Clouds, Snow and Glaciers ...

A 3am start got us on the Stanley glacier by 5am where we kitted up, crampons and snow boots, roped together and had a quick lesson on how to use the ice axe. The day dawned as we were halfway across the Stanley Glacier ... but the day was overcast.

  No clear blue skies for us ... but we pressed on. After the Stanley Glacier we traverssed the rocky moraine for a good hour or more in the biting wind before we once again roped up to cross the Magherita Glacier. After two hours the clouds were too close and threatened rain. Visibility was at only a couple of metres and Grace and Anne-Marthe took the decision, 200 vertical metres from the top, to turn back. We could not risk rain as we back-tracked across the glaciers.

   We made it back to Moraine Hut (actually without any rain except a few spits) by 4pm. The plab would have been to have a bite and continue on to the hut below for the night but my energy reserves were at the end and we bedded down early for another night at Moraine Hut.

On Stanley Glacier, roped together and a bit cold .... at least I am!!

I attempt to smile ....

Outside Moraine Hut with Isaac ...

Here is a diagram (from the internet) of the glacial walk. This is the Ugandan route but if you look at the two glaciers we would have met that trail at the arrow ....

 

The following is a great link ... Summit Post