Day 4 - 20th October 2014
Our first early morning wake up at 6.30 a.m. for a cup of bed tea. That just means that Felix comes round and asks you what you want and brings it to your tent. It is pretty chilly at that time of the morning so anything hot you're glad of. The support staff bring a thimble full of hot water to wash in and take your water bottles to fill up with drinking water. The water is treated for us, so as long as we don't drink it right away we should avoid any tummy troubles.
After an 'extensive' wash we are called for breakfast where it is established that I slept through the worst of the thunder and lightning and the Doc unsurprisingly had a good sleep. Breakfast consisted of porridge, that I avoided, and sausage and egg that I didn't. Toast, jam, peanut butter and honey all available. Roz was particularly keen on the the peanut butter. As with the previous evening meal we were impressed with the quality of the food.
Before setting off a few of us, but not me, did a few stretching and limbering up exercises. Mark lit up up a cigarette having been assured by the Doc it wasn't a good time to give up.
So off we set for a full days trek up to approx. 3700m. This time the vegetation thinned out, and some of the terrain was tricky and uneven underfoot. We also had to trek through the main level of cloud, it was misty and cold at times but otherwise dry. Apart from the last section before camp when we had to hop across raised stumps of grass to avoid sinking into mud. We crossed a small bridge into camp. I say a small bridge it was actually a single plank of wood.
Before we had set off Val had confessed that if there were any mishaps then she was the most likely source. She didn't disappoint as she somehow managed to get a foot wedged between two rocks. While I held one hand to keep her steady a couple of the group and a couple of guides set about freeing her foot while trying not to laugh. Paul experienced a bit of a headache and a bit of nausea during the day but nothing too serious; and it may not have been anything to do with moving to higher altitudes. He was the only one who hadn't taken any Diamox at this point and the rest of us felt fine.
Other than those minor drama's none of us considered the trekking too taxing, although we were going pole pole and taking plenty of sippy sippy as instructed.
Back at camp for a bit of washy washy and another great evening meal, the soups in particular were proving popular to the extent that it became the topic of conversation the nearer we got to camp. Daniel gave us a briefing for the next day, told us to anticipate it getting colder and the Doc warned us about complacency over sunscreen. Although we were getting higher and the temperatures dropping there was actually less UV filtering on the sun so SPF was vital.
The importance of rest was stressed and so after a couple of inappropriate dinner table stories we were off to bed by 8.30 p.m.
Days 5-7 21st-23rd October 2014.
I was awake before Felix came round for the early morning wake up calls. Nipping out to use the portaloo before everyone else got up the mists had cleared overnight and the views at 6.00 a.m. were astonishing. As usual Alison was stood outside her tent shivering with cold wrapped up in fleece and woolly hat. Mawenzi and Kibo Peaks rose up magnificently either side of the camp. This is what we signed up for, I hadn't seen anything so awe inspiring before. Kilimanjaro consists of three volcanoes, Mawenzi, Shira and Kibo with Kibo the highest, most famous and most photographed. We would be heading to Mawenzi today for 2 nights camping and acclimatisation before reaching Kibo. Although there wasn't a cloud in the sky it was bitterly cold. Myself and Alison were huddled round a cup of tea trying to get warm, every little helps. When the sun came up over the horizon it was suddenly very hot. It went from freezing to too hot in about ten minutes. Below Mawenzi is on the left and Kibo on the right.
For breakfast we were given omelette and pancakes. I made the mistake of putting jam on my omelette rather than my pancake. I still ate it but it isn't recommended. Setting off on the trek the terrain was becoming increasingly rocky the higher we got. We would be camping at about 4300m but climbing to between 4400-4500m during the day. The first couple of days had firmly established us as a group that stayed together, at no time did the group splinter into smaller sections walking at different speeds. This wasn't anything we talked about specifically but from getting to know each other we all had the same goal and were determined to achieve it but not at the expense of anyone else in the group. We became increasingly aware that the guides were positioning themselves at various times of the day to observe us for any signs of altitude sickness or other problems. At the same time we were all asking after each other checking we were all okay, would slow down or stop as soon as someone else did. A bond was forming and it was happening naturally. Every time we stopped the Doc would also come round and have a quick check with everyone. A although we had started to view the Doc as one of the group rather than the support staff it was still a real confidence boost to have that support.
