After breakfast at base camp the second day, we packed a day bag and set out on our acclimatization hike to Yak Camp. The idea is that we get as high as our bodies will allow us for our first acclimatization hike and at any point that you feel tapped out you can head back to base camp with a buddy and hand radio. Three of us made it all the way to yak camp, which was way higher than I️ thought it would be (above 17,000 ft). From that camp we could see camp 1, 2, 3 and the summit route and it was great to see them! It took us 4.5 hours to hike up and just under 2 hours to hike down. We were spent when we got back and after some recovery drinks and some rest we were back to normal. The cold sets in quickly here, as soon as the sun sets the temperature plummets. Thank goodness for down coats and jackets!
Day 3 in base camp was a rest day, and I was able to take a solar shower! (no pictures, sorry). The outside temperature is around 40 degrees Fahrenheit in the middle of the day, so a warm shower is awesome. I also payed someone $5 for a small bottle of coke that they hauled all the way up to sell and it was worth every penny 😊
Before the sun went down we set up all the high elevation tents that we will be using at camps 1 & 3 to ensure they were in working order and it’s a good thing we did because one of them had broken poles so we will be leaving that (it was the spare anyway).
Tomorrow we'll be climbing even higher, I can't wait!
