Moving to Camp 3

Tonya and team have been climbing up the mountain, per schedule, over the last couple of days.  They reached Camp 2 yesterday under decent weather conditions.  I just received word that they are leaving for Camp 3 as I type this.  Today is expected to be a very long day, with some of the most technical climbing of the expedition.  Camp 3 - located at an elevation of 7,400 meters (just over 24,000 ft) - is at the top of the Makalu La...a major Col / pass on the mountain.  It will most likely take the team 12 hours or more to climb between C2 and C3, with steep rock climbing up to the La.  The weather seems to be holding and the short term forecast is still decent, although it appears that the threat of precipitation is advancing a little sooner than originally forecast.  From C3, the team will most likely make one more camp before the summit...updates to follow as the team reports in...

Entering the couloir below the Makalu La

 

Just below the Makalu La - steep rock, snow and ice at 24,000 ft.