Lunch on Day 5 consisted of a delicious cucumber soup and BBQ chicken and chips for the carnivores amongst us. I can't spell the noises we made when that was brought into the mess tent but they definitely merit an 18 rating. In the afternoon we went closer to Mawenzi where Paul, having overcome his minor headache and nausea, kept astonishing us with his ability to get a clear mobile phone signal absolutely anywhere. Here he is on the left phoning home while the rest of us struggle to get any sort of signal.
It was here at about 4500m that we encountered the first little bits of snow.
At the evening meal Daniel told us how impressed he was with us as a group, we listened to advice, we were eating and drinking well and we were talking to each other. He said by this point usually someone in the group would be experiencing altitude sickness, loss of appetite or even drop out. He reminded us that while we were all feeling good we should eat as much as we can as the body would store the energy and it would help if we lost appetite later on nearer the summit. We didn't need any encouragement to eat well the food was exceptional. We couldn't work out how they could keep drumming up such great meals the further we got from civilisation but we were glad they did.
By this time the nights were getting very cold, ice on the tents - even on the inside of the outer covers. My investment in a good quality sleeping bag was paying dividends as so far I hadn't had to put in the liner or wear extra layers, the bag was warm enough as it was. Others were feeling the cold more than I was but I still have an extra couple of natural insulating layers.
We had the luxury of a lie in until 7.30 a.m the next morning as we would be going on a short 2-3 hour acclimatisation walk in the morning. The night sky was getting even more spectacular with the Milky Way now also clearly visible. I confessed to Val and Roz that on the trek up to Mawenzi I had started to feel a bit emotional thinking how far I had come in such a short space of time and with the fantastic support I had been getting it all suddenly seemed very real. The awe inspiring scenery didn't help either. I had said to a few people before I left that if I made it to the summit I would blub like a baby and now it was looking more likely to come true, but there was still a long way to go.
With having the extra hour in bed I took the opportunity the next morning to have a full spa cleanse. Well a 'dry shower' and a shave. Shaving in the freezing cold with a tiny bowl of slightly warm water is not the most enjoyable experience but at least in my head I felt a lot cleaner. The washy washy was easier for the men as we could brave the outside temperatures and get it over with outside our tents. Modesty dictated the ladies had to stay inside, kudos to them for managing it although I am sure they would tell you it wasn't easy.
Breakfast saw a bunch of adults reacting like over excited kids when eggy bread was brought in for us to fill up on.
Daniel took us on a trek to terrain that would be similar to summit night and taught us about descending on the scree, more about that later. After lunch we had the afternoon free. Daniel advised us to rest as much as possible but we went off on our own for a bit of a walk. We met Ben taking a rest on the way and he offered to take us to show us the start of the next days trek. Here we are taking a breather. At the back from left to right are Roz, Doc and Mark. At the front from left to right are me, Val, Alison, Michelle and Paul.
At the evening meal Daniel warned us the next day would be long and tiring as we would be making our way to base camp at Kibo before the final ascent. However, he also said he was confident we would all get to the summit. A few more inappropriate dinner table stories and off to bed. The food over the whole trip was amazing, noodles, spaghetti, rice, pasta, chips, potatoes, spicy sauces, bolognese, fried fish, BBQ chicken, Chocolate cake, lemon cake, fresh fruit it just keep coming: and then there was the soups every lunchtime and evening. Oh the soups, zucchini, carrot, cucumber, mushroom, sweet potato, they just kept producing bowl after bowl of the stuff and we couldn't get enough. Only Mark struggled with some of the food but when that happened he was brought a plate of chips and/or smothered everything in chilli sauce. He ate as much as the rest of us so fair play to him. The first time he was brought chips resulted in a lot of envy from the rest of us but we needn't have worried we would get some in the end. Mark's trip into food adventure culminated in him having a piece of carrot cake, something he wouldn't normally eat. He was so proud of himself he had to have it captured on camera so he could prove it to his partner.
Day 7 was an early start as we had to get to Kibo Hut as early as possible so we could get as much rest in as possible before attempting the summit climb. This consisted of several hours trekking across sparse alpine desert where there was little vegetation. Even the rocks were getting smaller so finding a suitable place to have a private pee was difficult.
This is where the mental part of the challenge started to creep in. The terrain was quite easy under foot and over the course of the day we would only be climbing from 4300m to 4700m. The problem was that we could see the camp very early on but it didn't seem to get any closer. It was dry, dusty and the sun was relentless. Although it was quite chilly we had to keep ourselves protected from the sun with headgear and SPF.
