Icefall Practice

Great fun practicing in the Icefall today!  I wore my 8000-meter boots and crampons for the first time since a little practice up Malans along the Ogden, Utah foothills. They felt great!  No issues.  I also set up and used my ascender and safety carabiner, which gave me confidence I will stay attached to the fixed lines under almost any condition.

It took great effort as I’m still not acclimated to 17,300 feet. So much for the acclimatization tent I spent seven weeks in. Maybe it will have other benefits, but so far I don’t seem to have more energy than anyone else. In fact, today I think I had less after a sleepless night with a splitting headache!  Oh well, I feel much better now, other than a slightly pulled rib muscle from the training today.

Judy was supposed to have left today to trek out, but it snowed about 8-10 inches last night making it unsafe. She and the other four trekkers are now considering being taken out by helicopter from Pheriche in order to make their International flights out of Kathmandu, weather permitting. The plan is for them to hike down there tomorrow. She will be with me a good part of the way, as I will be heading back to summit Lobuche at 20,000 feet for more acclimatization before climbing up through the Icefall to Camp 1.

Judy and I will be saying our goodbyes, somewhat auspiciously, near the Sherpa memorial, just above Tugla.