Page 22 - 1995 Mountaineering Club Bulletin

ANNUAL BULLETIN
SUNDAY 21 MAY
One foot of fresh powder snow overnight. Hicking, Lancaster, Tough and Russell lift and cache 10 days food and fuel to 12,600ft. Aision. Lang and Arnold cache 12 days food at “Windy Comer”, 13,200 ft. Lewis rests at 11,000 ft. All overnight at 11,000ft. Cloudy becoming fine at times higher on mountain -6 deg C.
MONDAY 22 MAY
Further one foot fresh snow overnight. Lancaster, Hicking, Tough and Lewis lift further gear, food and fuel to 13,200ft. Lang, Arnold, Aiston and Russell lift 13,200ft. cache to 13,800 ft. .All overnight at 11,000 ft. Fine weather above 13,000ft. Overcast at 11,000 ft. with light snow falling all day -10 deg C.
TUESDAY 23 MAY'
3ft.fresh shown overnight with overcast conditions. Snow steadi­ ly falling at 11,000ft. Strong, gusty winds and very poor visibili­ ty -10 deg C. STORMBOUND.
WEDNESDAY 24 MAY
Further 3 ft. fresh snow during 24 hour period. Conditions dete­ riorate -12 deg C. STORMBOUND.
THURSDAY 25 MAY
Similar conditions to Wednesday. Digging out tents in the morn­ ing becomes highlight of the day. Food starting to run out. -8 deg C. STORMBOUND.
FRIDAY 26 MAY
Improving conditions during day becoming fine in the afternoon. -12 deg C Arnold, Aiston, Russell and Lang collect 12,600 ft. cache and return it to 11,000 ft. Hicking, Lancaster and Tough collect some of 13,200 ft. cache and return to 11,000 ft.
MONDAY 29 MAY'
Russell, Aisten, Arnold and Lang lift cache to 16,000 ft. Remainder of the group rest at 14300ft. Partly cloudy conditions with light snow at times. -20 deg. C.
TUESDAY 30 MAY
Tough, Hicking and Lancaster lift cache to 16300ft. Lang, Aisten, Arnold and Russell move camp to 17,300 ft. Lewis decides not to climb any higher suffering with lack of condition­ ing'acclimatisation. Cloudy with snow at higher elevations. Cloudy at 14300ft. -25 deg C.
WEDNESDAY 31 MAY.
Tough, Flicking and Lancaster move camp to 17,300 ft. Lang, Aisten, Arnold and Russell climb to Denali pass 18300ft. and are
THE ROYAL NAVY & ROYAL MARINES MOUNTAINEERING CLUB
Neil Hicking
20
driven back by strong winds above that height. Fine becoming overcast with light snow. -35 deg C.
THURSDAY 1JUNE
Tough, Hicking and Lancaster rest and acclimatise at 17,300ft. Lang, Aisten, Arnold and Russell climb to 20,000ft. (Above the Football Field). Very poor visibility, steady snow fall and increas­ ing wind speed with height cause decision to retreat short of sum­ mit. Overcast throughout the day with steady light snow. Estimated temperature at 20,000ft. -45 deg C.
FRIDAY 2 JUNE
Poor visibility- and strong winds at 17300ft camp throughout the morning precipitate decision to descend Temperatures -35 deg C make striking camp both slow and painful. Aisten, Lang Arnold and Russell tired from the previous day- descend to 14300 ft camp. Hicking, Tough and Lancaster descend to 11,000 ft camp picking up cahces en route. Cloudy with snow at higher elevations becoming fine at lower elevations later -20 deg C at 14300ft.
SATURDAY 3 JUNE
Lewis, Lang, Arnold, Aisten and Russell, strike camp at 14,300 ft and descend. Tough and Lancaster ski descent to 9,500 ft and retrieve cache. Hicking, Lewis and Lang wait at 11,000 ft until Arnold, Aisten and Russell arrive. All descend to 9,500 ft and regroup. All descend on to main Kalhiltna Glacier and return to airstraip arriving 2300. Total distance 6 miles. Cloudy condi­ tions at higher elevations early becoming fine. -5 C at airstrip overnight.
SUNDAY 4 JUNE
Flying conditions good all clear of mountain and return to Talkeetna by 1100. Return to bunkhouse. Dry- and son kit. Check in with Rangers. Settle final account with K2 Aviation. Run ashore Talkeetna.
MONDAY 5 JUNE
Pack equipment and transpon to Anchorage. Visit Airport and bring forward flights. Lewis, Russell and Lancaster depan for UK on overnight flight. Remainder overnight Anchorage Y’HA. Run ashore Anchorage.
WEDNESDAY 7 JUNE
Hicking, Lang, Aisten and Arnold depan Anchorage overnight flight.
FRIDAY 9 JUNE
Tough depans Anchorage. Hicking, Aisten and Arnold plus equipment transported north by minibus.