Kahiltna Pass Camp- 10250ft (2957m)
Kahiltna Pass Camp- 10250ft (2957m)
Original Post: 14 Jun, 08 - 07:59
Wow...I must have needed some rest!? I went to sleep around 6pm on Friday night...expecting to get up in a few hours...then all of a sudden it was 430am. =^o
The other fellows were fast asleep at 6pm last night...and they still are...thirteen hours later!
We are waiting out a bit of a snow squall at Kahiltna pass at 10250ft(3125m). Conditions for moving were amazing yesterday. When we left our 7800ft (2378m) camp, it was calm and just below freezing...which made for a nice crunching beneath the snowshoes. We tackled the 'Ski Hill' without any major mishaps. About a third of the way up, Alex almost lost his sled...but Dawa did a full laid out dive to stop it. I saw all of this from quite a distance behind...so it was amusing. Keep in mind...our sleds are heavy...so a run away sled would be a juggernaut of the highest order.
Hauling the sled up the 'Ski Hill'
There were quite a few people descending while we were ascending...and I saw an example of every human aura. More on that in a SecretSpot.TV podcast.
As I neared a potential 9700ft(2957m) camp, Dawa came bounding down the trail.
(I'm almost always last in line...just the way I like it. I always try to move super slow...and ideally never break a sweat. One stays very warm that way. I'm also always last ready...on the mountain...or any place else. Hopefully it will always be that way.)
FOOLS RUSH. =^]
Dawa had decided he wanted to pull my sled the last 80 vertical metres (262ft). OK! He looked a little surprised when he had it under load. It weighed about 50kg(110lbs). Alex jumped on near the end...and the Sherpa was in his element...pulling about 170kg (374lbs) of sled! It was a nice rest for my torn up right shoulder.
Dawa...part Sherpa...part Yak
We brewed up some tea and tsampa at 9700ft(2957m)...and decided to push on towards the 11000ft(3354m) camp. The sun greeted us at about 930am...and the glacier became a blast furnace of a reflective oven. Without protection from the sun up here...it would be all over.
By the time we reached a potential camp at 10250ft(2957m)...at the bottom of the steep hill leading to the 11000ft(3354m) camp...we were done. Some Euro types were just vacating a good spot...so in we slid.
Kahiltna Pass Camp
Tents were set up, CMC's were filled, snow was melted for water, email was downloaded, phone calls were made...and skin was frying. HOT AND SUNNY....what(!) no honey!? This didn't last long...as 4pm brought wind and snow. The tent flyzzz were quickly added...and everyone crawled in their Zulu 9 sleeping bags and contemplated a well deserved sleep.
Now it's only 8 miles(13.4 km) to the summit of Denali from here...and 10070 VERTICAL feet (3070 VERTICAL metres)! The wise men continue to go slowly...and further.
Alex just stirred...and we've decided to cook up some tortellini with cream cheese and parmesan. Yum. I wish we had some more Frick Merlot...but it never would have made it this far...for more than one reason. =^P
It snowed about 2 inches last night...and now it's trying to clear. Hopefully the sun is going to pop over the peaks in a couple of hours...and dry everything out.
It's going to be a short day today. We'll move to the 11000ft(3354m) camp today...which is Camp 2 on the Secret Spot Denali site map. Check it out!
Chris just woke up and asked, 'What time is it?!'.
I said, "Seven."
He asked, "PM!?"
Oh contraire mon frere...it's morning.
Chris then asked, "Why am I still tired!?"...and we had the first of many chuckles for this Saturday morn. %^)
Alex just passed me the (what he deemed to be broken) MSR Whisperlite stove mechanism. A few moments in my hot little hands and it was 'fixed'. It was just frozen. =^]
If all goes according to our current plan, we should be rounding 'Windy Corner' over the weekend...and sipping Whiskey on ice at the 14200ft(4329m) Basin Camp by Monday!
If you haven't already subscribed to our blog...you should. You'll get live email updates...and virtually climb Denali from the comfort of your current location.
Do it! =^]
Until Soon
Phill =^)
PHILL MICHAEL | Expedition Leader and Summit Climber
Everest Freestyle Expedition/Secret Spot Seven Summits
Original Post: 14 Jun, 08 - 07:59
Wow...I must have needed some rest!? I went to sleep around 6pm on Friday night...expecting to get up in a few hours...then all of a sudden it was 430am. =^o
The other fellows were fast asleep at 6pm last night...and they still are...thirteen hours later!
