Carried loads around Windy Corner

Zach called from 11,200 foot camp a few minutes ago. The team carried loads up and around Windy Corner, caching their supplies at about 13,500 feet.

The route above the 11,200' camp ascends the steepest part of the route thus far, a feature called Motorcycle Hill. They traded their skies and snowshoes for crampons and began climbing. Above Motorcycle Hill there are two more steep sections, collectively know as Squirrel Hill. Squirrel Hill was barren of snow, but their crampons allowed them to make good time up and onto the long, relatively flat stretch above, called the Polo Field.

At the far end of the Polo Field, the route climbs again and turns a sharp, rocky corner of rock called Windy Corner. This rock corner leads up to the West Buttress proper. The team encountered numerous crevasses after they passed the corner and Albert poked through a bridge up to his waist into one of them, making for an exciting moment!

Everyone did really well today. Temperatures were quite warm until they climbed into a breeze blowing across Windy Corner. Tomorrow, they will pack up camp and push camp up and around the corner to into a large flat area in a huge basin, known as the 14,200' camp. Today was a big day and tomorrow will be even bigger, but the climbers are getting stronger by the day and more importantly, becoming more and more efficient.

Here is a podcast from the team!

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