Several friends and I did an expedition to the Alaska Range to climb the Moonflower Buttress of Mount Hunter. This is an El Capitan size face covered in snow and ice with a 2,000 foot ridge above it. We stayed at base camp on the Kahiltna Glacier for about 5 weeks and endured bad weather with occasional sunny days. On a few of those days we were able to attempt our main objective of climbing the Moonflower. We were unsuccesful in our attempts but successful in our side quests to climb the mini Moonflower, Mt. Francis and a high point day trip on Denali.

The Moonflower on Mount Hunter. The route takes the buttress left of center then follows the skyline to the summit.

The Moonflower on Mount Hunter. The route takes the buttress left of center then follows the skyline to the summit.

At the base of the Moonflower to discover our gear cache had almost been lost in the snow.

At the base of the Moonflower to discover our gear cache had almost been lost in the snow.

Aki and Nate at a belay on the Moonflower.

Aki and Nate at a belay on the Moonflower.

Most of the time on the glacier looked like this, in a tent.

Most of the time on the glacier looked like this, in a tent.