Elbrus Expedition Dispatch

July 4, 2016 – Enjoying the 4th of July at the Barrels!

Commemorating Betsy’s birthday at the Barrels

It is 5:30 in the morning and it is the 4th of July. Not surprisingly for that warm wet weather that we had moving across the mountain yesterday as we climbed to Pastukhov Rocks. There is a heavy snow falling at the Barrel site today. It is very peaceful and relaxing which is probably a good thing.

We are going to call this a rest day in preparation for a possible upcoming summit and we are also going to celebrate Betsy’s birthday. She doesn’t know that yet, we ordered a cake from down the valley and Leila always prepares fabulous meals; so we are going to enjoy our time in the barrel today, acclimatizing, going through some gear a bit.

The team is going to sleep in, I probably won’t see them until 9 o’clock at breakfast and right now I am in the mood to enjoy a snow day in the mountains, not the typical 4th of July that our friends and family back in US might imagine; but that’s our 4th of July and it’s not bad at all here at Mount Elbrus.