Mt. McKinley (2008) - Day 10
Camp 2 to Camp 3
The weather doesn't suck any more! We're pushing on. Breakfast this morning is more of that granola cereal and granola bars. Uggh.
We're going to break down camp and head on up to 11k camp.
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Death becomes me. I'm _not_ being melodramatic. Leave me alone. It was only three hours instead of the normal 5 - 6, but we ascended at least 1,500 feet and my heal risers weren't cooperating for a reason I only discovered at the end of the day and my sled was seriously back weighted, thus digging into the fresh, powdery snow that had accumulated over the past several days, which all added to the suckiness. The torture. I was all but collapsing on some hills. Still, I survived. Barely. I'm happy to be at 11k camp. This has easily been the hardest physical thing I've ever done. I can't imagine complaining about anything ever again.
We get to rest for a little while and then we need to get camp set up.
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We extended a snow wall for the tents and then Wes, Dan, Baron and I build an unrivaled crapper - nearly tall enough to stand in, a curved entry to add privacy and protect against the wind. And the weather is beautiful - it's even hot out (relatively speaking). Really wonderful.
I have this croupy cough which doesn't exactly gives me the warm fuzzies. But at least I don't have any muscle soreness - maybe that'll set in tomorrow.
Speaking of tomorrow, weather permitting, we'll be doing a carry up Motorcycle Hill and past Windy Corner. Thankfully, today ends our use of snowshoes ("slow shoes") and sleds. It's all just crampons and packs from here on.
Being up here on the mountain, I don't really miss nice temperatures or good food; I miss not having to conserve toilet paper. Internet withdrawal has been almost nonexistent. I think the toilet paper thing is what I miss the most. Also, I can't wait to shave. This is the longest I've gone without since I was eleven or twelve.
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The RMI-1 team moved up to 17k camp (high camp) recently. They should summit in the next couple of days and we should be about a week behind them.
My toes are frozen.
Dinner was burritos and Oreos. This was definitely better than the granola we had for breakfast. Mmm. Oreos.
