Gowler Update

Rob's team carried to the corner in a white out, traveled by braille. Text message: "Crew did awesome! They are stoked."

Washburn's Thumb on the West Buttress photographed by Guide Alex Stroud

Melis Coady's team is at 14,000 feet today. Yesterday they made a carry to Washburn's Thumb (16,800.) They are hoping to move to high camp tomorrow (17,200.) The weather has been windy in the morning but clearing in the afternoon.

PJs Have Landed

Forest and the PJs are back in the Green Zone. Showers, laundry, meat, more meat and libation are on the day's schedule.

Yesterday's TIPPY TOP

Peter Anderson just phoned in from 17,200', high camp.

He reports:

Yesterday, Peter, Martin, and Steve who is Climbing for Cancer, climbed all the way up to 20,320'!!!! It took them 12 hours and 45 minutes round trip, that is a great time, especially considering they were breaking trail the whole way to the summit!

They have spent 6 nights at high camp, this is a very a respectable measure of their mental and physical stamina for high altitude expedition climbing. Well done guys, and way to hang in there! Sticking it out up there is harder than most people imagine, it requires a great deal of focus and patience on top of all the skill training, physical conditioning and snow climbing prior to the expedition. Plus you have got to have a super attitude and be a skilled card player in order to pass the time!

The team slept in a bit this morning and are planning to descend to 11,000' this afternoon and rest there for a few hours. They plan to travel on the Upper Kahiltna Glacier during the night/early morning and be in the SE Fork (base camp) to fly out first thing tomorrow morning (June 27).

We will have juice, coffee, watermelon and other tasty snacks ready for them when they arrive!

Phil Ershler and Eben Reckord's IMG/AMS Team are at high camp. It is windy up above them, so not a summit day today for them or anyone else at high camp. Phil and Eben's team are fortifying their camp and resting up for a good weather day in their near future.

All for now,

Caitlin

Gowler Report

Rob called in. He's at 11,000' and his team back carried yesterday and are carrying to Windy Corner today. Greg Vernovage and Phil Ershler's teams are also at 11,000' so there's a family atmosphere going on. He reported plenty of fuel reserves at 11,000' for Leighan's expedition flying in on July 4th. AMS expeditions help each other out by caching extra food and fuel for the next team. It saves weight and provides a cushion if the weather prevents forward progress.

Standing by, Colby

Late Night Mountain Update

I just heard from Mike Hamill at the 14,200' camp! They made it to camp this evening and said they got 4 feet of snow at the 11,000' camp in 36 hours. The shoveled a lot. All on that team are doing well, and I sure they are happy they at 14,200'. - Fergal did get the message from his girls.

Mike reported that Phil Ershler from the IMG/AMS climb moved to high camp at 17,200' today as well. They were busy setting up camp and making a hot dinner. That first night at high camp is always a lot of hard work, but those folks have been waiting quite a while to get there so I imagine they are both tired and happy to be there.

Mike also said that he heard from Phil that Peter Anderson went for the top today and were on their way down to high camp tonight. I am sure Phil will be out there to greet them when they return to camp. We will let you know when we hear directly from Peter, which should be very soon. They are a very patient bunch!

Colby Coombs and Rob Gowler's teams are doing well and are ready to leave base camp in the cool of the early morning on Friday.

All of the teams really enjoyed the nice weather on the mountain today. It should be nice for a few days now, giving everyone a chance for movement up there!

Best,

Caitlin

Denali, West Buttress: ALL AMS TEAMS Update

We had calls and texts from our teams today from AMS guides on Denali; all our teams report that everyone is climbing very well, is strong and are healthy.  It is lightly snowing at all camp locations on Denali's West Buttress.  Here is an update:

Mike Hamill leading the June 12 AMS expedition tried twice for the top and were turned back at Denali Pass both time due to weather. They are currently waiting at 17,200' high camp and will try again when the weather clears.

Todd Tumolo leading the June 16 AMS expedition are well established at the 14,200' camp. They went down to Windy Corner today to pick up their previously cached gear and food, they felt strong. And are all happy, eating and hydrating!

Noah Ronzkowski leading the June 22 AMS/AMICAL expedition moved to 11,200' camp today. They made the move quickly in a speedy six hours from the 7,800' camp.  When Noah phoned, he said all is well, it was beginning to snow and the kitchen tent was a comfortable place for them to chat and have hot drinks this afternoon.

Melis Coady leading the June 23 AMS/Mt. Professionals expedition made a carry and cache of their gear, extra food and fuel at 10,000' today.  They are camped at 7,800' tonight and plan to move to 11,200' camp tomorrow. 

Josh Hoeschen leading the June 24 AMS expedition moved to 7,800' today. They will rest and then make a carry and gear, food, fuel cache to 9,800'-10,000' tomorrow - if weather permits.

Rob Gowler leading the June 25 AMS expedition is in Talkeetna at the AMS HQ.  They were not able to fly in to the Alaska Range today due to un-flyable weather conditions. Today they: gear checked, lunch packed, NPS briefed, reviewed tent and packing techniques helpful for Denali and now they are wrapping up for the evening with a team dinner at a local restaurant.

Let's hope for sun soon for all of our climbers!