The May 16th team got a cache in at the top of the fixed lines today! It’s a significant step on the West Buttress and an important piece of the work leading up to the move to high camp. Temperatures up high were on the colder side, so the team made the smart call to keep things efficient and head back down to 14 Camp once the cache was in place.
The fixed lines are one of the more consequential sections of the route, running up the Headwall above 14 Camp from around 15,200 feet to 16,200 feet. They involve steep, exposed terrain where climbers clip into pre-set ropes and ascend using mechanical ascenders, all while wearing crampons and managing the cold at altitude. Getting a cache to the top of the lines means the team has completed a major piece of work and now has supplies staged in a key position for the next push higher.
By all reports, the team is climbing strong. The guides shared that the climbers handled the fixed lines really well today, are hitting average times on the route, and are coming back into camp with enough energy to handle the day-to-day work of camp life. No red flags, just steady, capable climbing. That kind of consistent, well-paced movement is exactly what teams need to be doing at this stage of the expedition, and it’s a great sign as the team looks ahead to the upper mountain.
For now, the May 16th team is back at 14 Camp with another important day behind them. With supplies staged at the top of the fixed lines and the team climbing well, they’re in a great position to keep building toward what comes next.
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