I fix the rope and Steph jugs up. Steph calmly aids up the thin, discontinuous crack and climbs to the summit. I clamp on my ascenders and move up the fixed rope. The summit itself is the size of two pool tables pushed together and just about as flat. I unrope and rotate 360 degrees taking in the view.
Low clouds pour over the rock to the north softening their jagged spires.
Below in the valley the green fields of Khorkondus are the only signs of humans in this glaciated land. We are soon all on top smiling and chatting about our success and good fortune. We take pictures of each other and despite the sweat, dirt and a little blood covering our faces the true feelings of how happy we are to be standing on this tiny summit, come shining through. As we jockey for the best summit pictures I move carefully over the saturated lichen under my feet. The lichen is pumpkin orange and growing brighter with the moisture.