Topping Out at 19,340'

7:25am. 10 degrees F with a 20 knot wind.

When I am about 50 yards from the summit I actually cry the emotion is so overpowering!



In addition to the low temperature, wind speed is between 20 and 40 knots so we only stay long enough for our photo's and for the guys to sing happy birthday to me.



The sun was just starting to color the sky at Stella Point and was up by the summit.




We then descened to base camp in about 2 hours. The surface had melted along the path, exposing the volcanic scree. Going down is like powder skiing.



At base camp we take a 2 hour nap, eat a light lunch and start back down.

We are not at 10,018'. So today we climbed 4,000' and descended 9,000'. Both of us are wiped out!