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Denali Team 7: June 10 to June 30 (private) – Dispatch #8

Sunday, June 17, 2012' at 7:46pm
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Guides: Richard Riquelme, Ben Gardner, David Farkas

Climbers: Guy Munnoch, John Moorhouse, Andrew Jenkins, Andrew May, Sid Ratnavelu, Graham Dawson, Jeremy Middleton
Richard called June 17th at 11:15pm PST with the following dispatch: Today we are taking our first weather day. Yesterday we did a cache at 13,400 with perfect weather. After AJ commented about the perfect weather and no wind at windy corner we got jinxed.

We got hit by high winds and snow and had really poor visibility. Then we had to navigate the crevasses around where the recent avalanche and fatalities happened. By the end of the day we made it safe and sound to camp. We were all very grateful to get a warm meal and hit the tents. Today we are just hunkering down waiting for better weather

We have a variety of wind slab avalanche hazards, the slab is varrying in thinkness due to recent rapid changes in precipation and wind, we have a graupel layer that is of particular concern. We are ready to move to 14 when the weather allows, but are also watching the snow layers very carefully to make sure things have compacted and or slid there is a lot of rumbling out there lately. Hopefully, tomorrow will be good, according to the forecast there should be a window. Everyone is doing well and ready for the next step.

We will call later when the group can be together and try to get you messages and send some back.

(Administrative note: your comments do not automatically post they go to administrators for approval before being posted. Regarding texts to SAT phones: they are receiving many of your texts, however SAT phones are not cell phones so due to battery management, official communication needs, safety, and the generally challenging nature of texting with SAT phones, text responses will be minimal at best.)

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