Denali 2004
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Day 17: Saturday, June 12th
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Last night the weather cleared and it was the coldest morning yet. We got up about 7:00 and had a bagel with cream cheese and two rounds of hot drinks. We can hear the planes flying again, so I am certain they are very busy today.

Brennan spoke with a ranger last night who told him that two planes had landed at 7,200' but had been unable to take off again and were stranded.

After lunch we trek over to the "edge of the world" on the other side of the Genet Basin beside the West Rib for a look over the 3,000' vertical dropoff. It is cloudy and we don't get many decent pictures.

My ride down with the ADG folks materializes after all and I meet up with their group coming down from high camp. They rest and eat for a while before we push off at about 6:45 p.m. I am sorry to leave but glad that the suffering and deprivation will soon be over.

 

 

Click on a picture to see it full size.

Nigel mugs for the camera in front of Mt. Foraker.
Teammates Neal on the left, David on the right.
A look at the headwall and the fixed lines. The notch is 16,200'. If you look closely at the enlarged version of this picture you can make out all the people moving up the headwall on the way to high camp.
The two guides. Eric on the left and Brennan on the right. This is at the "edge of the world" outside of camp, a 3,000' vertical drop. Unfortunately it is pretty cloudy so no decent pictures.
This is on the way back down. It was snowing lightly and the clouds sort of parted and made a beautiful shaft of light. The camera does not do it proper justice, it was a beautiful sight.