Tejas

And we we're putting ourselves in position today, climbing up the ridge, the West Buttress ridge, through whiteout and spindrift and then were greeted by a stunning evening. So we're just tickled pink. We've got six days and a half of food and fuel up here. And it's a good thing because the bad weather we've currently just been experiencing has left four feet of snow across the dangerous traverse known as the Autobahn, which goes from 17,000ft up to Denali Pass at 18,200ft. So with four feet of snow we're hoping that either a very large wind comes along and clears that off or it avalanches off under its own accord. Otherwise, it's going to be very, very unsafe for anybody to traverse up there.

I mentioned last night that the French fliers, the paraglide fliers, were up in the Pass. No one has seen them for a week here on the mountain so we think they must have flown off to the north side. And I am going to try to verify that with a CB radio, calling out to the north when we go to the summit. And they would certainly know because that was the destination of those French fliers.

Down below, Scott Darsney has carried up, from 14,000ft up to 16,000ft, his food and fuel. And he's hoping to take a rest day tomorrow and then come up the following day to 17,000ft to put him in position. We understand that, after this new low-pressure system moves through, maybe along about Thursday or Friday there should be a window of good weather and everybody up here is hoping for it.

My good friends, other guides Brian and Tap [Richards] are also up here. It's fun to be hanging out with them and waiting for the weather. We have several groups who are all anxiously awaiting the day that they can push on to the summit.

It sounds like my batteries are going, so I am going to say goodnight and be good. Ta-ta.

— Alpine Ascents Guide Vern Tejas, MountainZone.com Correspondent

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