Picture of the week 35

Dawn, at Arrow Glacier Camp, the morning we would finally attempt our assent of the Western Breach. It was very cold, but the early departure would minimize our exposure to rock fall.

The shadow of Mt. Kilimanjaro is draped atop the 12,000-ft cloud layer stretching all the way to Mt.Meru some 30+ miles away.

Although I had the presence of mind to take this photograph, the lack of oxygen at 16,000-ft of altitude prevented me from fully appreciating this wonderfully visual gift until I returned home to 750-ft. It was the very same cognitive limitations, however, that helped us steel through the situation with the South African climber.