Denali Expedition: Hahn & Team Move to High Camp, Prepare for Summit Day
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Hannah Smith, Avery Parrinello, Nikki Champion
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 17,200'
Tuesday, July 3, 2018 - 9:52 PM PT
We could see forever this morning, and then it got better. The high clouds were gone, the low clouds were gone and the middle clouds were gone. We were up at six and walking by 8:45 in the cool shadow of the South Peak. By noon we’d topped out the fixed ropes and were starting up along the phenomenal crest of the West Buttress. We never got anything stronger than gentle breezes, despite our exposed position. There were a few big smiles as the gang came up past Washburn’s Thumb and began to flirt with 17,000 feet. We pulled into the 17,200 ft camp in mid afternoon, six hours after leaving our Camp at 14,000'. Building camp was hard in the rarefied air, but we got it done and sat down to a six PM dinner in our newest snow dining room. We talked about how a summit day might work tomorrow and how to prepare tonight. We will need to get a little bit lucky on the weather, and everybody will need a good night’s rest... but then if it all works out, we’ll be ready to take advantage. Light, high clouds have taken over the western sky, but the sun is still powering through at 8:45 PM and we can see rivers, tundra, mountains, glaciers and planet Earth for hundreds of miles.
Best Regards
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
On The Map
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Comments (5)
I hope by now you have summited and are starting back down. Great job!
Posted by: Roger Coffey on
Wishing you all a happy 4th! Send it Tom!
Posted by: Joe Walker on
“newest snow dining room”. . . I am jealous. Just last week, Mike King’s team had a very small weather window with just the “bare” necessities. Enjoy your summit climb tomorrow!
Posted by: Keith Loritz on
Wishing you all perfect weather!! Climb high Tom!!!
Posted by: Dave Kestel on
We will all pray for a clear rising! Proud of you all. Enjoy!! Joe Parrinello
Posted by: Joe Parrinello on