14 Camp

The May 30th team had a full day at 14 Camp today, knocking out their back-carry and putting in some valuable skills time on the side. The team brought their cache up to 14 Camp to consolidate their supplies, then spent some time running through rope skills in preparation for the fixed lines higher up on the route.

Practicing rope skills in camp before stepping onto the more demanding terrain is one of the best ways to set a team up for success. The fixed lines above 14 Camp involve steep, exposed climbing where techniques like ascending with mechanical ascenders, clipping in and out of carabiners, and managing transitions at anchor points all need to feel automatic. A day spent dialing those skills in at camp pays off in a big way once it’s time to put them into practice on the route.

The day took a bit of a turn this afternoon as heavy snow began to fall over 14 Camp. Fresh snow on the upper mountain can soften the climbing in some places and add work in others, and the team and their guides will be watching the conditions closely to see what tomorrow brings.

For now, the May 30th team is settled in at 14 Camp with another solid day behind them. Whether tomorrow turns into a move day, a rest day, or something else entirely will depend on what the weather does overnight. Either way, the team is in a strong position to take advantage of whatever comes next.

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