T-Minus Seven Days

Seven short days until take-off. I've pulled the rope out of storage. I could probably almost set up a 5-to-1 pulley blind-folded. (Let's hope that particular skill isn't put to the test.) I customized my new backpack with an attachment on each side, onto which I can clip gear - instead of clipping it to my harness. (Wearing a heavy pack over a crowded harness isn't entirely comfortable.) I've got some last-minute grocery shopping still to do; and all of the non-perishable food is piled up, ready to be sorted, bagged and packed.

I'm really looking forward to giving these Camp Cassin ice tools a try on a big mountain. And I'll probably make myself bring the lanyard just in case I manage to drop one of them.

I've got the topo map all marked up with labels, camp sites, areas to avoid, etc. I need to mark those same locations on the GPS.

BTW, spot messages will be posted to my twitter and facebook accounts; and on my public FindMeSpot page. That will be the extent of our outgoing communication for the duration of the trip. No satellite phone this time. And since I'm limited to like forty-six characters per message, you can expect very succinct updates.

That is all. For now.