Two rope teams are now at Horse Camp, one is in sight glissading down, and the fourth is about 45 minutes away. All are well and in good spirits — we even got word of a snowball skirmish. The group is relieved to be out of the wind and warm again after a long, extraordinarily cold night at Hidden Valley.
We're hearing more weather details, including reports that temperatures at Hidden Valley early this morning dipped to -20 with wind chill factored in. Gusts of 75 to 80 miles an hour may be hitting the mountain around 12,000 feet today, with a high of just 20 degrees predicted. The risk of frostbite, coupled with the intense winds, reaffirms that this morning's decision to drop lower on the mountain was right on.
It's certainly not the first time the mountain has said no. At the McKinley Climb Against the Odds in 1998, the weather was so bad that no one on the team ventured past base camp. On our climb of Mt. Rainier in 2005, the team was broken into two summit days: day 1 saw perfect weather and many climbers reached the peak, but on day 2 a terrific storm dropped rain, snow and lightning, preventing almost all climbers from leaving camp. And on our 2007 Mt. Shasta climb, a massive thaw-related rock fall forced two-thirds of the team to turn back to base camp just before daybreak.
Tonight the team will likely enjoy a fire in the Sierra Club hut, a hot dinner and a good sleep. We can't wait to see them at the trailhead tomorrow morning!
We're hearing more weather details, including reports that temperatures at Hidden Valley early this morning dipped to -20 with wind chill factored in. Gusts of 75 to 80 miles an hour may be hitting the mountain around 12,000 feet today, with a high of just 20 degrees predicted. The risk of frostbite, coupled with the intense winds, reaffirms that this morning's decision to drop lower on the mountain was right on.
It's certainly not the first time the mountain has said no. At the McKinley Climb Against the Odds in 1998, the weather was so bad that no one on the team ventured past base camp. On our climb of Mt. Rainier in 2005, the team was broken into two summit days: day 1 saw perfect weather and many climbers reached the peak, but on day 2 a terrific storm dropped rain, snow and lightning, preventing almost all climbers from leaving camp. And on our 2007 Mt. Shasta climb, a massive thaw-related rock fall forced two-thirds of the team to turn back to base camp just before daybreak.
Tonight the team will likely enjoy a fire in the Sierra Club hut, a hot dinner and a good sleep. We can't wait to see them at the trailhead tomorrow morning!
Dearest Becca, Dad and I read all of the blog entries and we know your bones may be cold but your spirit stays warm and vibrant with each step. We are so proud, and Mom would be so happy you are planning a warm dinner. We can't wait to hear from you. Lots of love! Dad and sis
Posted by: Jennifer Shaloff Rahimi | June 16, 2010 at 05:32 PM