Getting High on Mt. Kilimanjaro

Talk about a walk in the clouds! Edgar and I arrived in Nairobi, Kenya on September 11 and took a shuttle to Moshi, Tanzania, a small town at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro. The shuttle ride there was wild. It took 7+ hrs and had to be on some of the worst roads I have ever been on. At some points we were literally bouncing out of or seats. However, it was worth it as we saw the country side and the people who live there. A lot of Masai tribesmen and women who were herding there flock along the road,including goats and cattle. The colorful clothes and jewelry they wear as they watch their flock is quite something to see.

What struck me was the amount of small children who were out in the middle of nowhere herding goats. You would pass women and children carrying water where there seemed to be no villages for miles.

Our home in Moshi was the Springlands Hotel. It was a very nice hotel more resembling a villa. Moshi is a small town of approximately 5,000 people either working in agriculture, tourism or in the local brewery (Kilimanjaro beer, which by the way was not bad).

Moshi would be our base to climb the tallest mountain in Africa and the tallest free standing mountain in the world. Edgar and I headed up the mountain on September 13 with our guide Mohamed Mndeme and three American guys (known as Team USA - Lee Bentsen, Lee Carter, Fraizer Keck)) who became good friends on the way. We were fortunate that we had great weather for our 7 day climb. It took 5.5 days to the summit and 1.5 days down. They were all grueling days, averaging 10-12 kms per day, with the summit day being almost 30kms. We slept in sleeping bags in a two man tent and enjoyed freshly prepared meals each day by our cook.

The scenery was spectacular for all 7 days, especially on the summit. The summit day started at 12 midnight at 4,600m after 5 hours sleep (or attempt at sleep). We hiked up the steepest part of the climb for 6 hrs straight; one foot after the other - pole pole (meaning slowly, slowly). Those were 6 torturous hrs where you were fighting as much mental adversity as you were physical. However, after 5.5 hours the first rays of sun started to come over the horizon and it was like a shot of adrenaline that kicked in and carried us to the top.

After the high of reaching the summit we still had to get back down. And sometimes getting down is as hard as getting up. So what took us 5.5 days to get up, we got down in 1.5 days. However the pain in our legs and feet were worth it!

Once we got back to the hotel we ran for the shower and scrubbed the 7 days of dust, dirt and sweat off our bodies.

The next day we took the shuttle back to Nairobi. I guess we should have learned our lesson during the first ride. This time the road seemed worse and we had to stop several times so the driver could duct tape some parts (e.g. muffler) that was beginning to rattle off. This was causing us to run really late and would mean we would be arriving in downtown Nairobi at night - NOT GOOD!. Two tourist walking around with suitcases at night in Nairobi IS NOT RECOMMENDED. What was making matters a little worse, and I highlight a little, was that we did not know for certain where we were staying. I had written down the names of a few places before we left the hotel in Tanzania and Edgar e-mailed one enroute. But we had not heard back by the time we arrived in Nairobi. However, Lady Luck was shinning on us and the shuttle stop landed us right across the road from the hotel we were thinking about staying at. It just so happened that they had a double room and all ended well.

Below is a copy of a press release by the Kilimanjaro National Parks Services.

NEWS RELEASE
from Tanzania
Mt. Kilimanjaro Rangers Service reports 2 Cape Bretoners have reached her summit, in good spirits but weak. When asked what they would like for their success, they replied, "shower and beer", but couldn't confirm in what order. They were also overheard saying, "This isn't F@#..ing Cape Smokey."

ps Still haven't found a computer to upload photos.

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Part of trip: Africa 2009

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