This is a photo of Mt. Foraker with a series of Lenticular clouds stacked up. This means extremely high winds. You do not want to be anywhere exposed in a situation like this. I think Denali looks something like this right now. Brian Okonek photo.
Tom called just a little bit ago. He and his crew are safe at 14K camp. They launched yesterday for the summit. He said he was hoping to be able to sneak it in before the weather system moved in. They made it to the top of Denali pass and it was cold, getting windier, and starting to snow. Tom made a good decision and turned around. They returned to 17K yesterday and packed up there and and moved to 14K. Tork said it is blowing over 90 mph right now up on the 16 ridge and at high camp. It is too windy even to go down around windy corner right now. They are going to hold tight there for a bit until the winds abate.
He said it is windy but livable right now at 14K camp. 14 is a much better place to be when it get nuclear up there. It is hard living as it is at 17K with out extreme winds. It sounds like a freight train up higher right now. We are glad Tork is up there making good calls and everyone is doing fine.
I haven't heard from the other groups on the mountain today, but I'm sure all is well. They are probably doing some wall building and shoveling in and around camp as we speak.
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