The May 11th team set out today to cache up on the ridge, taking on one of the more demanding objectives of the upper mountain. At this point we don’t have full clarity on how the day played out, so we’re holding off on any firm conclusions until we hear more from the team.
Caching on the ridge is a significant undertaking on the West Buttress. After climbing the fixed lines above 14 Camp, teams reach the exposed ridgeline that leads toward high camp, a long and committing stretch of climbing with steep terrain and significant exposure on both sides. Stashing supplies up there is a key step toward eventually establishing high camp, but it’s also weather- and condition-dependent, and teams sometimes have to adjust their plans mid-day based on what they encounter on the route.
It’s not unusual for the full picture of a day like this to take some time to come through. Communications from the upper mountain can be limited, especially on a long, physically demanding day where the priority is climbing safely and getting back to camp. Whether or not the cache went in as planned, the team gaining time on the ridge and the fixed lines is valuable experience and an important part of working toward the upper mountain.
We’ll share a clearer update once we hear back from the team and have a better sense of how the day unfolded. For now, the May 11th team is continuing to push higher on the route, and we’re looking forward to the next dispatch.
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