Resting and acclimatizing at High Camp

Bill Allen just called in from a Mountain Trip team that is now parallel the June 23rd crew. He said that they are taking a rest day at High Camp today. The weather is decent, but a bit too windy higher up to warrant making a summit bid the day after moving up to High Camp. Taking today off should really benefit the crew when they head for the top, as it will also bolster their acclimatization.

Last night some huge thunderheads moved through the range and passed by their camp. Apparently everyone was feeling the electrical charge and many had hair standing on end- literally. This almost never happens on Denali, so it was a pretty wild experience for all involved. During the night a wind squall passed through, but the winds died off by morning.

The TAT webcam has not been much help of late because of a thick layer of smoke from some nearby fires. Bill said they could smell the smoke for a while yesterday, but that a shift in wind from the north has blown it off the mountain for the time being.

They were able to move into existing camps yesterday, which helped out a lot. they made some improvements to the existing walls, and cleaned up the tent platforms, but all in all, it was a freal treat to not to have to build their own walls.

Tomorrow they will wake up early and prepare for a summit push. If the weather permits, they should be heading out shortly after 8 am Alaska time. I'll keep you posted!