Friday, May 31, 2024

2024 AAI Denali West Buttress Expedition Team 4 (May 27 - June 16) Dispatch 5

Guides:


Quino Gonzalez


Ross Erickson


Emily Cavanaugh



Climbers:



Scott Halterman


Cole Allen


Jeremy Suitor


Donal O'Keeffe


Scott Kendrix


Yoji Tsuchihashi



Team 4 was able to place their cache above Camp 2 (11,000') today. They hope to make the move to Camp 3 (14,200') tomorrow.

2024 AAI Denali West Buttress Expedition Team 3 (May 20 - June 9) Dispatch 10

Guides:


Tad McCrea


Justin Votos


Eli Spitulnik



Climbers:



Holt Condren


Aziz Abdileilidaghi


Andrew Mullen


Graham St John


Arran Rounds


Michael Rounds


Mark Christenson


Anthony Bohm


Team 3 was able to cache equipment and food at the top of the fixed lines. They are resting at Camp 3 and taking a rest day tomorrow while they wait for a weather window to move higher. 

Thursday, May 30, 2024

2024 AAI Denali West Buttress Expedition Team 4 (May 27 - June 16) Dispatch 4

Guides:



Quino Gonzalez


Ross Erickson


Emily Cavanaugh



Climbers:



Scott Halterman


Cole Allen


Jeremy Suitor


Donal O'Keeffe


Scott Kendrix


Yoji Tsuchihashi



Team 4 retrieved their cache today and are spending their second night at Camp 2. Weather has been good so far, and they plan to place their cache above camp tomorrow.


2024 AAI Denali West Buttress Expedition Team 4 (May 27 - June 16) Dispatch 3

 Guides:


Quino Gonzalez


Ross Erickson


Emily Cavanaugh



Climbers:



Scott Halterman


Cole Allen


Jeremy Suitor


Donal O'Keeffe


Scott Kendrix


Yoji Tsuchihashi



Team 4 made the move from Camp 1 to Camp 2 (11,100'). They were able to make camp and settle in with a delicious dinner before they got some serious snowfall.


2024 AAI Denali West Buttress Expedition Team 3 (May 20 - June 9) Dispatch 9

Guides:


Tad McCrea


Justin Votos


Eli Spitulnik



Climbers:



Holt Condren


Aziz Abdileilidaghi


Andrew Mullen


Graham St John


Arran Rounds


Michael Rounds


Mark Christenson


Anthony Bohm



Team 3 called in from their cook tent at Camp 3 today. Listen in for some friendly words from the climbers! They plan to place a cache above the fixed lines tomorrow.


Wednesday, May 29, 2024

2024 AAI Denali West Buttress Expedition Team 2 (May 13 - June 2) Dispatch 12

Guides:


Ian McEleney


Kevin McGarity 


Tali Levin



Climbers:



Mehdi N'Ciri


Greg Caldwell


Patrick Caroll


Tariq Rashid


Edward Ryan


Kanchan Sharma 


Peter Watson 


Matthew Muir


Roman Romanici



Team 2 has successfully summited Denali! They reached 20,310' / 6,190 m yesterday and are making their way down the mountain. Congratulations!


2024 AAI Denali West Buttress Expedition Team 3 (May 20 - June 9) Dispatch 8

Guides:



Tad McCrea


Justin Votos


Eli Spitulnik



Climbers:



Holt Condren


Aziz Abdileilidaghi


Andrew Mullen


Graham St John


Arran Rounds


Michael Rounds


Mark Christenson


Anthony Bohm



Team 3 took a full rest day today at 14 Camp. They are hoping to take a look at the fixed lines tomorrow.

 

2024 AAI Denali West Buttress Expedition Team 4 (May 27 - June 16) Dispatch 2

Guides:


Quino Gonzalez


Ross Erickson


Emily Cavanaugh



Climbers:



Scott Halterman


Cole Allen


Jeremy Suitor


Donal O'Keeffe


Scott Kendrix


Yoji Tsuchihashi



Today, Team 4 was able to place a cache at 10,000' above Camp 1. They returned to Camp 1 for a dinner of salmon burgers.


Tuesday, May 28, 2024

2024 AAI Denali West Buttress Expedition Team 3 (May 20 - June 9) Dispatch 7

Guides:


Tad McCrea


Justin Votos


Eli Spitulnik



Climbers:



Holt Condren


Aziz Abdileilidaghi


Andrew Mullen


Graham St John


Arran Rounds


Michael Rounds


Mark Christenson


Anthony Bohm



Today Team 3 made the move from Camp 2 to Camp 3 (14,200'), better known as 14 Camp.

