 Mt. Vinson journal entry:
Nov. 26, 2008
Low temp. -20F
“Today
was to be a rest day, but things changed by midday.
One of our 4 team members decided that his climb was over.
The daunting 45 degree incline of the headwall and the fixed
lines were enough for him to call it quits. Yesterday, we
made the first trip up the lines to dump a load of gear.
It was steep and dangerous, and he felt he had reached his
summit. Our guide will lead him back to Base Camp,
where he will join our other team member who was not feeling
well, and had gone down several days earlier. The
weather report for tomorrow does not look great. High
winds and cold temps, rolling in later in the day. The
guide feels we might have a window of opportunity, if we
head back up the fixed lines now, with a summit attempt
first thing tomorrow morning, on Thanksgiving Day. We will
leave camp at 7 p.m., and head back up the fixed lines for a
second time.” |