Here is the view to Kibo Hut camp from about 3 hours walking distance. In the foreground you can see a couple of white pieces of debris from a plane crash. Daniel told us everyone survived the crash but because it took so long for rescuers to get there they all perished. The cloud coming in from the right was bringing snow but we managed to get to camp before it started. From the desert to the top of the crater is approx 1100m and we would be scaling about 900m of that in the dark the next night. You can see the grey scar in the middle, that is the route up. Nerves were kicking in.
Our 4 main guides protecting us at the rear.
As we reached the camp we spotted the young Irish couple we had met at the start of the trek making their way down on another path way from us. We managed to get a signal from them that they had made it to the top and that gave us all a boost.
We reached camp and had lunch right away. We had to get a few hours rest before an early evening meal. As much rest as possible was needed as it was the summit next and we would be woken at 11.00 pm.
The Descent
Where is the story of the attempt on the summit? It seems appropriate that after all this time this story should end there. However, something that isn't referred to much when you read about people who have tried this is what is it like to come down from the crater? Let me tell you it is really hard and incredibly tiring.
In attempting the summit you have to leave Kibo Hut at 4700m, climb to the edge of the volcanic crater at Gilman's Point 5685m, then move on to Stella Point at 5756m and if you still have any energy left make your way to the highest point at Uhuru Peak at 5895m. If you make it as far as Gilman's point you still have to come down again and it is steep, it is on deep soft scree. It's hard to keep your footing. In addition you have slowly acclimatised to higher altitudes and your breathing has regulated itself for them. You are suddenly descending very quickly but your head and lungs are still higher up. As we made our way down porters from camp came rushing up to help us and at times more or less dragged us down back to camp. Personally, I could hardly stand by the time I reached camp. As I arrived every member of the camp came out to greet me, shake my hand, fist pumps give me a bear hug. Felix brought me a chair to sit on and another guy brushed all the dust off that he could. One by one the others reached camp to the same greeting.
As I was waiting I was completely confused as to who was where and doing what. I remember someone telling me that Roz had developed a migraine on the way down. At first the Doc thought it may be the altitude but unfortunately not. I am lucky that is not something I suffer from but those people I know who do I get a sense of how awful it is. I felt for her as it was going to be difficult anyway. The look of total anguish on her face when she arrived at camp was heart breaking, we could only hope she would recover quickly to allow her to fully appreciate her achievement.
The further problem was that after a short rest we had another 3-4 hour trek to the next camp back at 3700m. We had already been on the go for 12 hours by this point. The Doc talked through with Roz what she would normally try when she got a migraine and suggested a bit of a concoction of his own that he found worked.
We had to have some rest before lunch and the afternoon trek. I only made it half way into my tent before falling asleep half in and half out and still with my boots on. At lunch I had no appetite as I was so exhausted and barely managed to eat anything.
Due to the need to move quickly to the next camp, the porters hurriedly helped us pack our kits and we were on our way to Horombo. A pretty nondescript trek for 4 hours. I started sneezing and coughing, something that would last for several days. The Doc explained it was not unusual as by this time the body was naturally breathing more deeply and so as we descended to lower altitudes we would breathe in more dust and other crap from the air. On the way down Roz was left trailing at the back. After a couple of hours the Doc caught us up and told us she was feeling a bit better but would need a good sleep at the next camp. Ben stayed with her on the way down. About half an hour away from camp we had stopped for a bit of a breather when Roz caught us up looking much happier, the Doc's special brew was working. She immediately asked me how I was. There in a nutshell is a glimpse of what the group had become, despite the fact that she had struggled with her own problem she still wanted to know how we where. That was how the group was, we had become a single unit and we all to had to know every part of the group was okay no matter what.
By the time we got to camp I had my appetite back. Most of us, with the possible exception of Michelle were completely knackered by this point. Mark said his legs were a bit sore, my knees definitely were. Roz was in need of a good nights sleep more than any of us. We tried to comprehend what we had done over dinner but we couldn't. We had gone from a group who had chatted away easily every night to not being able to explain what had happened. However, we would look at each other and we all knew what each of us had had to put in and we didn't need words we could see it in each others faces and we just knew and it felt good. We were tired, we were proud and we were emotional. We had come so far and we had done it together, for our charities, for our supporters, for ourselves but most of all for each other. The group had become the most important thing, a bond had been made. We hadn't seen it coming but it did, it was surreal, but it was good.
