Hike to Horse Camp

We set off today from Bunny Flat trailhead to Horse Camp, a vertical gain of about 1000', ending at nearly 8000'.  The Sierra Club built the hut at Horse Camp in 1923!  The hut is a spot to stop and rest, fill water bottles with safe, spring water and generally schmooze the climbers who stop by on their way up or down the mountain.

The climb was fairly easy, over snow the whole way.  I could definitely feel the altitude on the steeper pitches, as I got short of breath and my heart raced.  A portend of things to come as we head out on Tuesday for our summit attempt.  It was a good time to try out new gear, to climb with new friends and old and to feel confident that we are ready for what is ahead.  From Horse Camp we could see our future base camp at Hidden Valley, about 2 hours above us.

Our biggest concern in this glorious weather is sunburn.  So covered skin and heads is important.  We could hike in shorts, it's so warm, but it's too hard to keep sunscreen on all those exposed body parts!
We realized today that we need to prioritize food, water and sunscreen access at all times!  Good thing our clothes and packs have LOTs of pockets.

After PB&J at Horse Camp we headed down only to meet some of our other climbers in 'snow school', learning the finer points of using crampons and ice axe, including self arrest and glissade techniques.

Then a great group dinner at the local organic Japanese restaurant before an early night.  Tomorrow all 34 climbers will finally be here and we will gather for dinner.

Let the festivities begin!

It felt great to be on this amazing mountain today.   To be healthy and strong, to be surrounded by others who share my desire to climb, to end breast cancer, and to be supported by so many who donated so generously.

Horse Camp today was still under snow to the roof line, so I borrowed this from Google.  But the view is exactly like this!

At Bunny Flat and ready to roll!

Heading up to Horse Camp

Sunscreen extraordinaire on Juliet!

Cathy's first hike EVER!  She thought she was just coming to support her daughter.  See what the mountains make you do!

Pali and Jim

Shasta from Horse Camp

Cindy, the caretaker of Horse Camp, at left. Schmoozing.

That's Hidden Valley base camp as seen from Horse Camp.

Horse Camp offers last toilets before heading up, up, up!

Snow School - the turquoise jackets are all Breast Cancer Fund climbers!