December 6, 2010 Waiting out the weather.

As we settled into our tents last night, word came that the two teams which moved up from here yesterday, were greeted with similarly extreme cold temperatures plus 35 knot winds.  Mark commented that such conditions start to enter the realm of life threatening.  Another team stuck at High Camp, is down to 24 hours of food.  We were glad indeed that we'd chosen to wait things out here at base.  As the conditions reported are essentially the same today, we will again remain at our present camp.  The forecast for tomorrow calls for winds diminishing to 15 knots.  This being a manageable circumstance, we will likely move up the mountain. The next day is forecast to be clear and calm, the storm having passed. 
We've just retired to the tents, following a fantastic curry supper prepared by Doug.  As has become our custom, we finished the meal with hot cocoa fortified by a snort of Glenlivet.  Cloud cover has cleared for the first time since arriving at Vinson and the air looks still up high.  Our spirits are restored by the promise of moving to the next camp tomorrow