Route Notes
We bivy below the ridge and launch at 4:30 AM. Each segment is pre-marked for sunrise angles; we prioritize east-facing faces on day one, south ridges day two, and weather holds day three.
- Shot order planned per sun path; backups for cloud cover.
- Water cached at mid-ridge; no glass left behind.
- Redundancy: dual-slot body, mirrored cards each night.
- Track lines downloaded offline; handrails chosen for safe exits in whiteout.
- Meal and melt-water schedule plotted to keep weight consistent.
Light & Safety
Winds dictate tripod height. We shoot handheld at 1/250+ when gusts exceed 40 km/h. Gloves stay on; we use tactile lens tape for fast ring finds in the cold.
If gusts exceed 40 km/h, we drop the tripod and brace elbows on packs. Priority is safety; shots wait until wind calms. No drones near nesting cliffs.
Key Frames
- Ridge Silhouette — sunrise rim light; single exposure, CPL tuned lightly.
- Cloud Gate — fast-moving fog through saddles; 1/125s to keep structure.
- Summit Glow — last light on granite; -0.3 EV to hold highlights.
- Rope Team — documentary portrait of partners on traverse, 1/320s.
Logistics
Packing: 24–70 + 70–200, CPL + GND, carbon tripod with spikes, microspikes, puffy + shell, 2L water, stove + fuel tabs, radio, first aid, bivy, headlamp x2. Total carry: ~8.5 kg.
Daily cadence: sunrise shoot, move, midday scout, nap, sunset scout for next day. Cards backed up to dual SSDs nightly; notes written for each frame on location and weather.
Cross Links
Hop to other stories built on altitude and edge: