Muddeer - Jun 6, 2008 4:31 pm Date Climbed: May 30, 2008
West Buttress
After spending 6 days at the 14k' camp and then another 5 days at the 17k' camp due to high winds, summited on 5/30 Friday. Total of 19 days to the summit. Started out as a part of 5-person rope team, but was solo above the 14k' camp, as rest of the team could not wait out the storms. Fortunately, I was climbing totally self-sufficient in terms of gear from the start: my own tent, two stoves, shovel, saw, repair kits, etc.. The heavy pack and sled made the climb and the solo descent especially memorable. Denali, what a mountain! It was worth the time, money, and effort!!!
You're too modest Peter. Your 6 hour round trip time from 17K camp is pretty amazing. Well done!
Alpinist - Jun 6, 2008 12:50 am Date Climbed: Jun 1, 2008
West Buttress
Summited on the 16th day of the trip. What an awesome experience! Started out in a whiteout but we climbed above the clouds at Denali Pass and it turned out to be a cold but fine summit day!. It took about 13 hours RT from 17K camp.
utclimber - Jun 3, 2008 3:51 pm Date Climbed: May 30, 2008
West Buttress
Incredible mountain with the best views I've ever seen.
McClimber - Jun 3, 2008 2:46 am Date Climbed: May 24, 2005
Awesome
Awesome. Long trip but I am coming back for more. This mountain is tuff on any route. Don't let anyone say different. If they do, they haven't been there.
Brad Marshall - May 31, 2008 3:07 pm Date Climbed: May 18, 2008
West Buttress
Sue and I attempted the West Butt this year with a couple of friends. Sue made it to Windy Corner but decided the climb was too much for her this year and we descended. She'll be back!
Noelle - Mar 26, 2008 11:53 pm Date Climbed: Jul 9, 2007
Big Mac
Denali pass was closed so we summited by going up the ridge to the right from high camp!
bighornmonkey - Dec 25, 2007 8:53 am Date Climbed: May 26, 2007
West Buttress
First attempt! Successful attempt. Luck was on our side with the weather.
verticalhiker - Dec 15, 2007 8:41 pm Date Climbed: May 27, 2007
Denali Expedition 2008
Mission Denali Expedition 2008
Yes, we are looking for a team of climbers to climb Denali (Mt. McKinley, Alaska) with us, (climbingforchrist.org) as a mission to help others on the mountain. (10-12 members only, this is not a guided expedition, so it's inexpensive because there is no profit, but we expect team players). We will attempt the Summit, via West Buttress, but we are committed to serving people on the mountain as God leads us. If you are interested, please visit this website: www.climbingforchrist.org and fill out an application if you fulfill some the prerequisites.
Thank you. If you have any questions, please email me.
Date:May 12 (arrive in Anchorage) to June 6, 2008.
Team: 10-12 members.
Estimated Cost: $1825 (inexpensive because it's not a guided profit trip)
Spent 16 days on the mountain with Vendulka and Kris. Vendulka and I got shut down by some horrible weather in the 17k camp - after three miserable days we just threw in the towel - the descent was a little hairy.
Still had great time, this is one my favorite areas in the world - when the weather is good I would not want to be anywhere else than Alaska Range.
After spending a year at UAF studying, Denali was close - so it called me...two other aspirants dropped out last minute, so it was "solo, but of course I met a great bunch of new friends on the mountain. Had two attempts, on the first one I got altitude sick at high camp and walked down to basecamp on my own, but thanks to the two Alaskans who accompanied me. Second attempt two weeks or so later was successful. Spent close to a month on the mountain, weather...
I like it on top - Jul 30, 2007 5:01 pm Date Climbed: May 21, 2006
West Buttress
What an incredible adventure!!! Felt like a long winter camping trip, except for all the hard climbing. Some incredible and amazing views. Weather held us up for a short time and then broke long enough for us to grab the summit and return. Memorial expedition for Cops on top. Four person team 2 from Switzerland, 1 from Canada, and myself. It's the highest and hardest of the state highpoints so I have no excuse to not complete them all now.
