Day 6: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

By Bethany Ansell

Amazing news! Our climbers did battle with the Great Barranco Wall today and all 13 of them were victorious. Well we don't call them The Lucky 13 for nothing.

So what's so difficult about The Great Barranco Wall? Well in climbing terms, it's a scramble and involves having to pull yourself over rock. It's also incredibly narrow and steep in places, which can be physically and mentally challenging when you throw altitude into the mix.

Today they started from Barranco Camp and climbed over the Great Barranco Wall and counter-clockwise around the mountain to their stop for the night, Karanga Camp at 3950m.

Keep up the good work team! If you would like to make a donation to The Steve Charles Help A Friend Fund, please click here.

Day 5: Shira Camp To Barranco Camp

The Lucky 13 at Shira Camp

By Bethany Ansell

Today The Lucky 13 climbed from Shira Camp at 3850m to Barranco Camp at 3950m and the guides from Private Expeditions have confirmed that they all arrived safe and well.

This is one of the hardest days as they may be starting to feel the effects of the altitude. For this reason, the route follows a "climb high, sleep low" strategy which helps to prepare the body for the reaching the summit.

So even though our climbers started at 3850m and finished at 3950m today, in the interim they climbed to Lava Tower at 4600m for lunch before descending to their camp for the night.

Lava Tower at 4600m

According to our friends at Private Expeditions, it's meat and two veg for din dins tonight with a soup starter and fruit for pudding.

They will need the energy because tomorrow they must conquer the Great Barranco Wall, which is one of the biggest challenges of the route. More on this later...

In the meantime, here's a little treat for you - enjoy!

If you would like to make a donation to The Steve Charles Help A Friend Fund, please click here.