July 27: Finally we have a weather forecast that is promising. I won’t repeat what I wrote on the main blog (read that if you haven’t). After about two weeks of sitting, I get to start moving tomorrow. I’ll be climbing with Chris Warner and Paul, and our group will attempt to summit two days after the first, lead group of climbers. That lead group is really a mashup of all the other groups on the mountain. Our big team had to split up into two groups because of a lack of tent space at C1 and C2.
I will be out of contact from July 28 until about August 5. So remember that in this situation, no news is good news.
Are we acclimatized enough? Since I just wrote a book on that general topic (it might actually get published some week), I should know the answer, but frankly there isn’t enough data to answer the question. I think we are. So our plan is to go as high as we can, then turn around and come down.
I’ll be in phone contact with family. Some of you might get an email with an interim update but don’t count on it! My phone is way too cranky and battery power is limited.
Thanks for the emails that were sent to me the past few days. If I missed responding to yours, sorry–but I read the emails!
I’ll be back online around Aug. 5. Again, read the main blog for more info about our ‘news blackout’ during this period.
Mike