On the lower part of the glacier there is much gravel on top of the ice. The normal route on the south side probably has more loose gravel. Higher up it was just ice so it was ice axe and crampons (metal spikes on boots).
At high camp around 19, 600 ft we got pinned in our tents for one day by high wind and cold temperature, 60 mph/-25F. On summit day we started at 3 a.m. with headlamps, reached the summit at 4 p.m. and got back to high camp at 11 p.m. I lost 25 lbs on this climb. Setting up each camp was two load carries of about 75 lbs. We took a rest day between every load carry.
Interesting! Was it fun? Just curious -- what's it like? Grand vistas? Neat camaraderie? Just the sheer challenge?
I can't imagine going to that trouble to climb a mountain, but that's just me. Most people would hate what I think is fun (intense flip-turn lap swims for 20, 25 minutes a pop). I figure mountain climbing must be fun in some way, or gratifying, or you wouldn't go to the trouble. Just wondering ... what do you like about it?