Blogs from Mount Kilimanjaro, North, Tanzania, Africa - page 13

We awoke, had breakfast, and hiked the remaining distance down to the gate where our group would be picked up and transported back to the Key's Hotel. The previous night was fun, after the long 4 hour hike to our last camp, many of us talked in the mess tent about the exhilaration of summiting. We talked about how sore our bodies were, how we couldn't wait to shower, and many said they were looking forward to some barbeque once they got home. I on the other hand was very excited about the safari. I had mentally prepared for the mountain in a way that I had no focus on the safari, and now that our mission was complete, my attention shifted and I could not wait. I hiked at the front of the group and ... read more

Unfortunately the journal got behind and this is my first entry in 5 days. A lot has happened. For starters, we hiked for almost 24 hours in a 27 hour period. Some of that time was eating, or breaking, but it was all on the go. I know it sounds hard to believe, and it was a lot harder to do. On summit day we started with a long hike very early in the morning, about 8 hours up to the Baranco Wall. This was supposed to be the most difficult part. It certainly was the most technical, though not very technical at all by mountaineering terms, it was for us. There was scrambling and climbing, and the wall is pretty much a cliff with a trail zig-zagging up it. There were a lot of hairpin ... read more

Today was more challenging, steeper for sure. I felt very strong again today. In the morning Shoshanna was not feeling so well. We adjusted her day-pack in a way that distributed the weight more evenly and that helped her tremendously. The landscape changed and became more rocky. In some sections you had to use footholds and handholds and to 'scramble' up the mountain. Another difference was we were alongside cliffs most of the way. Because of this I hiked with Shoshanna the whole time after lunch today. Before we got to lunch I was springing right along again and one of our guides, Genesis, said to switch packs with him. He set his pack down and I tried to lift it with one arm and could not. We had stopped for a break and our group ... read more

Moshi,Mnt.Kilimanjaro-23.02.08 Heisann alle slitere. Da er vi endelig ferdig med Mnt.Kilimanjaro..,a nei,det var faktisk ikke "a walk in a park"(Borre sitat)!! Etter Zanzibar,kom vi hit til Moshi (Afrikaforsinka fly,dvs kun 8 timer,frastjelt leatherman av flypersonell & et par timer venting pa buss pa natterstid in the middle of friken nowhere).. Ja,Moshi ja,en liten by paa foten av kilimanjaro som er da Afrikas hoyeste fjell(5895 m.o.h.),et praktfult syn fra en ellers sa sliten by.Etter 2-3 dager var da alt pakket & klart for en av Borre's store drommer: toppe Mnt.Kilimanjaro!! Turen varte i 5 dager,vi hadde da berer,guide,kokk osv,som da er pakrevd a gjorde derfor turen litt dyr,men sann er det. Turen var helt fantastisk,men med konstant & ekstreme stigninger ble turen ogsa utrulig slitsom.I tillegg kom hodepine,kvalme,magesjau, lite matlyst & vanskeligheter med a sove som folge ... read more

Finally, it is over. Will and I are safe and sound, back at sea level, after summitting the highest free standing mountain in the world. It was quite an experience, in many ways, and while it will be impossible to attempt to replicate it, here goes. We were attempting the Marangu Route, the most popular by far of the many options. There are huts with solar panels, water and beer for sale, and running water at all the elevations. It is a far cry from an isolated, peaceful stroll, and if that is what you are after, Kilimanjaro is not for you. It is a social event. You meet people going up with you, talk with those who are coming down (some who make it and some who don't), and one afternoon we had a guitar ... read more