5/23 Summit Climb

Hiro Kuraoka Photo - We set our oxygen to 4 lpm to reach the balcony, which is a steep climb that took less than 4 hours, even with all the stops, and then turned it down to 2 lpm above the balcony. Russ said if you can't make it to the balcony within 6 hours, you have no business climbing Everest. We were in business. This view of a gentle snow slope above the balcony was comforting after ascending the steep and icy slope below.