McKinley Expedition: Hahn & Team Cache at 10,000 Feet
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Will Ambler, Jack Ritterson, Miles Watson
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska
Elevation: 8,000'
Friday June 19th - 6:30PM PST
Perfect day for climbing to the head of the Kahiltna Glacier. We woke at 2:30 AM, happy to find that we had new neighbors -Dan May’s RMI team, fresh from summit success, had set up next to us in the night. We congratulated them (although they were still trying for a little sleep) and set out on our carry to 10,000 ft. Conditions were excellent for travel, the surface had frozen up just right and our sleds were gliding effortlessly… except for when we were going uphill, which was most of the time. We traveled well at any rate, reaching our target elevation before 9 AM, just as the first rays of sunshine were creeping over the end of the West Buttress. We dug a deep hole in the snow and cached food and fuel. The walk down was relatively easy with light packs. Looking South we could see all the way to the Tordrillo Mountains on the horizon. By late morning we were diving into our tents to beat the midday heat. We hope to move up tomorrow.
-RMI Guide Dave Hahn
