Denali 2005: Alpine Ascents Denali 2005: carries to 16,200 feet

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

Don't Panic says farewell
June 7, 2005    
Hello this is Ben Billings calling in with a final cybercast with Alpine Ascents Denali Team 5, Don’t Panic. Today is Tuesday and we have successfully flown back into town, landed in Talkeetna this morning after a long but refreshing and beautiful walk down from high camp to the airstrip. We had beautiful views of Foraker this morning as the sun rose on the lower glacier and were poised for a flight back into town this morning. Everybody had a wonderful trip and we’re looking forward to meeting up for some dinner in town tonight and remembering everything and enjoying a few memories of the trip. We will be talking with friends and family soon and look forward to being home with loved ones as soon as possible. So a final wrap up from Team 5, Don’t Panic, over and out.

The Man show carries to 16,200 feet
June 7, 2005    
Hello this is Alpine Ascents 37, The Man Show, checking in again from 14,000 feet. Yesterday we made a strong carry, caching 6 days worth of food and fuel at Washburn’s Thumb at 16,800 feet, and then retreated down to 14,000 feet for a rest day today. High winds have shut the mountain down, summit attempts are off today, we’re waiting patiently, hope the weather breaks. Everybody is doing well, and would like to send their love and big hello and a big hug to everyone back home, thanks for tuning in, we’ll check back in tomorrow.

Team Dynamite carries to 10,400 feet
June 7, 2005    
Hey this is Eric Remza with Team Dynamite and today we just did our carry from our camp at 7,100 feet to our cache site at around 10,400 feet. Team did really well, a little bit overcast today, a few flurries, but overall the morning turned out really nice and sunny and now we’ve got a little bit of weather descending in on us. The team is doing really great, good spirits, good morale, Team Dynamite signing off. Will Draper wanted to give a shout out to his pals Becks and Posh and to his favorite team which is Real Madrid. Our Napoleon Dynamite quote for today is: “Pedro offers you his protection”. This is Ron Burgundy saying take care Des Moines, Team Dynamite signing 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.

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