1-19-2010

A nice sleep-in today, well deserved by all I must say. We packed all out gear leisurely, and started down. Out plan was to make it down to low camp, re-organize gear there, then out to VBC, and maybe catch a flight to Patriot Hills. The team headed down, and I finished with my thanks and goodbyes to the mountain, and started skiing down. Skiing variable snow (icy crust with sugary crusty patches) with a full loaded backpack on Dynafit bindings down a 45 degree headwall is relatively new to me. I passed the group early on, wished them a safe trip down the lines. The deal was that I had to get the sleds and duffels ready to go in low camp. This done, I had about an hour to hang out. A large topic of my brain was to my toes. Since the day we camp to low camp, they haven’t really been warm. By the way, we had the warmest recorded day at Patriot Hills on the 14^th,, a thermometer breaking .05 degrees above zero. But now my toes were suffering. Its ok, just a couple more days….

We pulled into VBC at about 7:00 PM. I guess the team was as ready to go as Willie & I. besides a depressing cloud layer settled over our camp (and airstrip) we were worry-free. A non freeze dried meal, life looks good.