Weekend Update: Good News Continues

I just got cut off while talking to Mark, but I still got the gist of things.  All continues to go very well for the team!!  Everyone is healthy and in high spirits.  They are taking a scheduled rest break at the 14,000ft camp today.  Yesterday they successfully did a cache-and-carry (took some supplies) up to the 15,400ft camp and then came back down.  Mark says they are loving some sunshine and playing in the snow today, including some skiing and even building an igloo.  

A storm is forecasted to hit soon, so their schedule might be slowed down depending on how strong and sustained the front is.  At best, the team will reach the summit on the Tues the 10th, but they're saying their window is anywhere from Tues-Friday (all dependent on the storm).

The request was made for a very-Happy Birthday wish to Rebecca Deering from Erin VanOosten!  That's a pretty lofty birthday greeting if there ever was one!  Congrats to you Rebecca.

Stay tuned for more details, especially as the team pushes towards the 17,000ft encampment before tackling the summit!

--Cheers--

   Rob

_______________________________________

Weather report for McKinley (at 14,000ft and above) during their summit window looks to keep things interesting for the team:

SUNDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOW AT 17,000 FT...NEAR 10 BELOW. WINDS FROM 17,000 FT TO THE SUMMIT...SOUTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH.

MONDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH SNOW LIKELY. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS LESS THAN 6 INCHES. HIGH AT 17,000 FT...NEAR ZERO. WINDS FROM 17,000 FT TO THE SUMMIT...SOUTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH.

OUTLOOK TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...THE WEATHER WILL REMAIN UNSETTLED THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK WITH PERIODS OF SNOW AS AN UPPER TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE DROPS SOUTH ACROSS WESTERN ALASKA AND REMAINS WEST OF THE MOUNTAIN. SUMMIT WINDS WILL BE OUT OF THE EAST TO SOUTHEAST 30 TO 40 MPH TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.