Arthur secures his pack.


So confident, so eager... so naive.


Dave shares a moment with nature.


The hike to Horse Camp afforded an excellent view of what was to come. The clouds conveniently masked the hard part.


Arthur managed blisters a few hundred yards into the hike. After attending to them at the Horse Camp spring, he basically ignored the agony.


Dave an Arthur catch their breath as the Causeway begins to ascend.


Farther up, fatigue sets in. The entire day was a struggle with distance, height, and weight.


The view from the second moraine was superb.


As the snowline and base camp approach, we take more and more breathers.


Base camp at last. We hastily pitch the tent and recover from the first leg.


That flap of skin would eventually be tugged down to the bottom of Arthur's heel.


Daytime is cold and windy at altitude.


A cloud rolls in over the gulch. Lake Helen is vacant save for our tent and one other (not pictured). Seems the popular day to summit was the day we were ascending.


Lake Helen: rocks, snow, windbreaks.


The clouds hang ominously above our heroes.


Arthur and Dave eat like kings: canned soup, ravioli, and apple juice. A gold mine of heartiness.


David savors the last of his tin.


David savors Kelly Monaco in the few minutes of down time at Lake Helen.


A rainstorm that started several valleys over reaches the adjacent valley. Luckily it travelled north around the mountain.


Arthur and Dave enjoy the fantastic sunset view from Lake Helen.


Darkness falls and bed time approaches. The 3am journey to the summit will require much rest.