Welcome To The “Line Ride”
April 24
After coordinating, via radio, with Big Daddy (Nickname for Mike Hamill, badass owner of CTSS) early morning, Heavy Set made the call to head back down to EBC. The sun was out, but the winds are FULL STRENGTH (go to my Instagram @getggritt for little video of winds)! Most of us left in our expedition parkas and hand warmers (trying to find enough oxygen to react). Eye protection was critical to prevent snow blindness from cold and glacier reflection. The other team (crying, crawling, drone owning) left this morning as well, which would bottleneck us numerous times throughout the day.
After the first 30 min of decent, the winds decreased to a manageable level. SO GAME ON! Back down the magical, twisty, cracking rabbit hole! Disarming to see a section of trail you just came up, NOW drop of an ice cliff and gap a good 20 ft. Instead a new route of repelling and steep down climb and wrap around. San Miguel and I followed closely behind Heavy Set, giggling like kids completing an obstacle course. When we stopped for uphill traffic, always sure to give a fist pump and “good job” as climbers gasped to catch their breath.
As the earth turned and the sun moved higher in the sky, IT GOT HOT! That is what happens on a glacier. Extreme ends of the temp scale.
The vision of EBC was in sight, like an oasis, and felt like a game of diminishing returns! But, we finally made our way down. Mua’ Dib was waiting for us, at the entrance of the fall, with juice (sort of water downed kool-aid, and AMAZING) and apples.
Side note forgot to mention earlier: He was not able to go to Camp 1 with us due to a broken molar. Entirely different crazy story having to go to Namche… yada yada yada. But he’s repaired and wanted to greet us. The band is back together!!!!
And what did we do immediately after returning to our CTSS home???
Yes, you got it… WE ATE!
Kumar made a special welcome back meal… his version of Nepalese sushi and udon noodles. Don’t worry, it was DELICIOUS!
Some of the team is wiped out, some of us are energized from what we just SLAYED! Either way, we will all sleep well tonight, bonded further and READY to do this again in 5 days. Tomorrow… full rest day!
About the author : Kim
