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To the main camp

Pictures by QT Luong

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Hauling heavy loads on the Kahilna Glacier, including mostly food and fuel for three weeks and polar-grade gear. Denali, Alaska ( color)

Taking a break from pulling the sled. Denali, Alaska ( color)

Snow camping on the Kahilna Glacier. Denali, Alaska ( color)

Snow camping on the Kahilna Glacier. Denali, Alaska ( color)

The West Buttress route goes behind the ridge above the Kahilna pass. Totally invisible from the land, it has been discovered in the 50s by Bradford Washburn thanks to his large format aerial photographic surveys. This discovery would revolutionize Mt Mc Kinley climbing. Denali, Alaska ( color)

The mighty West face of Mc Kinley. The West Buttress is the ridge on the left on the skyline, the Cassin the ridge on the right. Denali, Alaska ( color)

Probing a circle for crevasses, before unroping. Alaskan glaciers are among the biggest in the world, and have very deep crevasses, which are difficult to spot. Denali, Alaska ( color)

Camp on close to Kahilna Pass. Denali, Alaska ( color)

The first important camp, where people gather at a same spot, is found at 11000. Denali, Alaska ( color)

Above the 11000 camp, the route becomes steeper, making sleding or sking unpractical. Denali, Alaska ( color)

This evening fog is nothing to worry about, since the 7pm weather forecast is optimistic. Denali, Alaska ( color)

Like most people, we leave our snowshoes and sleds here, and organize ourselves to do a double carry the next morning. Denali, Alaska ( color)

Everything which is left is buried under the snow, to prevent the ravens from destroying your cache. They can rip open a backpack if you don't bury it deep enough. Denali, Alaska ( color)

To find your cache, you leave a wand, and you write your name on a sticker. Denali, Alaska ( color)

Camp 11000 with a many skis. Denali, Alaska ( color)

Camp 11000 with a forest of wands. Denali, Alaska ( color)

Our first carry day, up to the 14300 camp.. Denali, Alaska ( color)

Our first carry day, back to 11000 camp. Denali, Alaska ( color)

Up to the 14300 camp again. Denali, Alaska ( color)

Windy Corner. There is a secondary summit which creates a funnel with the West Buttress, generating incredibly high winds there during storms.. Denali, Alaska ( color)

Exceptionnally warm conditions at Windy Corner. Denali, Alaska ( color)

The route so far (outlined in red): the Kahilna glacier in front of Mt Foraker, Windy Corner, and the camp 14300 which is nested in a snow bowl. Denali, Alaska ( color)

All text and photos © QT Luong. See conditions for use of images.

All the 22 color pictures of To the main camp are on this page

To the base camp

To the main camp

Mount McKinley expedition

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