Denali Day Twelve – 15th June

 People who had skis would walk up the hill half way and ski down to pass time  What a great little team of happy peopleDay Twelve – 15th June

So Tim and I got up 6.30 am while everyone else was in their cosy sleeping bags and we had small breakfast of porridge and tea then got roped in, backpacks on and off we went up the big hill. We got up to just before the start of the fixed ropes and it was really tough going. We went at quite a good rate to get up there and back down in two hours. I am really apprehensive about tomorrow though as we will have heavier back packs with all our stuff, our high camp food, summit day snacks and sleeping bag, thermarest and sleeping mat. My bag will be so big. I just have to dig really deep now. It’s this last big push and then a 12 to 18 hour summit day. This is just so tough. I have to count my steps to get through. I count to 50 and then look up. Then another 50 and then look up again. This is how I just get up the hill. Every 50 steps I am closer. I think tomorrow I will make it 100 steps. Going up this morning, my hair was totally frozen stiff and white ice. Icicles hung down in front of my forehead. I think maybe from bits of hair, I have no idea but I could see them. My hands were much better. I had liners and mittens on this time. But at the top my feet were frozen so I’ll pop a thin pair socks underneath my big ones. I think everyone’s feet are frozen though. The temperature is so cold here, I have never experienced anything like it. It’s like being stuck on the cross trainer at the heaviest setting with 20kilos on your back in a large freezer.

We got back, had warm drinks and breakfast of potato bits and bacon with the rest of our group who had got up now. Then rest time in the bag to warm up.

We’re at the business end now where it’s just such a mission and so hard to keep going but that’s what climbing big mountains is all about. Who can endure the most suffering. I’m glad I do Ironman. This is so much more difficult. In an Ironman marathon if you’re suffering you can walk, up here just putting one foot in front of the other takes everything you have just to keep doing it. At this altitude and in these freezing conditions. But I will give it my all. I really want to get to the top now of this beautiful beast.

We had dinner of chicken with rice and raisins. It’s Super cool surfer dude Dan’s birthday today so we had some non bake cheesecake and sang him happy birthday. He said it was the weirdest birthday he’s ever had lol. He continues to refuse to tell us how old he is. The range appears to be from early twenties to thirty.

So we got the weather forecast and before it had looked to be good for Monday and Tuesday which meant we would have moved up to high camp tomorrow. Then had a rest day or two and then gone for the summit Monday or Tuesday. Now there is to be high winds and freezing cold conditions making a wind chill of minus 30 and north wind right in our faces meaning we could get frostbite moving in those conditions. We got word that someone at high camp already got frostbite and they were just in camp. Not even moving up on it. So it looks like we are stuck here a few days and the plan now is to move to high camp Sunday. We will have another acclimatisation hike tomorrow up and past the cache site. This means that Tim and I will get a chance to do the fixed ropes and cross the Bergshrund before we have to do with a heavy backpack. This puts my mind at peace a little. Then we will rest Saturday and move up Sunday ready to be in position to make a summit bid Tuesday. Having Monday as rest day. I am definitely getting nervous now. I just hope I can do it.