Denali 2005: Alpine Ascents Denali 2005: Censored Enlightenment Summits!

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

Team Boken Annainin Caches at 9,600 Feet
June 23, 2005    
Hi this is Winslow calling in for Team Boken Annainin. That means Adventure Group, So we’re on an adventure, we’re here at 9,600 feet, dropping off a load of food and fuel and burying it in the snow and then we will return back down to our camp, spend the night at about 7,400 feet. Our plan tomorrow is to move up to 11, and the next day we will come back and get this food. It’s about 11:00pm, it’s a good time to travel when the sun is behind the ridge and the snow is getting firm, so it makes it pretty easy walking. Everybody is doing great and having a good time and the Japanese are even enjoying French toast and syrup this morning with some bacon, a good American breakfast. Okay ciao for now we’ll talk to you tomorrow.

Walking Heads Moving to Camp 2
June 23, 2005    
Hi this is Molly calling from Team Walking Heads calling in on June 23rd, and it’s a beautiful sunny morning. After a night of light snowfall we are making our way up to Camp 2, at 11,200, where we are going to spend the next three or four nights and looks like were making good time. Lots of other groups are moving up the mountain with us, taking advantage of the good weather. That’s about it, everyone is doing well, staying strong and healthy and we’ll check back in with you soon.

Censored Enlightenment Returns to High Camp
June 23, 2005    
Hey folks this is Eric Murphy calling in for Team Censored Enlightenment. Well we’re back at high camp just after a successful summit bid and everyone is safe and doing well and we’re going to hit the hay, it’s 2 in the morning. We’ll keep you posted on our descent from the mountain, over and out.

Team Extreme Retrieves Cache at Windy Corner June 22, 2005    
Hello there cybernauts this is Vern Tejas calling in for Team Extreme…(sounds of a brief struggle) Hi this is Smiley from Team Ex, we’ve taken over cybercasting from Vern because they have been reported to be too short, simple and concise. Team Ex woke to blueberry pancakes this morning being tossed through the air, landing skillfully in small bowls. After finishing a breakfast large enough to feed a small army, of which Jim was once again taking anchor spot on the eating squad, the team moved out to Windy Corner with four on one rope team, three on the other. The weather was hot and steamy. Upon reaching our cache the group watched as Vern and Brennan skillfully removed our hidden treasure of food, fuel and stashed items. John took more than his fair share as we headed back to camp in a cloud. Once back at camp, the team was roped together to run circles around the camp and learn a few magic tricks to be used higher on the mountain. After a few moments of quiet time all are back in the cook tent to enjoy another fortifying meal which has been anointed with the power to get us to the summit. Team Ex will continue to hold the phone. We hope all is well with all of our family and friends and send love to everybody.

Censored Enlightenment Summits! June 22, 2005    
Greetings cyberworld, this is Eric Murphy calling in for Censored Enlightenment from the Top of North America! That’s right folks it’s Wednesday evening about 9:00, we have a beautiful day up here , very calm about 5mph wind, it’s quite warm and we are above the clouds, we can see Hunter, we can see Foraker, and with me is John Sloan, and Sam Plati. So congratulations to them for a successful summit. And I’d also like to put our thoughts out there to the rest of Team Censored Enlightenment, Chad and Jessica who went out with my co-guide Mark, yesterday and Nate and Maria who weren’t able to join us on the upper mountain. You guys are in our thoughts and we’re having a great day up here. We’re looking at a nice safe descent from here in a while and we’ll give you a quick buzz from 17 camp to let you know that we are safe. Looking to be heading down the mountain and arriving in Talkeetna in a day or two that would probably be Friday or Saturday, depending on weather and conditions. So thanks to friends and family and everyone out there following the cybercast and this is Enrique from the top of North America, signing out.

Team #12 Chooses Name, Waits to Fly. June 22, 2005    
Hi this is Winslow with Alpine Ascents group #12, our team name is Bouken Annainin, we’re with the Japanese group and the name means “Adventure Group” We are sitting here at Talkeetna Air Taxi getting ready to hop on the plane, load up and fly out to base camp. We’re unclear whether we will move this evening, if the weather is good. If it is snowing we will camp out and wait until tomorrow evening to move up to Camp I at 7,800 feet. It’s going to be a few days before you hear from us again, we have to get up to 10,000 feet before we’ll have cell reception again and that should be within the next two or three days. So we look forward to sending out a message then.

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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