8/24/03 The wind continued to blow strong, steady gusts perpendicular to our ascent. Tumble remembered: "At several points on the open ledges I had to stop and just brace myself until a particularly bad gust subsided. I also had to stop several times because when I picked up a foot to move it ahead the wind would blow it off to the side and upset my balance. I had to fight my poles to keep them in front of me."