After a good nights sleep we were all refreshed in the morning. After breakfast all the support staff sang a song of celebration for us. Go to my Facebook page to see a video of it. We left some excess kit for the porters and staff who struggle up the mountain for us. We each sought out those who had helped us individually to give them a little extra and then we headed off down the mountain. With the extra oxygen we were getting faster and faster until eventually by mid afternoon we arrived at the exit gate. We signed in at the office to say we were back and had a beer. It tasted good, very good.
All that was left was to get to the overnight hotel with the luxury of a proper bed, hot running water and a flushing toilet. Oh how we missed you!
After showering and putting on clean clothes. We assembled for dinner. Sam from the Tanzanian Travel Company, Daniel's boss, came to tell us how pleased he was with the daily reports he was getting from Daniel. He said that usually there is someone, sometimes a few, in each group who think they know better than the guides and usually they don't make it to the top so the way we had worked together with the support staff was a significant factor in why we had succeeded. He talked about how doing what we had helped employ people in Tanzania and it was very important for them. I looked across the table and was pleased to see it wasn't just me who had a bit of dust in my eye.
After Dinner we were presented with certificates confirming we had done it and we had our photograph taken with Daniel and Sam. We retired to the bar for some well earned drinks. Val and Roz were off on safari the next day, the rest of us heading home. Before we knew it it was over. 9 days previously we had met as virtual strangers and we had formed a bond, a strong one. As fast as it was created it was now going to break apart as we went our separate ways and it was hard. As we said goodbye to Roz and Val that bit of dust got in my eye again.
But this isn't the end of the story. I need to describe the attempt on the summit, it is no longer my journey but our journey and I need to do it justice, not just for me but for my fellow trekkers. I have tried wherever possible to keep this blog light hearted but summit night is different - I hope I get it right.
Watch this space.
If you have been 'enjoying' reading this blog please consider sponsoring me by visiting Marks Just Giving Page
After an 'extensive' wash we are called for breakfast where it is established that I slept through the worst of the thunder and lightning and the Doc unsurprisingly had a good sleep. Breakfast consisted of porridge, that I avoided, and sausage and egg that I didn't. Toast, jam, peanut butter and honey all available. Roz was particularly keen on the the peanut butter. As with the previous evening meal we were impressed with the quality of the food.
Before setting off a few of us, but not me, did a few stretching and limbering up exercises. Mark lit up up a cigarette having been assured by the Doc it wasn't a good time to give up.
So off we set for a full days trek up to approx. 3700m. This time the vegetation thinned out, and some of the terrain was tricky and uneven underfoot. We also had to trek through the main level of cloud, it was misty and cold at times but otherwise dry. Apart from the last section before camp when we had to hop across raised stumps of grass to avoid sinking into mud. We crossed a small bridge into camp. I say a small bridge it was actually a single plank of wood.
Before we had set off Val had confessed that if there were any mishaps then she was the most likely source. She didn't disappoint as she somehow managed to get a foot wedged between two rocks. While I held one hand to keep her steady a couple of the group and a couple of guides set about freeing her foot while trying not to laugh. Paul experienced a bit of a headache and a bit of nausea during the day but nothing too serious; and it may not have been anything to do with moving to higher altitudes. He was the only one who hadn't taken any Diamox at this point and the rest of us felt fine.
Other than those minor drama's none of us considered the trekking too taxing, although we were going pole pole and taking plenty of sippy sippy as instructed.
Back at camp for a bit of washy washy and another great evening meal, the soups in particular were proving popular to the extent that it became the topic of conversation the nearer we got to camp. Daniel gave us a briefing for the next day, told us to anticipate it getting colder and the Doc warned us about complacency over sunscreen. Although we were getting higher and the temperatures dropping there was actually less UV filtering on the sun so SPF was vital.
The importance of rest was stressed and so after a couple of inappropriate dinner table stories we were off to bed by 8.30 p.m.
Days 5-7 21st-23rd October 2014.
I was awake before Felix came round for the early morning wake up calls. Nipping out to use the portaloo before everyone else got up the mists had cleared overnight and the views at 6.00 a.m. were astonishing. As usual Alison was stood outside her tent shivering with cold wrapped up in fleece and woolly hat. Mawenzi and Kibo Peaks rose up magnificently either side of the camp. This is what we signed up for, I hadn't seen anything so awe inspiring before. Kilimanjaro consists of three volcanoes, Mawenzi, Shira and Kibo with Kibo the highest, most famous and most photographed. We would be heading to Mawenzi today for 2 nights camping and acclimatisation before reaching Kibo. Although there wasn't a cloud in the sky it was bitterly cold. Myself and Alison were huddled round a cup of tea trying to get warm, every little helps. When the sun came up over the horizon it was suddenly very hot. It went from freezing to too hot in about ten minutes. Below Mawenzi is on the left and Kibo on the right.
