Pega turned around and asked how
I was doing. With my lobster claw
heavy black mittens, the right covered
with a sticky mess of Espresso Cliff Shot,
I attempted to give a thumbs up.
When my thumb did not point up,
I spoke and said I was doing fine.
The next words he spoke surprised me.
He said that the Balcony was just
ahead and we would be resting
shortly. I asked him what time it was,
and he must not have heard because
there was no answer.
As we approached the Balcony, I could
see a dozen or more headlamps that
seemed to be motionless. Other
headlamps were moving about, but
none in a straight line. As we got
closer, I could see a flat area. Some
headlamps were moving in a straight
line to the left and above us. I had
figured out that our route turned to
the left as the South East Ridge began.
Pega pointed to a spot ahead and to
the right. He told me to have a seat.
I unclipped my backpack and set it
down, careful not to tangle my
oxygen tubing or mask. I pulled out
my water bottle and drank my mix
of UCAN powder and water.
Unfortunately, when you mix the
powder with warm water it clumps,
so, I was drinking lumpy water.
I didn’t care, but it was an experience.
At the same time, I pulled a package
of candied pecans that I had saved for
the summit and choked down a few
small handfuls before putting them
back into the inside middle pocket
of my down suit where I kept my
foot warmer batteries. I checked the
battery in that pocket, and it had one
light on for power. I couldn’t tell if they
were working because my feet were
not warm, but at the same time they
were not cold. I guessed they were
working.
While I rested, Pega and Dawa
switched my oxygen tank for a fresh
tank that had been brought up a
week earlier by our Sherpa. I asked
Pega again what time it was, and
I could not understand his response.
I saw Justin, one of our guides and
personal guide to another climber.
He asked me how I was doing, and
I replied, “Very well.” I asked him what
time it was, and he told me it was
11:30 p.m. It had taken us four hours
to get to the Balcony. We were ahead
of schedule. After the oxygen bottle
was switched out Pega asked if I was
ready to go and I said, “Yes.”
We left the flat landing of the Balcony
and began climbing the steep South
East Ridge. As we began to climb, I was
aware that we were walking on a narrow
ridge with a long drop both to the left
and the right. I was glad it was dark.
I don’t think I would have liked to see
how steep it was and decided that
I would worry about that on the way
down when the views would be
better, or worse! I could see some
headlamps ahead in the distance.
They seemed very high. We still had
some serious climbing to go.
JAN UARY/FEBRUARY 2020 | P EN N SYLVAN IA DEN TAL JOURNAL
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