This is a pretty easy day for us. We cross the relatively flat Shira Plateau, gaining only about 1000 ft, most of it at the end. With views like this, how can you not start the day in good spirits?

At one of our breaks, I take pictures of Amy and our guides. They are such hams for the camera!

There goes Hussein, our waiter and porter, carrying my bag (and many other things)!

Have I mentioned how impressed by the porters I am?  They carry probably close to 100lbs, race past us after breaking down our camp to set up the next one, usually keeping their hands in their pockets as they walk, and never fall or falter. Every time I start to feel like a bad ass for climbing this mountain, a porter will breeze past me doing 10 times the work and I’m properly humbled again.

This is one of the few plants I actually remember the name of. It’s a Lobelia. Mostly I know that because we have Lobelia at home. Kind of cheating, I suppose, but I’m ok with that.

And this is a type of thistle, if I’m remembering correctly.

We see a lot of these trees near Barranco Hut tomorrow, but I’m amused by this solitary one today, especially with that view in the background. I don’t remember what it’s called of course, but it’s pretty cool looking.

Since it was a short day, we arrive to camp early, around noon. I love how high above the clouds we are. It’s amazing that we can actually sit here and look down on them.

These are the public toilets at most of our camps…

…and why I’m happy to have our own private one.

There’s a bit of cell service at this camp, so all the guides and porters huddle on the higher rocks to try to get a signal. It makes for a pretty funny sight.

Our dining tent has a lovely view of the mountain.

Since we have so much time, I sit outside on a rock for awhile, taking pictures of the scenery.

That evening, I brave the freezing temps to snap some pictures of the night sky. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen so many stars!!

I feel like I should mention that the Milky Way isn’t quite this apparent in the night sky, but the camera is able to pick it up much better than the human eye.

I’m really excited by how these turned out, even if they are a bit blurry. I guess I need to dig around for my remote next time, so I don’t have to touch the camera at all when I take these longer exposures.

Now it’s time for bed to be well rested for another long day tomorrow.