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'snow swagger', and a little humming, I was able to take the pain out of my hips, move it back down to my feet and suck up the pain that would remain for the duration of the course and continue on. We stopped about < of an hour from the top for lunch. It didn't come too soon; maybe too late as I was almost unable to eat because of exhaustion. But with the water platypus in my pack, control of water intake was perfect. As most people don't drink while walking , I can and I think it makes a great deal of difference as I sweat very freely. So the day included the assent of Gordon, 10,300 feet and then a one hour ice school; which included the proper use of crampons and ice anchors, and crevasse avoidance. The day started a 8:00 am, loaded and on the glacier, and ended at 3:15 pm walking up the steps of the hut to rid myself of these killer boots. We arrived only to find we had been invaded by the British Army here to participate in activities almost identical to ours. (That evening I learned the guides know how to disappear into themselves. It can be fairly noisy but most will read very intently to pass the time after a hike or before the meals. However most are very gregarious, having a wealth of wonderful stories about past expeditions, as personal guides, or doingthings like this 'intro to mountaineering school'.)

( to day 4 Mount Rhonda)