The battle for the Southwest Face continued in a predictable pattern: large teams, supported by Sherpas acting as high-altitude porters, established a succession of camps in the broad, snow-covered couloir leading to the foot of the intractable Rock Band.
For me, it represents a constant, reassuring presence that holds my gaze whenever I look out upon its twin summits and the broad snow-covered ridge between.
Our onions and garlic haven't done well for the past couple years, and the same for the broad beans (snow and melt damage mostly), but we don't have a cold frame or access to a greenhouse so the thought of not growing anything sort of haunts me (what are your plans?).
Above the buttress, the route followed a broad spur of snow and ice to reach the Southeast Ridge just below the South Summit.
Liam and I walked methodically along the broad ridge, on snow the consistency of mashed potatoes.
With his larger Grand Experiment supplemented by the data from the Broad Street outbreak, Snow republished his work in 1855.
Most of the 35 or so Snow Broads are in their 40's and 50's.
Snow Broads finished off last year's boarding season with a fashion show that emphasized the group's distinctly middle-aged bent.
Mary Reyelts, who spent Christmas week snowboarding in Telluride, Colo., was so excited by snowboarding that she started a group three years ago in Minneapolis called Snow Broads.
"It's not necessarily good for the old bones," said Nancy Engh, 43, a member of Snow Broads, who was on a snowboard as her children and husband skied last week in Sun Valley.