2024 AAI Denali West Buttress Expedition Team 4 (May 27 - June 16) Dispatch 1

Guides:


Quino Gonzalez


Ross Erickson


Emily Cavanaugh



Climbers:



Scott Halterman


Cole Allen


Jeremy Suitor


Donal O'Keeffe


Scott Kendrix


Yoji Tsuchihashi



Team 1 flew out onto the Kahiltna Glacier today in the early afternoon. They enjoyed some beautiful weather before making the move to Camp 1 (7800’ / 2400m).

Monday, May 27, 2024

2024 AAI Denali West Buttress Expedition Team 2 (May 13 - June 2) Dispatch 11

 Guides:


Ian McEleney


Kevin McGarity 


Tali Levin



Climbers:



Mehdi N'Ciri


Greg Caldwell


Patrick Caroll


Tariq Rashid


Edward Ryan


Kanchan Sharma 


Peter Watson 


Matthew Muir


Roman Romanici



Team 2 took a well deserved rest day at High Camp today. Guides Ian and Tali moved to retrieve their cache so they are better prepared for the coming days. 


2024 AAI Denali West Buttress Expedition Team 3 (May 20 - June 9) Dispatch 6

Guides:


Tad McCrea


Justin Votos


Eli Spitulnik



Climbers:



Holt Condren


Aziz Abdileilidaghi


Andrew Mullen


Graham St John


Arran Rounds


Michael Rounds


Mark Christenson


Anthony Bohm


Team 3 was able to carry their load all the way to Camp 3 (14,200')! They passed the cache drop site altogether and left their cache at Camp 3. They plan to move from Camp 2 to Camp 3 tomorrow.

2024 AAI Denali West Buttress Expedition Team 2 (May 13 - June 2) Dispatch 10

Guides:


Ian McEleney


Kevin McGarity 


Tali Levin



Climbers:



Mehdi N'Ciri


Greg Caldwell


Patrick Caroll


Tariq Rashid


Edward Ryan


Kanchan Sharma 


Peter Watson 


Matthew Muir


Roman Romanici



Team 2 made it to High Camp (17,200' / 5240m). The dispatch gets cut short but they are looking forward to the days to come.


Sunday, May 26, 2024

2024 AAI Denali West Buttress Expedition Team 3 (May 20 - June 9) Dispatch 5

 Guides:


Tad McCrea


Justin Votos


Eli Spitulnik



Climbers:



Holt Condren


Aziz Abdileilidaghi


Andrew Mullen


Graham St John


Arran Rounds


Michael Rounds


Mark Christenson


Anthony Bohm



Team 3 are at Camp 2 (11,000') and completed their back-carry today. They are hoping to place their cache below Camp 3 tomorrow.

Saturday, May 25, 2024

2024 AAI Denali West Buttress Expedition Team 3 (May 20 - June 9) Dispatch 3

Guides:


Tad McCrea


Justin Votos


Eli Spitulnik



Climbers:



Holt Condren


Aziz Abdileilidaghi


Andrew Mullen


Graham St John


Arran Rounds


Michael Rounds


Mark Christenson


Anthony Bohm



Team 3 made a big move from Camp 1 (7800’ / 2400m) to Camp 2 (11,000' / 3,350m) today.


Friday, May 24, 2024

2024 AAI Denali West Buttress Expedition Team 2 (May 13 - June 2) Dispatch 9

Guides:


Ian McEleney


Kevin McGarity 


Tali Levin



Climbers:



Mehdi N'Ciri


Greg Caldwell


Patrick Caroll


Tariq Rashid


Edward Ryan


Kanchan Sharma 


Peter Watson 


Matthew Muir


Roman Romanici



Team 2 was able to place a cache today on the 16,000' Ridge and ascended/descended the fixed lines. They enjoyed some good weather before returning back to Camp 3.

Thursday, May 23, 2024

2024 AAI Denali West Buttress Expedition Team 3 (May 20 - June 9) Dispatch 3

Guides:


Tad McCrea


Justin Votos


Eli Spitulnik



Climbers:



Holt Condren


Aziz Abdileilidaghi


Andrew Mullen


Graham St John


Arran Rounds


Michael Rounds


Mark Christenson


Anthony Bohm


Team 3 moved from Basecamp to the base of ski hill today. The dispatch gets cut short before we can hear what their plans are for tomorrow.



Wednesday, May 22, 2024

2024 AAI Denali West Buttress Expedition Team 2 (May 13 - June 2) Dispatch 8

Guides:


Ian McEleney


Kevin McGarity 


Tali Levin



Climbers:



Mehdi N'Ciri


Greg Caldwell


Patrick Caroll


Tariq Rashid


Edward Ryan


Kanchan Sharma 


Peter Watson 


Matthew Muir


Roman Romanici



Today Team 2 retrieved their cache from below camp and brought it back to Camp 3. They hope to go on a hike tomorrow to help acclimate for the coming days.