carry up to 13,000 feet to make a new cache, followed by a move to 14,000 feet to establish our next camp.

The most exciting news might be that we have finally decided on a team name after much debate, we are now to be referred to as Team Don’t Panic. Well that’s it for us, hello to all of our friends and family back at home and we look forward to keeping you posted with another cybercast. So long, Team Don’t Panic over and out.

Updates

Overview: There are certain mountains that need no explanation as to why climb. Denali is such a mountain. Its tremendous size and beauty generate a magnetism that continually draws climbers from around the world. An ascent of Denali, touches the psyche of all alpinists and for those who have undertaken its challenges, it rewards them with an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Denali is often considered America's most classic climb. From top to bottom, it rises nearly 18,000', an elevation gain unsurpassed anywhere in the world. At a northern latitude of 63°, it is the most northerly of any big mountain over 20,000'. No other region offers such breathtaking and diverse views each day of the ascent. The panorama from Denali's summit includes Mt. Foraker, Mt. Hunter and Mt. Huntington in all their majestic glory.

When Dr. Bradford Washburn pioneered the West Buttress route, he heralded in a new era of Denali ascents and offered climbers a unique approach to the summit. The flight onto the glacier is a trip in itself, presenting overwhelming vistas of the Alaska Range. The West Buttress route remains, by far, the most successfully climbed route on the mountain.

Climb Overview: A Denali climb begins deep in the heart of the Alaska Mountain Range on the Kahiltna Glacier. From the S.E. Fork of the Kahiltna Glacier we begin the climb of Denali's West Buttress. Base Camp plus five higher camps are established on the mountain. When necessary, the team makes double carries between all camps, except high camp, to ensure proper acclimatization and reduce loads. In each camp we build snow walls for protection from possible high winds. The climb takes approximately 17-18 days round trip from Base camp.

Millet One Sport Everest Boot  has made some minor changes by adding more Kevlar. USES Expeditions / High altitude / Mountaineering in extremely cold conditions / Isothermal to -75°F Gore-Tex® Top dry / Evazote Reinforcements with aramid threads. Avg. Weight: 5 lbs 13 oz Sizes: 5 - 14 DESCRIPTION Boot with semi-rigid shell and built-in Gore-Tex® gaiter reinforced by aramid threads, and removable inner slipper Automatic crampon attachment Non-compressive fastening Double zip, so easier to put on Microcellular midsole to increase insulation Removable inner slipper in aluminized alveolate Fiberglass and carbon footbed Cordura + Evazote upper Elasticated collar. Expedition footwear for mountaineering in conditions of extreme cold.  NOTE US SIZES LISTED. See more here.

A cold weather, high altitude double boot for extreme conditions The Olympus Mons is the perfect choice for 8000-meter peaks. This super lightweight double boot has a PE thermal insulating inner boot that is coupled with a thermo-reflective outer boot with an integrated gaiter. We used a super insulating lightweight PE outsole to keep the weight down and the TPU midsole is excellent for crampon compatibility and stability on steep terrain. WEIGHT: 39.86 oz • 1130 g LAST: Olympus Mons CONSTRUCTION: Inner: Slip lasted Outer: Board Lasted OUTER BOOT: Cordura® upper lined with dual-density PE micro-cellular thermal insulating closed cell foam and thermo-reflective aluminium facing/ Insulated removable footbed/ Vibram® rubber rand See more here.

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