Monday, 2 August 2010
Thursday, 29 July 2010
Saturday, 24 July 2010
Friday, 23 July 2010
recap of the final push to the summit
Well, hello there. We’re all back safe and sound – I know that for sure because we had an emotional reunion including a chorus of “STILL ALIVE!” at the baggage claim at terminal 4 yesterday morning as our various indirect flights home converged on Heathrow. Sorry about the radio silence. It turns out there wasn’t much of a phone signal on the Lemosho route, and our hearts weren’t really into blogging once we had lost Chris.
So, just to recap for those at the back, aside from the admirable efforts of our friend Ed, we last reported in directly on day 4, when, apart from some minor injuries and some inappropriate (and apparently illegal) distribution of bodily fluids on the mountain, all was well. That night things took a turn for the worse. Chris contracted what we now know was a horrible case of food poisoning and spent most of the night in a toilet which we’d rated 0/10 and had made most of us sick in our mouths. Suffice to say that she was not a happy bunny on day 5. Infact, she looked shite. But being the trooper that she is, she followed us up the gruelling Barranca wall – which was pretty hairy with a few sheer cliff edge drops, making even the healthiest person a bit shaky on their pins. It certainly had me clenching involuntarily in parts and I’m still not sure how she made it. But she did, and we whooped and hollered even louder than the yanks in front of us when she arrived back at the camp that afternoon. We left her to sleep it off, hoping that she’d recover in time for the move to base camp the next day.
But it wasn’t to be. She was just too weak and decided, quite rightly, to call it a day rather than join us for the ascent. There were tears all round as we waved goodbye in disbelief to the person that made this whole trip possible. What a cruel twist of fate.
After shuffling on to base camp at a pretty low ebb, we got some rest before getting up at midnight and putting on 6-7 layers in preparation for the potential -20 degree conditions waiting for us at the summit. The adrenaline was pumping again and we were determined to do it for Chris. So we started off chirpy enough – the stars were amazing, the moon was just going down beneath us and we could see a trail of headlights zig-zagging their way up into the sky ahead of us. After a 3-4 hours of trudging through scree at an excruciatingly slow pace, the temperature started to drop, we developed icicles in places we didn’t even know we had places and we started the inevitable ‘are we nearly there?’ questions. One by one, we turned on the waterworks and/or threw teddy out of the cot because of cold fingers, cold toes, a parched mouth, dizziness, headache, or some combination of the above. Our guide tactfully ignored most of our complaints and told us it was too late to turn back, but he did offer Lulu’s his gloves and give her hands some shelter under his bare armpits. Bit of a double edged sword, that one.
We trudged on upwards towards the glaciers like clumsy arctic explorers, passing other hikers who had collapsed in tears in the snow, and finally made it up to Stellar point just as the sun was starting to come up. The terrain was amazing, with craters and glaciers and an almost moon-like feel, and as the sun rose behind the clouds and mist we got a wonderful view of the peak and Mount Meru in the distance. After stopping to chew our way through some frozen snicky-snacks we skidded our way along the glaciers towards the peak, trying desperately to keep warm. Finally we made it, but not before yet another load of yanks. Why DO they always get there first? Lulu was held aloft by the guides and carried to the peak and there were big hugs all round. We gathered all of our mascots together for the group photo, including the infamous CABI weevil, unpacked cameras which were wrapped in almost as many layers as we were, and took our turn by the big sign. 5,895m up in the sky. Kilimanjaro. Done.
Now we just had to get down. And you don’t even want to know how difficult that was. But, hey, the good news is that we’re all STILL ALIVE.
dj
ps: photos to follow. If I can figure out how to load them up.
So, just to recap for those at the back, aside from the admirable efforts of our friend Ed, we last reported in directly on day 4, when, apart from some minor injuries and some inappropriate (and apparently illegal) distribution of bodily fluids on the mountain, all was well. That night things took a turn for the worse. Chris contracted what we now know was a horrible case of food poisoning and spent most of the night in a toilet which we’d rated 0/10 and had made most of us sick in our mouths. Suffice to say that she was not a happy bunny on day 5. Infact, she looked shite. But being the trooper that she is, she followed us up the gruelling Barranca wall – which was pretty hairy with a few sheer cliff edge drops, making even the healthiest person a bit shaky on their pins. It certainly had me clenching involuntarily in parts and I’m still not sure how she made it. But she did, and we whooped and hollered even louder than the yanks in front of us when she arrived back at the camp that afternoon. We left her to sleep it off, hoping that she’d recover in time for the move to base camp the next day.
