Denali West Buttress
Camp 3, 14,200′
After a hard, 3,000-foot climb from Camp 2, “Fourteen Camp” brings a sense of arrival. Often the busiest of the camps, with many climbing parties pausing to rest up and acclimatize, Camp 3 offers something of a social scene, dramatic “Edge of the World” views, and a few comforts amid the rugged conditions.
Distance: 1.75 miles
Elevation Gain: 3,000 feet.
Time: approximate time from Camp 2 to Camp 3 = 8-9 hours.
Camp 3 on Denali, also called Genet basin in honor of Denali pioneer Ray Genet, sits atop a plateau at 14,200 feet below the Messner Couloir, the Direct, West Buttress, and is bordered on the far right by the West Rib. The edge of the plateau is known amongst climbers as “The Edge of the World” because from the edge of the plateau, the terrain drops six thousand feet almost straight down to the Northeast Fork of the Kahiltna. The views from the plateau are spectacular. Hunter and Foraker are set at center stage and catch the last of the evening light as the sun sets. 14 can be a very windy and inhospitable place, but when compared with the hardships of the upper mountain, it is a safe haven and congregating spot for ascending and descending climbers.
The Rangers and most guide services have a strong presence at 14 and things like toilets, weather forecasts, and medical assistance are readily available. More than one team has been stuck at 14 for a week waiting for the wind and weather to abate higher on the mountain.
