The May 19th team made it up to high camp today! After all the work it took to get here, reaching high camp at 17,200 feet is a major milestone and a huge step toward a summit attempt.

The move from 14 Camp to high camp took the team about nine hours of climbing on some of the more exposed and demanding terrain of the West Buttress. The route involves climbing the fixed lines above 14, navigating the long ridge that leads to high camp, and finishing high on the upper mountain with all the gear needed to live and climb at altitude. It’s a long day under any conditions, and getting the team safely into high camp ready to settle in is a real accomplishment.

After such a big move day, the plan from here is to take a rest day at high camp tomorrow before considering a summit attempt. With good weather projected over the next few days and no need to rush, the team has the luxury of using tomorrow to recover, hydrate, and acclimatize to 17,200 feet before making their push. Rest days at high camp are an important part of setting up a successful summit day. Going into a summit attempt rested, well-fed, and fully acclimatized makes a meaningful difference once climbers step out into the cold and thin air of the upper mountain.

For now, the May 19th team is at high camp, settled in and getting ready for the next phase of the climb. The summit is in view, the team is in position, and we’re feeling great about how they’re set up heading into the biggest days of the expedition.

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