But it wasn’t to be. She was just too weak and decided, quite rightly, to call it a day rather than join us for the ascent. There were tears all round as we waved goodbye in disbelief to the person that made this whole trip possible. What a cruel twist of fate.
After shuffling on to base camp at a pretty low ebb, we got some rest before getting up at midnight and putting on 6-7 layers in preparation for the potential -20 degree conditions waiting for us at the summit. The adrenaline was pumping again and we were determined to do it for Chris. So we started off chirpy enough – the stars were amazing, the moon was just going down beneath us and we could see a trail of headlights zig-zagging their way up into the sky ahead of us. After a 3-4 hours of trudging through scree at an excruciatingly slow pace, the temperature started to drop, we developed icicles in places we didn’t even know we had places and we started the inevitable ‘are we nearly there?’ questions. One by one, we turned on the waterworks and/or threw teddy out of the cot because of cold fingers, cold toes, a parched mouth, dizziness, headache, or some combination of the above. Our guide tactfully ignored most of our complaints and told us it was too late to turn back, but he did offer Lulu’s his gloves and give her hands some shelter under his bare armpits. Bit of a double edged sword, that one.
We trudged on upwards towards the glaciers like clumsy arctic explorers, passing other hikers who had collapsed in tears in the snow, and finally made it up to Stellar point just as the sun was starting to come up. The terrain was amazing, with craters and glaciers and an almost moon-like feel, and as the sun rose behind the clouds and mist we got a wonderful view of the peak and Mount Meru in the distance. After stopping to chew our way through some frozen snicky-snacks we skidded our way along the glaciers towards the peak, trying desperately to keep warm. Finally we made it, but not before yet another load of yanks. Why DO they always get there first? Lulu was held aloft by the guides and carried to the peak and there were big hugs all round. We gathered all of our mascots together for the group photo, including the infamous CABI weevil, unpacked cameras which were wrapped in almost as many layers as we were, and took our turn by the big sign. 5,895m up in the sky. Kilimanjaro. Done.
Now we just had to get down. And you don’t even want to know how difficult that was. But, hey, the good news is that we’re all STILL ALIVE.
dj
ps: photos to follow. If I can figure out how to load them up.
Monday, 19 July 2010
Sunday, 18 July 2010
Day Six - Itinerary: Karanga Valley - Barafu
Sunday 18th July 2010
Hike 3.4 Km 4020m-4600m (580m gain) 3-4 hours
The departure from the sheltered cliffs of Karanga then begins to reach the open volcanic flats towards Barafu. The landscape that now surrounds them is made up of lunar surrounds and the landscape beyond showing the peak of Kibo and above.
[well they are probably out of signal again. If all is going to plan they should summit early Monday morning. - Ed]
Hike 3.4 Km 4020m-4600m (580m gain) 3-4 hours
The departure from the sheltered cliffs of Karanga then begins to reach the open volcanic flats towards Barafu. The landscape that now surrounds them is made up of lunar surrounds and the landscape beyond showing the peak of Kibo and above.
[well they are probably out of signal again. If all is going to plan they should summit early Monday morning. - Ed]
Saturday, 17 July 2010
Day Five – Itinerary
Day Five Barranco – Karanga Valley
Saturday 17th July 2010
Hike 5 Km 3995m-4020m (65m gain) 4-5 hours
Today’s hike takes them through some rugged and awesome terrain - especially after breakfast as they ascend the gruelling wall of Barranco. As they reach the top they are able to view the footsteps so far, which should be a great motivation for them to continue their trekking adventure. They enter the Karanga Valley after lunch and set up camp (not literally – some chaps will do that for them – Ed) away from the chilly winds that occur at that altitude.
(this is suspected to be a tough day - Ed)
Saturday 17th July 2010
Hike 5 Km 3995m-4020m (65m gain) 4-5 hours
Today’s hike takes them through some rugged and awesome terrain - especially after breakfast as they ascend the gruelling wall of Barranco. As they reach the top they are able to view the footsteps so far, which should be a great motivation for them to continue their trekking adventure. They enter the Karanga Valley after lunch and set up camp (not literally – some chaps will do that for them – Ed) away from the chilly winds that occur at that altitude.
(this is suspected to be a tough day - Ed)
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