1-16-2010

Woke up, pretty sure it was noon… maybe it was two… anyways. We packed up camp, the intention for the day was to move to camp 2. Big loads up the fixed lines, sounds good. We tried to fit all the equipment in our packs. Equipment that made it here in packs and on the sleds we dragged. So, while the other guys packed, Willie & I worked on getting all the group equipment into/onto ours. Then, as I strapped my skis on the very outside, and worked at getting my pack on, I commented to Willie how glad I was that North Face had given me a new pack, hence, new buckles. Next thing you know, I cinch the waist band, and the main buckle breaks. Sweet, now I get 20 kgs straight onto my shoulders.

            As we continued up the fixed lines, my pack seemed to get heavier & heavier. Willie had taken one of the clients packs onto his, then given me the weight. Its ok, not too bad. We go higher, and I strap on the food and fuel we cached yesterday. Another 8-9 kgs. It will be a little bit worse now… then the shoulder strap broke. Shwing!! We moved on, a little bit uncomfortable now. So, this just made pulling into camp feel that much better. Finally there. Except for the growing wind, and the sun about to duck behind the mountain, we were feeling good. But, we weren’t quite there. Still have to set up camp! Finish with that, the clients get in and cozy, Willie gets in, I bend over to crawl in,

“Johnny, you can build a wall around the tents?”

“Sure thing Willie”

So, finally, I get to fall into the tent. Sore, cold, hungry, tired, and a little bit cranky. Take off my boots, and lurking under the sock was a dirty bloody blister. 4 of them actually. So, after dinner, I slept pretty well.