Great "Carry Day" to Camp 1

The crew loaded up their packs and headed up the mountain to Camp 1 at roughly 16,300 feet yesterday. The fellows must have been feeling good because Heidi reports that they kept asking her for more "stuff" to load in their packs! They did great and made very good time.

The route from BC to Camp 1 climbs up a moderately steep, rocky moraine and into a fairly narrow valley, left over from the Polish Glacier, which receded 3000 vertical feet over the past many millennium. At the far uphill end of this valley, the terrain opens up and they climbed up into a much broader hanging valley. They negotiated a field of penitentes, bizarre snow fins that can rise to several meters in height. they are sort of like snow sun-cups on steroids, sculpted by a combination of solar radiation, wind and the heat conducted by particles of rock and sand.

Above the penitente field, they hiked up a bit more and buried their loads under a pile of rocks at one of the higher camps that make up the area collectively known as Camp 1. Upon arrival, they were greeted with hot tea served up by one of our friends who guides for Mountain Trip on Denali. Thanks Jacob, for the nice welcome!!

Today is another rest and acclimatization day in Base Camp, where they are being served up delicious meals by the cook staff.