In Talkeetna

The team drove up to Talkeetna yesterday after a minor delay due to the radiator in our trusty van electing to misbehave a few hundred meters from the Earth Bed and Breakfast. We rounded up another van and made the two hour drive north to the little village of Talkeetna, where the climbers first met with the National Park Service and then weighed and sorted their kit for the flight to the mountain.

Time and again, we were all encouraged and entertained by the growing sense of team spirit that is developing between the climbers. Good natured heckling, teamwork with moving gear, and the inevitable bad jokes about even worse gas were shared (and endured!) by all.

The NPS orientation was provided by Chief District Ranger John Leonard himself, and all the climbers were briefed on how to take care of, and respect, the amazing place that they were about to encounter. John commented time and again of how fortunate this team is to have the opportunity to see the mountain in conditions unlike those that are experienced by 99% of Denali climbers. He cautioned them of the chances of increased cold, and reinforced that communication with their guides and amongst themselves is crucial for their well being up there.

The weather decided to lower and shut down any chance of flying last night, so the team made themselves comfortable at the free climber's bunkhouse provided by our flight service, Talkeetna Air Taxi. They then drove over to the compound of our friends at Alaska Mountaineering School to sit in on a presentation about the snowpack of the Alaska Range. Dinner at the West Rib restaurant saw them full and they retired to the bunkhouse for the night.

The Alaska Range looks clear and stunning this morning, so I expect we'll hear that they are loaded up and taking to the air at any minute. I'll keep you posted and will add some photos from yesterday in a post to follow shortly.