Shirley Lam - Jul 26, 2007 3:35 pm Date Climbed: May 26, 2007
West Buttress
3 days grounded in Talkeetna, 13 days to the summit, 1 day descent, 24 hrs at BC, 3 awesome partners, 100's of new friends. I couldn't have counted on a better trip!
bcborder - Jul 12, 2007 3:03 pm Date Climbed: Jun 19, 2007
West Buttress Traverse
Awesome day to be on the summit. We came up the West Buttress, carried all our gear over Denali pass, then summited from a high camp at around 17600' on the Harper glacier. The 4 day descent down Karstens/Muldrow glacier was tough. The guides from Mountain Trip did a great job.
caude - Jul 2, 2007 2:33 pm Date Climbed: Jun 19, 2007
perfect day
After 16 days on the West Buttress route we (Team Ten Fingers Ten Toes) had a perfect day on the summit - no wind, no clouds, about 30-40 climbers. Check out our expedition website for photos and more.
Peak Freak - Jun 22, 2007 5:36 pm Date Climbed: Jun 14, 2007
West Buttress
28 days on the mountain! Stuck at 14,200 for 12 days due to bad weather up top. Made lots of friends in camp. Many people left before summitting. When the weather cleared, many people summitted before I was ready (I'm a slow acclimatizer). Bivvied 2 extra nights at 17,200. Summitted on day 25 on my own, following another friendly group. Beautiful weather. Stellar conditions. Soloed all the way out and made new friends. Thanks to the Spanish trio who let me follow them from 7,800 to 7,200. Tons of open crevasses!!!! Alaska is a beautiful place.
Dennis Poulin - Jun 19, 2007 11:50 am Date Climbed: Jun 12, 2007
West Buttress
A great guided climb with Alpine Ascents. A beautiful summit day with clear skies and NO wind.
Brian Kalet - Jun 18, 2007 1:47 pm Date Climbed: Jun 10, 2007
Muddeer - Jun 6, 2008 4:31 pm Date Climbed: May 30, 2008
West ButtressAfter spending 6 days at the 14k' camp and then another 5 days at the 17k' camp due to high winds, summited on 5/30 Friday. Total of 19 days to the summit. Started out as a part of 5-person rope team, but was solo above the 14k' camp, as rest of the team could not wait out the storms. Fortunately, I was climbing totally self-sufficient in terms of gear from the start: my own tent, two stoves, shovel, saw, repair kits, etc.. The heavy pack and sled made the climb and the solo descent especially memorable. Denali, what a mountain! It was worth the time, money, and effort!!!
Alpinist - Jun 6, 2008 12:50 am
Re: West ButtressYou're too modest Peter. Your 6 hour round trip time from 17K camp is pretty amazing. Well done!
Alpinist - Jun 6, 2008 12:50 am Date Climbed: Jun 1, 2008
West ButtressSummited on the 16th day of the trip. What an awesome experience! Started out in a whiteout but we climbed above the clouds at Denali Pass and it turned out to be a cold but fine summit day!. It took about 13 hours RT from 17K camp.
This is my 23rd state highpoint.
Daily dispatches and photos from the trip here.
utclimber - Jun 3, 2008 3:51 pm Date Climbed: May 30, 2008
West ButtressIncredible mountain with the best views I've ever seen.
McClimber - Jun 3, 2008 2:46 am Date Climbed: May 24, 2005
AwesomeAwesome. Long trip but I am coming back for more. This mountain is tuff on any route. Don't let anyone say different. If they do, they haven't been there.
Brad Marshall - May 31, 2008 3:07 pm Date Climbed: May 18, 2008
West ButtressSue and I attempted the West Butt this year with a couple of friends. Sue made it to Windy Corner but decided the climb was too much for her this year and we descended. She'll be back!
Noelle - Mar 26, 2008 11:53 pm Date Climbed: Jul 9, 2007
Big MacDenali pass was closed so we summited by going up the ridge to the right from high camp!
bighornmonkey - Dec 25, 2007 8:53 am Date Climbed: May 26, 2007
West ButtressFirst attempt! Successful attempt. Luck was on our side with the weather.
verticalhiker - Dec 15, 2007 8:41 pm Date Climbed: May 27, 2007
Denali Expedition 2008Mission Denali Expedition 2008
Yes, we are looking for a team of climbers to climb Denali (Mt. McKinley, Alaska) with us, (climbingforchrist.org) as a mission to help others on the mountain. (10-12 members only, this is not a guided expedition, so it's inexpensive because there is no profit, but we expect team players). We will attempt the Summit, via West Buttress, but we are committed to serving people on the mountain as God leads us. If you are interested, please visit this website: www.climbingforchrist.org and fill out an application if you fulfill some the prerequisites.
