Today we completed our first rotation from base camp (15,700 feet) to low camp 1 (18,200 feet). There will be at least one more rotation like this before moving further up the mountain. Then the rotations will repeat between camps 2 & 3, and so on, until I've built enough red blood cells and strength to safely summit. I can tell that I am making progress; though, when I arrived at base camp a few days ago my oxygen saturation at rest was in the upper 70s, now it's in the low 90s.
Rather than returning directly to base camp this morning, we had a little extra acclimatization and climbed up to 19,000 feet in order to get our first taste of moving through the icefall that sits between camps 1 and 2. When I arrived at today's high point I looked up to see the route. I think that the first word out of my mouth started with "f".
This first rotation also provided the opportunity to cache some food and gear at camp 1, lessening the load that I will have to carry when we move. But, I'm still worried a out how I am going to get all this crap plus climbing gear up there! One step at a time!
Tomorrow we will take a rest day to recover.
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