Advanced Base Camp

Tonya and her team reached Advanced Base Camp today.  For all intents and purposes, this camp will serve as the main base camp for the duration of the expedition.  Located at an elevation of 18,700 feet above sea level, Makalu's ABC is one of the highest base camps among the 8000 meter peaks.  The weather was barely cooperating on the hike to ABC...it took the team 8-10 hours of trekking in fresh snow with high winds and low visibility.  Throw in some major boulder hopping on rocks covered in ice, and all in all it proved to be a relatively exhausting day.  Sounds like the team is relieved to be in the dining tent enjoying hot food and tea before crashing for the night.  Before leaving for the mountain, Tonya had heard there would be 15 climbers on Makalu this season (plus their respective support and Sherpa staff), and in the next few days all of the teams will be settling into ABC.  After a few days of rest, the teams will collectively begin working the route above ABC and figuring out how best to get up the mountain.