June 14, 2007

We heard again from Team Gran Poder today at 5pm. Guide Danny Uhlmann called to report that the team practiced skills on the glacier this afternoon. They went over walking in crampons, self arrest, moderate ice climbing, and steep ice climbing, then returned to camp early to get a good night's rest before tomorrow's big summit day. They will again be operating in two teams on different peaks. Guides Danny and Andrew will take Scott, Paul, Patrick, and David up the Direct Route on Pyramida Blanca (which is more difficult than the standard route and involves steep snow and perhaps steep rock), and Juan will take Claire, Peter, and Ken up Pequeno Alpamayo. Danny said that they had a great dinner consisting of fresh trout that they were able to buy from a woman who caught it out of the lake in the valley. Danny also said that because the new moon is very close to occuring (tomorrow, he thinks), the stars have been incredible. The Southern Cross is out in full glory, as well as another constellation called the Llama Eyes, which is right next to the Southern Cross. The team plans to wake at 3:45am tomorrow and leave to climb soon thereafter.