Friday, August 28, 2009
Kilimanjaro
So the guide book says the climb to the top of Kili is essentially a long hike, and if you are in decent physical shape it should not be exceedingly difficult. Umm ya understatement of the year! Also it seems in Africa the best remedy for 9+ hours of difficult hiking is a few more hours of strenuous hiking as they kept taking us to our tents and then making us march up and down the mountain. The trek started out great, the first day we drove to the trail head (7500ft) and saw wildebeest, zebras and monkeys along the way. Then we had a 3 hour hike through the rainforest to our first camping spot (8692 ft) which the monkeys seemed adamant about reclaiming. The second day we went from the forest camp to Shira 2 camp (12,595 ft) which was a pleasant 9 hour hike uphill. Upon arrival our guide tried to get us to hike 1 hour more up the mountain and then come right back down to "acclimate". We politely declined/hid in our tent. The next day involved more......hiking! We had a 7 hour hike to Baranco (12,956ft) but not before trekking around the lava tower (15,088ft) to acclimate, also known as our first fourteener. By this time we were in the alpine desert and it was very cold especially when the clouds rolled through. Day four we hiked to Karanga camp (12,998ft) which was 4 hours of very difficult hiking. Upon arrival to our camp our guide informed us that we had to acclimate some more and we hiked an hour up and down the mountain. Day 5 arrived and we hiked 4 hours to Barafu camp, Swahili for ice hut, (15,088ft). The hike was very difficult, we had to go up and down steep cliffs and involved quite a bit of scrambling. When we arrived a Barafu we tried to get as much sleep as possible since we pushed the the summit (19,334ft) at midnight. We woke at 11:30 and put on all our winter gear, it gets to about 30ยบ F below zero on the mountain with lots of wind. Our ascent up the mountain took a little over 7 hours and there were several times I was convinced I was going to be brought down in a stretcher. We watched the sun rise on the mountain and made it to the summit about 7:30am. We took some pictures and then hurried down the mountain which took 2 more hours. After an hour rest we had to make a 4 hour hike to our last camp. I have never been so exhausted. Our last day we had a 4 hour hike the the gate and made it safely out of the park but I am afraid my mountain climbing career is now over. I am still so sore I can barely move.
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Colleen, George,
ReplyDeleteCongrats on making it to the top. Now you've bested Ryan and Brady's climb to a mere 14,000 foot peak. Your descriptions of the adventure are great...have you considered a masters in creative writing? Without exception, all who hear of your excursion are at once amazed, impressed, and a little jealous. Hmmm...sort of my feelings too !! I sold the Civic. I got $2,000 with an additional $300 payment after I fix the speedo. I have ordered the part ($100), so we should clear another $200 of the part fixes the problem. If it does not fix the problem, I'm screwed out of $300. Max is fine and at this very moment looking out the window in his bedroom hoping something/someone will come by so he can bark widly. Don't you just miss the heart-attack fright created when he erupts with a fit of barking for no apparent reason?? Don't let the cats and dogs on the Safari gobble you up. Dad
Hi Colleen
ReplyDeleteI already did this once and it did not save. as you can see i am hopeless at saving the comments I have done. See if this one saves
HAHA! I like all the extra climbing to acclimate, that sounds like heaps and heaps of fun! I am glad you made it safely back down, must have been an experience you will never forget, but for the near future it sounds like you wish you could!
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