Breakfast at Lava Tower — at Moir Camp we had FRENCH TOAST. Oh my, it was so good — I can still taste it. The cook had unsuccessfully tried to serve me porridge every morning of the hike. I politely declined, and when I saw the French toast, I took a piece to “eat later.” Well, the food from Moir to Lava must have been passable because I still had it for breakfast that morning. I was attempting to get some syrup — showing Lucky (our server) that I had the toast and asking if he could get me some. A short time later, a whole plate of French toast appeared. I did have to share it with others — but ALL of that plate was eaten along with the piece from the day before. I guess I wasn’t the only one who preferred French toast to porridge.

After breakfast Bonaventure gave us our safety talk. The hike was becoming more dangerous as the oxygen was becoming scarcer and the oxygen level was dropping. The porters tested a Gamow bag in front of us. The bag can be pressurized, and someone suffering from altitude sickness can then be placed in the bag and carried down to an elevation with more oxygen. The rule was if you go in the bag — THAT is your summit — no second chance.