Denali Expedition: Smith and Team Move to 14k with the Sun to Keep ‘em Company
Posted by: Hannah Smith, Kiira Antenucci, Daniel May
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska Denali
Elevation: 14,200'
Saturday, June 18 - 8:57pm PT
Today was bitter sweet. On one hand, we made our move to 14k camp. On the other,we said goodbye to one team member as she headed down hill having tested positive for COVID. You can't escape COVID, even in the mountains. Our climber is doing well and will be enjoying a margarita, clean clothes, and a flushing toilet soon.
For the rest of us, it was a big day moving to 14k camp. Gaining 3,000 feet with heavy packs and a sled is no small feat. We started in a cloud and only in our base layer but quickly walked into a breezy snowfall. The snow fell on us walking to our camp for half the day. By the time we got to our cache site, we had lost the snow and gained some heat. The sun's solar intensity was immense the last hour. You could feel your right side burning up. Our sunglasses felt hot. Heat panic was a thing. The team preserved and we rolled into 14k with a feeling of air conditioning as the clouds rolled back in and we lost the solar intensity. Moving in was quick since our tents were already set up and left by Avery's team. Some Ramen for the tummies and hot cocoa bring us to bedtime.
Everyone's bodies are excited to lay down and relax after our day and it is well deserved. We will see what the weather brings tomorrow for our agenda.
Rest well everyone,
Hannah and Team
Comments (5)
So excited for you to be at 14!!! We’re sending positive healing thoughts to your teammate with covid :( and strength to the rest of the team for the days ahead! Love you all and grateful for this blog! PS - can we follow CJ’s garmin too?? Haha
Posted by: Ellen Lewis on
Love keeping up with your journey. Wishing Nathan and Yvonne an incredible experience as newly weds!
Posted by: Reagan and Richard on
Happy Father’s Day to you all, esp. CJ. You’ll feel better after a couple of days at 14K. Keep going! Proud of you. So much fun to read the blogs (thank you, Hannah) and CJ’s Garmin. Have watched live much of the climb. So different for family & friends from just a few years ago with Garmin & blogs!
Posted by: Eloise-Marie Loeffler on
Congratulations to the team and hopefully you all stay strong and healthy! Grateful for being able to follow this exciting journey. Hugs and kisses to Ewald from Simon & Elke
Posted by: Elke on
Go TEAM congrats on making it to 14k! Happy Fathers Day to all the fathers and to my dad CJ, rooting for you ♥
Posted by: Claudia on