June 11 Team Caches on Ridge at 16,400′

Today the crew made a big push up the steepest part of the West Buttress route, carrying loads of equipment and supplies to a cache site 16,400′. They started out early, climbing moderate snow slopes for approximately 1,400′ above 14 Camp. At roughly 15,600′, they reached the Headwall, a steep ice and snow slope that hits 45 degrees and climbs up another 600′ to the crest of a spectacular ridge.

Today’s climb took them up a series of “fixed lines,” ropes affixed to anchors buried in the snow at semi-regular intervals. The climbers clipped themselves into the fixed lines with “ascenders,” mechanical rope clamps. The ascenders are attached to each climbers’ harness, which adds protection against a slip when climbing such steep terrain.

After caching their supplies, the team dropped back down the fixed lines to 14 Camp.

 

Here’s Kristin with today’s report:

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2 Comments

  1. Very nice Kristin! Thank you for news from this adventure!

    Hi Luiz, Miguel tem tido uma rotina diária de estudos e hoje perguntou quando voltas. Ninão late e faz xixi
    onde bem entende ao redor da casa…normal. Totó está com uma feridinha na perna mas que está diminuido. Estamos observando e se precisar vai no vet. Estamos todos bem. Um beijo Simone.

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