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Thursday, December 30, 2021 - 8:38 pm PT

Our run of perfect weather continues on Vinson Massif! We got out of the big sleeping bags at 10:15 this morning when the shadow loosened its cold grip. We weren’t interested in a quick and hectic start or jumping out on the climbing route immediately. Scott and Hannah -our superb ALE guides- cooked up a sumptuous breakfast of scrambled eggs and bacon. We ate, we looked each other in the eye, we polled the gang as to how the night had gone and how each climber felt about pushing higher. And then we pushed higher. We put on our crampons and got ice axes in hand and headed for the fixed ropes. This section would be the “meat” of the day, roughly 2,000 vertical feet on steep and firm snow slopes, protected by a continuous line of rope, anchored every 200 feet or so. We spent a good three or four hours on the wall and a few more on the lesser angled glacier above it. The lead ropes pulled in a little after 8 PM and got busy building camp for those who would follow. We climbed in fine weather, but things are on the cold side, with our estimates centering on about -30 F. It was quite challenging to climb safely in such conditions with the odd 3 mph breeze coming through. The team rocked it. We ate a long dinner and drank hot beverage after hot beverage to rehydrate and regain energy. It is 1:30 AM now, the sun is still beaming on the tents and everybody has turned in, excited to be here -close to 12,500 ft- and excited for a rest day on the final day of 2021.

Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn