100% Summit Success for the Cry Babies!
Babies Prepare for Summit
Friends, family & loved ones,
We had incredible weather today– the stunning view of the Caucuses in the photo below is what we see from our hut.
This morning, while the snow was still crusty, the team practiced crampon footwork techniques on slopes of increasing steepness nearby our hut. Below is a photo of our staging area–again, an awesome view.
Then, we had a self- arrest extravaganza, where we practiced techniques for stopping a fall from every possible position.
No Babies in this group!
By the end of the training, the team had all the necessary skills well-dialed. We had a team meeting to discuss how to pack and prepare for the summit bid and then spent some time pre-packing our gear. We had an early dinner and are setting our alarms for 2:30 am, in preparation for a 4 am departure from the hut. The next time we send a dispatch to you, we hope it is to report a successful summit. So far, the Team has been really healthy and strong and so everyone is feeling encouraged.
Bye for now,
Vern & Carole
No Crying from the Cry Babies
Friends, family & loved ones,
We had the best weather ever for our climb to the top of Pashtakov Rocks today. Under sunny skies, light winds and excellent snow conditions, we climbed about 3,000 feet up to the top of the Rocks.
On the way up, we stopped to see the remains of the historic Pruitt Hut, once the highest hotel in Europe (before it burned down).
On the way down, some of us used the trash compactor bags specified on the gear list to glissade as much of the way back to the hut as possible. After lunch and a nap, we had a “rope rodeo”, where we practiced clipping in and out of the fixed line that we will encounter on the upper mountain.
All in all, it was a full day and a fun day and all of the Babies are doing great. Talk to you tomorrow,
Vern & Carole
Cry Babies Are Climbing!
Friends, family & loved ones,
Today we took the new tram up to 12,000 feet and climbed the remaining 500 feet to our home for the next couple of days. The hut is fancy!
We immediately suited up and went for an acclimatization tour of the glacier. It was hot and sunny– very enjoyable– we took a nice rest break (below).
After the break, we went for an exploratory climb up a steep snow couloir. The entire team did great and felt confident.
We ended the afternoon with knot school, followed by dinner and bed. Tomorrow, we plan to climb to Pashtakov Rocks. Thanks for following the Babies,
Vern & Carole
Cry Babies hike to the Watchtower
Friends, family & loved ones,
The Babies hiked up the other side the valley today to get some further acclimatization. We climbed under sunny skies steeply through grasses and wildflowers with views of the snow capped ridges above.
Vern was so moved by the beauty that he launched Into some songs from The Sound of Music.
We climbed up about 3,000 feet to an abandoned watchtower that in earlier times kept an eye on border crossings below.
We ate lunch All Along the Watchtower.
Our descent off the ridge was steep and swift. We stopped for a break half way down.
The Babies are pretending to be crying in this photo but they aren’t very convincing, are they?We made it back to our hotel just in time to miss the rain shower and with enough time for some of us to take a short nap before dinner. Tomorrow we head up to the hut and everybody is pretty excited.
Vern & Carole
We made it to the top of Europe! Our Mount Elbrus experience was memorable and rewarding.
