A really easy start this morning. Breakfast at 9am, although we did have to present our gear for porterage at 8am. Mine weighed in at 11kg so with climbing gear at 6kg meant I was paying for 7kg - 1400 Roubles up, happy with that. Portering down, we are told, is cheaper at 150 Roubles/kg although as you will read later, that's not true, it's the same as the up price.

Another excellent breakfast, mostly cheese on toast and coffee for me.

10am was go time. We followed the same route as yesterday up to the 'airfield' and the next climb before we split off to the right and steeply up. The trail was similar to yesterday; dusty scree followed by steadier stony ground, always with very little flat. At one stop we could see the Stone Mushrooms of yesterday which seemed a long way below - good news, we were ascending. Onward and upward until we arrived at a very rocky plateau requiring us to pick our way carefully over the rocks to the final ascent - huts! Disapointingly, not ours, we still had some way to go over very rocky rough ground which was tiring on the legs and required 100% concentration to avoid falls. In addition to the rocks, there were a couple of wide streams. Various methods were employed, crossing in deeper water, jumping, in my case I walked up a little and crossed on easier ground. Doh!

Soon we arrived at our huts and discovered we were in a hexagonal hut, each having their own private 'pod'. I felt pretty tired on the last section up, nothing specific, just general tiredness associated with altitude. My 'sac had been heavier than previous days and heavier than it will be for the next few days that's for sure, but good acclimatisation training.

First job on arrival was to collect our kit bags. I decided to recharge my watch but couldn't locate my charger - disaster, especially as I'd left my power pack at Base Camp. Oh well, it was lunchtime. Soup and rice/meat, but I wasn't very hungry so had to force it down. I had a Sprite (200 Roubles).

After lunch I paid my porter bill and went in search of my charger, which I eventually located in my Sleeping Bag - lucky I found it now, it could have been very painful later!

Some kit sorting but I'll do the main when I know what's going on tomorrow. Top Camp (North Camp) is reasonably well sorted with a main dining/social area, 'pods' for sleeping, but the toilets and washing facillities are pretty basic. There is a so-called shower, but it is basically a fill-it-yourself bucket and a pan for pouring water over your body. Also, it relies on solar heating for the water so timing is critical to avoid too cold or too hot water. The ground at Top Camp is very uneven so care is always needed. Toilets are some distance from the pod which will be fun in the night.

At 7pm we gathered to sort out harnesses and safety slings. One long rope and one short were made from a sling and a length of rope. I was amazed how many people had no clue how to tie even the simplest of knots. Happy to help, I saw what Stuart was proposing so set about helping others achieve the same and also make up my rig.

Dinner at around 7:45pm was sausage and mash - very nice but a little cold. I'm not sure I can get used to lunch at 3:30/4:00pm and dinner at 8pm, there's just not enough time to get hungry again, especially when we are doing very little.

After dinner I learned a new and much better way to tie an Alpine Butterfly. Took some night photos then the bedtime routine began.

Footnote (excuse the pun): The terrain thus far has been ideal for approach shoes rather than boots, in fact some are wearing them.