balmy day at 17 camp, 16 June 2008

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balmy day at 17 camp, 16 June 2008

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Denali Pass from 17K.

If the climb to this point at the top of Motorcycle Hill doesn't make you cry, the climb from here up to Squirrel Point might. The west end of the West Buttress is the rock massif in the background. The route follows the boot track that appears in this photo, and then follows easier, but breezier, ground (not visible in this photo) on the right side of the West Buttress.

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mark55401

Nov 7, 2011

“balmy day at 17 camp, 16 June 2008”

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Nearby Photos

On Denali's West Buttress 6/11/2007. Photo: Joel Schenk

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West Buttress made for a memorable ski trip - <br>
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The Views for 17k

14k camp

Ridge to 17K

Motorcycle Hill, above the 11,300 foot camp. The smoking pile in the background is the west end of the West Buttress.

The West Buttress

A view from the West Rib cutoff of the West Buttress boot track, from Windy Corner (left) to the camp at 14,000 feet (center), to the fixed lines below 16,000 feet (right).

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Janelle Smiley descending the West Buttress after successfully reaching the summit via the Cassin Ridge. If you want to learn how to climb the West Buttress like a pro, please check out this new online course - http://howtodenali.com/ photo: Mark Smiley

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The West Buttress camp at 14,000 feet, viewed from a point below the Orient Express, on the way up the West Rib cutoff. The tents on the left side of the camp are staffed by the National Park Service, and typically include a rustic medical facility. The ascent to this camp is via the boot track that is visible beyond the camp. There are ice climbs on the steep ground above the boot track, on the flank of the West Buttress. The West Buttress route ascends fixed lines on a slope that is just out of the photo, on the right.

Advanced Base Camp, 6,800 feet, and the view up the Northeast Fork of the Kahiltna Glacier with the west side of Denali in the background.

The climb from the 14,000 foot camp, up the fixed lines and onto the West Buttress itself. The Rescue Gully and the Messner Couloir are just out of the photo on the right. This part of the route is the limit of my first hand knowledge (and photos) of the West Buttress, as I've climbed the Upper West Rib from this point.

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At the top of the head wall, above fixed lines (~16K).

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Optional 9.5k Camp (2017)

Looking back down the Kahiltna Glacier from the top of Ski Hill, at about 7,500 feet. Advanced Base Camp is visible in the middle of the glacier.

Looking down at the 11,300 foot camp from the top of Motorcycle Hill.

Siege the Day. Leaving 14,000 camp for 17,000 camp.

Denali Pass from 17K.

balmy day at 17 camp, 16 June 2008

If the climb to this point at the top of Motorcycle Hill doesn't make you cry, the climb from here up to Squirrel Point might. The west end of the West Buttress is the rock massif in the background. The route follows the boot track that appears in this photo, and then follows easier, but breezier, ground (not visible in this photo) on the right side of the West Buttress.

Heading for 14k camp May 2006

please email denaliresearchproject@gmail.com for more information

Myself low on the Kahiltna (2017)

Looking down the route from Windy Corner toward Squirrel Point, as climbers make their way up from 12,000 feet. This stretch can be wonderfully sunny or brutally windswept, and may be snow covered (as in this photo) or an exposed scree field. There's a reason they call it Windy Corner. Guided teams commonly cache loads along this stretch and descend to "sleep low" in the camp at 11.300 feet.

Looking down at 11k camp from Motorcycle Hill. After a cache. (2017)

ABC in the Genet Basin. Messner Coular in the background.