Today was a supposedly a rest day, but in retrospect I think an “active rest day” would have been a better description. We woke up at 6:30, and after a minimal breakfast – coffee and a breakfast bar – we headed downhill at 7:30 to collect our cache’d gear at 13,500. We were back in camp by before 10. Then we had breakfast, bagels and bacon!!!! It’s clearly bagel time, as we don’t want to carry them any further!!!
After a very brief rest we started to “fortify” our camp. Literally! Ice blocks were cut out of the floor of the mess tent – the ice saw is a scary tool -, and those blocks, along with snow blocks we cut from around camp, and we took from previously occupied camps, were used to build an ice wall around camp. This is in case the weather changes and we get a big storm, or worse, if we are stormed in. At 14,000ft we work slowly as moving ice and snow requires a fair effort, so another rest in the tents followed.
At 3:30 pm we were off to practice ascending and descending the fixed lines. It’s a while since most of us used a jumar, so the practice is really worthwhile, especially practicing how to unclip with heavy gloves on. Learning, and struggling, in real life, on the fixed lines is not an option. Nor is stopping and waiting as people struggle to unclip when on the steeper sections of the fixed lines.
It’s been a long few days. Building ice castles today was tough going. I’m pretty wrecked, so I’m hoping for a decent sleep. I really hope I feel better tomorrow!
Site Title 
Leave a comment