We are waiting out a bit of a snow squall at Kahiltna pass at 10250ft(3125m). Conditions for moving were amazing yesterday. When we left our 7800ft (2378m) camp, it was calm and just below freezing...which made for a nice crunching beneath the snowshoes. We tackled the 'Ski Hill' without any major mishaps. About a third of the way up, Alex almost lost his sled...but Dawa did a full laid out dive to stop it. I saw all of this from quite a distance behind...so it was amusing. Keep in mind...our sleds are heavy...so a run away sled would be a juggernaut of the highest order.
)
Hauling the sled up the 'Ski Hill'
There were quite a few people descending while we were ascending...and I saw an example of every human aura. More on that in a SecretSpot.TV podcast.
As I neared a potential 9700ft(2957m) camp, Dawa came bounding down the trail.
(I'm almost always last in line...just the way I like it. I always try to move super slow...and ideally never break a sweat. One stays very warm that way. I'm also always last ready...on the mountain...or any place else. Hopefully it will always be that way.)
FOOLS RUSH. =^]
Dawa had decided he wanted to pull my sled the last 80 vertical metres (262ft). OK! He looked a little surprised when he had it under load. It weighed about 50kg(110lbs). Alex jumped on near the end...and the Sherpa was in his element...pulling about 170kg (374lbs) of sled! It was a nice rest for my torn up right shoulder.
)
Dawa...part Sherpa...part Yak
We brewed up some tea and tsampa at 9700ft(2957m)...and decided to push on towards the 11000ft(3354m) camp. The sun greeted us at about 930am...and the glacier became a blast furnace of a reflective oven. Without protection from the sun up here...it would be all over.
By the time we reached a potential camp at 10250ft(2957m)...at the bottom of the steep hill leading to the 11000ft(3354m) camp...we were done. Some Euro types were just vacating a good spot...so in we slid.
)
Kahiltna Pass Camp
Tents were set up, CMC's were filled, snow was melted for water, email was downloaded, phone calls were made...and skin was frying. HOT AND SUNNY....what(!) no honey!? This didn't last long...as 4pm brought wind and snow. The tent flyzzz were quickly added...and everyone crawled in their Zulu 9 sleeping bags and contemplated a well deserved sleep.
Now it's only 8 miles(13.4 km) to the summit of Denali from here...and 10070 VERTICAL feet (3070 VERTICAL metres)! The wise men continue to go slowly...and further.
Alex just stirred...and we've decided to cook up some tortellini with cream cheese and parmesan. Yum. I wish we had some more Frick Merlot...but it never would have made it this far...for more than one reason. =^P
It snowed about 2 inches last night...and now it's trying to clear. Hopefully the sun is going to pop over the peaks in a couple of hours...and dry everything out.
It's going to be a short day today. We'll move to the 11000ft(3354m) camp today...which is Camp 2 on the Secret Spot Denali site map. Check it out!
Chris just woke up and asked, 'What time is it?!'.
I said, "Seven."
He asked, "PM!?"
Oh contraire mon frere...it's morning.
Chris then asked, "Why am I still tired!?"...and we had the first of many chuckles for this Saturday morn. %^)
Alex just passed me the (what he deemed to be broken) MSR Whisperlite stove mechanism. A few moments in my hot little hands and it was 'fixed'. It was just frozen. =^]
If all goes according to our current plan, we should be rounding 'Windy Corner' over the weekend...and sipping Whiskey on ice at the 14200ft(4329m) Basin Camp by Monday!
If you haven't already subscribed to our blog...you should. You'll get live email updates...and virtually climb Denali from the comfort of your current location.
Do it! =^]
Until Soon
Phill =^)
PHILL MICHAEL | Expedition Leader and Summit Climber
Everest Freestyle Expedition/Secret Spot Seven Summits
Posted by Phill Michael at 6/14/2008 10:08 AM 
Categories: Alaska, Denali, Denali Freestyle Expedition, Zulu 9, SecretSpot.TV, Phill Michael, Everest Freestyle Expedition
Tags: Phill Michael Alaska Everest Freestyle Expedition Denali Denali Freestyle Expedition Zulu 9 SecretSpot.TV
Categories: Alaska, Denali, Denali Freestyle Expedition, Zulu 9, SecretSpot.TV, Phill Michael, Everest Freestyle Expedition
Tags: Phill Michael Alaska Everest Freestyle Expedition Denali Denali Freestyle Expedition Zulu 9 SecretSpot.TV
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