Berg

Hear Wally's Call from Denali

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We got here after a carry along the ridge. It went very well yesterday. In what has been the type of weather that has defined the month so far, from my judgement, that is, not really great weather, but not really terrible weather. We did have wind, pretty poor visibility, coming along the ridge, but all five of our Alpine Ascents team members handle it well, we're suited up well, moved along through Pickets Place for running belay, actually a fixed line, at Washburn's Thumb and we got here in the mid-late afternoon. And we have been living in our two North Face VE-24 tents.

I've decided to have us take a rest day now. I'm looking up at the summit and it is far out of condition actually, up there at the summit, and my judgement is in the next 12 hours that's not going to change. We're just hoping, sometime in the next 36 hours, we get our shot at it. Basically, the rest day has been imposed upon us by this marginal weather right now is probably to our benefit, I think; having just arrived at 17,000ft, we'll all benefit from that.

Just interject this quickly and then I'll go, I did talk to Vern Tejas down at 14,000ft last night, on the radio, and he, and his crew are in great spirits. And in fact, doing a carry to 16,200 today to put a cache in. I'm watching some people start up that Headwall. Way down below me right now, they're just little dots and I am expecting that Vern, Tom Bridge and their team are down there approaching the fixed lines, as I speak, and I am watching them come up. They're these little dots, though, so it is hard to say. We'll continue to keep you posted and I do believe the next 36 hours is going to be big for this team. So, I'll let you know what's happening, bye.

— Alpine Ascents Guide Wally Berg, MountainZone.com Correspondent

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