Hello all,
It's 5:30 pm our time and I just closed down the radio talking to the South Col. The first excitement was getting our antenna aligned so I could talk to them properly. They are at just enough of a different location that we were not able to communicate very well. Good old Vern had the brilliant idea to turn our base camp antenna around to point toward Pumori instead of up the Western Cwm. Sure enough we got the bounce and our communications have improved dramatically. And the good news for the team is that I can now talk to them while they are in their tents rather than having to walk out toward the edge in the wind and cold.
The bad news is that it is still blowing. Several weather forecasts have indicated that the winds should be dropping at any time now, but I guess someone forgot to tell the wind that. The guides have discussed the matter and have decided that if the wind doesn't drop by about 8:00 pm they will postpone their departure for 24 hours. They tell me they have plenty of food and fuel, and will go on half oxygen rations if they have to.
I will be talking to the team again at 8:00 and will make another report at that time.
Ellie
— Ellie Henke, Alpine Ascents International Guide and MountainZone.com Correspondent