On the rest day the Mulas had a sunny warm late start to the day. They assembled around a dry rock ring. There they did drills with parkas, mittens, pants. They donned the same garments over and over in different combinations. Acolytes caught in a strange ritual they put on a parka zipped it up and tightened the hood. They did this with goggles on; then with eyes closed. This commotion drew a small curious crowd who in mocking or curious tones wondered if we were fools or geniuses. I didn’t know the answer to their questions, but we were all on the same route on the same schedule so maybe it didn’t matter. As the Mulas Locas lined up for dinner at the cook dome door, a thick fog and then sleet drove them back into their tents. The heavy patter of grapple on the tentflys while usually relaxing in every other environ was somewhat menacing here. -Don Nguyen
