Cleared for Take-off

Scott and Aaron passed their medical checks at Base Camp (13,800 ft.) and spent yesterday resting and acclimating to the elevation before they move upward on the mountain.  Scott was in great spirits this evening and told me that it was a beautiful night with a great view of the summit surrounded by stars in the sky.

Today they hiked up to Camp I (15,750 ft.), where they put up a tent and cached some food and supplies.  They spent a couple of hours building a "bomb-proof" tent shelter with rocks to protect it from the winds, and he said they both felt strong.  On their way back down to Base Camp, Scott said that it snowed a little bit but not much.  So far they have been trekking on scree (loose rock), which means that with every step forward you slip backward a few inches.  [If you've ever climbed Mt. St. Helen's, then you are very familiar with hiking on scree!]  Scott described the hike up to Camp I as a big slog.

Tomorrow they will pack up at Base Camp and move up to Camp I and spend the night there.  Part of the acclimation process is to "climb high and sleep low" meaning that in order to help your body adjust to altitude, you sleep at a lower elevation than you have climbed to that day to allow your body to recover at a lower elevation where the air is richer in oxygen.  Since they have already been up to CI today and spent the night at a lower elevation, they will be in fine shape to make it up to Camp I tomorrow and then overnight at that level.

I won't hear from Scott again until Sunday when they are at Camp II and ready to go for the summit the next day, but I will post more information tomorrow.  Stay tuned.