Thank you. If you have any questions, please email me.
Date:May 12 (arrive in Anchorage) to June 6, 2008.
Team: 10-12 members.
Estimated Cost: $1825 (inexpensive because it's not a guided profit trip)
kovarpa - Nov 22, 2007 2:35 pm
West ButtressSpent 16 days on the mountain with Vendulka and Kris. Vendulka and I got shut down by some horrible weather in the 17k camp - after three miserable days we just threw in the towel - the descent was a little hairy.
Still had great time, this is one my favorite areas in the world - when the weather is good I would not want to be anywhere else than Alaska Range.
olepat - Oct 23, 2007 4:21 am
West ButtressAfter spending a year at UAF studying, Denali was close - so it called me...two other aspirants dropped out last minute, so it was "solo, but of course I met a great bunch of new friends on the mountain. Had two attempts, on the first one I got altitude sick at high camp and walked down to basecamp on my own, but thanks to the two Alaskans who accompanied me. Second attempt two weeks or so later was successful. Spent close to a month on the mountain, weather...
Tbacon251 - Sep 26, 2007 10:53 pm
Re: West ButtressI can only imagine!!!!
I like it on top - Jul 30, 2007 5:01 pm Date Climbed: May 21, 2006
West ButtressWhat an incredible adventure!!! Felt like a long winter camping trip, except for all the hard climbing. Some incredible and amazing views. Weather held us up for a short time and then broke long enough for us to grab the summit and return. Memorial expedition for Cops on top. Four person team 2 from Switzerland, 1 from Canada, and myself. It's the highest and hardest of the state highpoints so I have no excuse to not complete them all now.
Shirley Lam - Jul 26, 2007 3:35 pm Date Climbed: May 26, 2007
West Buttress3 days grounded in Talkeetna, 13 days to the summit, 1 day descent, 24 hrs at BC, 3 awesome partners, 100's of new friends. I couldn't have counted on a better trip!
bcborder - Jul 12, 2007 3:03 pm Date Climbed: Jun 19, 2007
West Buttress TraverseAwesome day to be on the summit. We came up the West Buttress, carried all our gear over Denali pass, then summited from a high camp at around 17600' on the Harper glacier. The 4 day descent down Karstens/Muldrow glacier was tough. The guides from Mountain Trip did a great job.
caude - Jul 2, 2007 2:33 pm Date Climbed: Jun 19, 2007
perfect dayAfter 16 days on the West Buttress route we (Team Ten Fingers Ten Toes) had a perfect day on the summit - no wind, no clouds, about 30-40 climbers. Check out our expedition website for photos and more.
Peak Freak - Jun 22, 2007 5:36 pm Date Climbed: Jun 14, 2007
West Buttress28 days on the mountain! Stuck at 14,200 for 12 days due to bad weather up top. Made lots of friends in camp. Many people left before summitting. When the weather cleared, many people summitted before I was ready (I'm a slow acclimatizer). Bivvied 2 extra nights at 17,200. Summitted on day 25 on my own, following another friendly group. Beautiful weather. Stellar conditions. Soloed all the way out and made new friends. Thanks to the Spanish trio who let me follow them from 7,800 to 7,200. Tons of open crevasses!!!! Alaska is a beautiful place.
Dennis Poulin - Jun 19, 2007 11:50 am Date Climbed: Jun 12, 2007
West ButtressA great guided climb with Alpine Ascents. A beautiful summit day with clear skies and NO wind.
Brian Kalet - Jun 18, 2007 1:47 pm Date Climbed: Jun 10, 2007
West ButtressClimbed with bc44caeser & photo61guy. Skied from the summit!
ibndalight - May 18, 2007 2:50 pm Date Climbed: May 1, 2007
West ButtressFell into a crevasse and twisted my knee it ended my climb at 16K. Quite a bummer...