The team (aka “Team One”) settled at their new digs at Camp 1 (16.8k’) today. The climb begins!

Ryan and Rob banter during a recorded conversation this afternoon.

Rob describes a pretty difficult skree climb today that took alot of energy. Though the interview runs long, it seems cut short by a toilet bag that blows away in the wind up the mountain.

Ryan: “Are you happy?” Rob: “Well I dunno if “happy” is the word. We’re doing well. We’re moving along.”

Rob describes the grub and identifies the rest of “Team One”: JJ and Geoff (the guides), Peter (seattle who did elbrus with dad), Mike (seattle originally from houston), another Robert (sacramento), Spencer (recent college graduate), and Tim (canada).

Guide JJ Justman also audio blogged today from Camp 1, and his sat phone cuts out just as much as Rob’s. Sometimes it takes a guide to find happiness. It turns out Team One is happy because there’s a sit-down toilet near where they are camping!

Day 10: Move to Camp 1. We leave Base Camp and climb back to Camp 1 with our remaining gear.* Wednesday, December 12th, 2012

* Itinerary summary from RMI Guides