January 26, 2009

An update from the team has not yet arrived, but the guides have told us that they are all strong. After 14-15 kilometers of hiking today, one can assume the team is tired and enjoying dinner and then bed.  They are currently at 3950m but throughout the climb they would have reached 4600m.  This brief stopover at a higher altitude will allow the team to better acclimatize.  It is also important for them to sleep lower as it will allow their bodies to recover more quickly from the previous weeks of endurance exercise.

A massive Happy Australia Day to those on the team and those supporting the team! While the Americans forced the Australians to celebrate Obama’s inauguration on Meru….it is now time for the Australians to encourage the Americans to celebrate. If they are luckily, there will be vegemite enough to go around. Our guess is that they have the Australian flag flying high at Barranco tonight.

3 nights down…3 to go!!!