Denali via the West Buttress, May 14-June 2, 2021 (just now got around to making the TR video).
Team 3:1 Advantage (3 person team originally, then 2 person).
This was my husband's (Marlin Thorman) and my 50th state highpoint we accomplished together.
Itinerary:
May 14 - Flew onto Kahiltna Glacier. Trekked from the airstrip to 7800' camp. Starting weight was about 140lb food and fuel per person (prepared for 28 days).
May 15 - 7800’ camp to 9900’ camp
May 16 - 9900’ Camp to 11k camp
May 17 - Rest day in 11k camp
May 18 - Cache to 13,500’
May 19 - Rest/weather day
May 20 - My husband trekked our 3rd teammate out to the airstrip and back by himself. (Teammate bailed due to inability to tolerate altitude and exertion with having had covid recently.)
May 21 - Move from 11k camp to 14k camp (windy/snowy day, but worse weather approaching)
May 22 - Establishing camp at 14k
May 23 - Camp reinforcement & repair day due to broken tent pole from high winds overnight
May 24 - Retrieve cache from 13,500’ and Edge of the World excursion
May 25 - Cache to 16,800’
May 26 - Reconstructing the melting camp walls day, dug an underground bathroom
May 27 - Weather day (lots of shoveling snow)
May 28 - Rest day
May 29 - Weather day (snowing & super windy again)
May 30 - Move from 14k’ camp to 17k’ camp
May 31 - Summit day, pack up 17k’ camp, back to 14k’ camp (bad weather approaching)
June 1 - 14k’ camp to 7800’ camp. Tried to push to the airstrip but poor visibility and no broken trail on lower mountain made going slow and precarious with unknown crevasse locations.
June 2 - 7800’ camp to airstrip and flew out to Talkeetna. Beautiful day!
Trip report video:
Detailed video of our snow castle camp at 14k'......