Day 8 - Cache at Windy Corner (4,040 mtrs)

Medium start to the day as the move is a tough but not too long one. However the weather remains tricky - low cloud, snow and wind so we wait a bit to see if the weather improves. A lot of snow had fallen in the past few days and it would be good to let it settle a bit. Some groups have been here for a number of days waiting for an improvement as not only is not pleasant to walk in such conditions (although this can easily be overcome by having the right equipment) there is also an avalanche risk from all the new snow.

A couple of groups have headed off at about 09:30 and our plan (hopefully) is to head off soon and deal with the conditions. There is little point hanging round at this altitude unless we really have to. I take the opportunity to have a quick shave - no reason to let standards drop just because you are on a mountain!

At about 11am we head off - there is still low cloud and snow but the wind has dropped.

First we head up motorcycle hill - so named because it is so steep and some motorcyclists like to ride up ever steeper hills until they fall off backwards. However, we have reached the top of the slope before I have noticed any real steep section. The top of Motorcyle Hill is 3,600 and there we break through the cloud

and start to get stunning views and blue skies.

From there we walk across the Polo Field and round Windy Corner (which is surprisingly unwindy and instead we have more blue skies and sun) to our cache site. Quick turn around and a stunning return to camp with much of the low cloud now dissipating as well giving us wonderful views down the glacier.

 

Camp has grown significantly during the day and there are probably about 10 groups there now. Hopefully we will remain a day or two ahead of them and continue to walk in reasonably deserted slopes.

After supper the clouds clear and we are treated to wonderful views and many people stay up for a bit chatting and looking at the scenery that we can finally see!

 

Looking up to Motorcycle Hill

 

Then there is a bit of preparation for the move in the morning. I end up digging the cache hole - 5 feet deep and about the same in circumference. There is quite a bit of group as well as individual gear that we will not be using higher up the mountain so we will leave it here and pick it up when we come out.

Food
Freedom / French toast
Pad Thai and cheesecake.