For breakfast we were given omelette and pancakes. I made the mistake of putting jam on my omelette rather than my pancake. I still ate it but it isn't recommended. Setting off on the trek the terrain was becoming increasingly rocky the higher we got. We would be camping at about 4300m but climbing to between 4400-4500m during the day. The first couple of days had firmly established us as a group that stayed together, at no time did the group splinter into smaller sections walking at different speeds. This wasn't anything we talked about specifically but from getting to know each other we all had the same goal and were determined to achieve it but not at the expense of anyone else in the group. We became increasingly aware that the guides were positioning themselves at various times of the day to observe us for any signs of altitude sickness or other problems. At the same time we were all asking after each other checking we were all okay, would slow down or stop as soon as someone else did. A bond was forming and it was happening naturally. Every time we stopped the Doc would also come round and have a quick check with everyone. A although we had started to view the Doc as one of the group rather than the support staff it was still a real confidence boost to have that support.
Lunch on Day 5 consisted of a delicious cucumber soup and BBQ chicken and chips for the carnivores amongst us. I can't spell the noises we made when that was brought into the mess tent but they definitely merit an 18 rating. In the afternoon we went closer to Mawenzi where Paul, having overcome his minor headache and nausea, kept astonishing us with his ability to get a clear mobile phone signal absolutely anywhere. Here he is on the left phoning home while the rest of us struggle to get any sort of signal.
It was here at about 4500m that we encountered the first little bits of snow.
At the evening meal Daniel told us how impressed he was with us as a group, we listened to advice, we were eating and drinking well and we were talking to each other. He said by this point usually someone in the group would be experiencing altitude sickness, loss of appetite or even drop out. He reminded us that while we were all feeling good we should eat as much as we can as the body would store the energy and it would help if we lost appetite later on nearer the summit. We didn't need any encouragement to eat well the food was exceptional. We couldn't work out how they could keep drumming up such great meals the further we got from civilisation but we were glad they did.
By this time the nights were getting very cold, ice on the tents - even on the inside of the outer covers. My investment in a good quality sleeping bag was paying dividends as so far I hadn't had to put in the liner or wear extra layers, the bag was warm enough as it was. Others were feeling the cold more than I was but I still have an extra couple of natural insulating layers.
We had the luxury of a lie in until 7.30 a.m the next morning as we would be going on a short 2-3 hour acclimatisation walk in the morning. The night sky was getting even more spectacular with the Milky Way now also clearly visible. I confessed to Val and Roz that on the trek up to Mawenzi I had started to feel a bit emotional thinking how far I had come in such a short space of time and with the fantastic support I had been getting it all suddenly seemed very real. The awe inspiring scenery didn't help either. I had said to a few people before I left that if I made it to the summit I would blub like a baby and now it was looking more likely to come true, but there was still a long way to go.
With having the extra hour in bed I took the opportunity the next morning to have a full spa cleanse. Well a 'dry shower' and a shave. Shaving in the freezing cold with a tiny bowl of slightly warm water is not the most enjoyable experience but at least in my head I felt a lot cleaner. The washy washy was easier for the men as we could brave the outside temperatures and get it over with outside our tents. Modesty dictated the ladies had to stay inside, kudos to them for managing it although I am sure they would tell you it wasn't easy.
Breakfast saw a bunch of adults reacting like over excited kids when eggy bread was brought in for us to fill up on.
Daniel took us on a trek to terrain that would be similar to summit night and taught us about descending on the scree, more about that later. After lunch we had the afternoon free. Daniel advised us to rest as much as possible but we went off on our own for a bit of a walk. We met Ben taking a rest on the way and he offered to take us to show us the start of the next days trek. Here we are taking a breather. At the back from left to right are Roz, Doc and Mark. At the front from left to right are me, Val, Alison, Michelle and Paul.
At the evening meal Daniel warned us the next day would be long and tiring as we would be making our way to base camp at Kibo before the final ascent. However, he also said he was confident we would all get to the summit. A few more inappropriate dinner table stories and off to bed. The food over the whole trip was amazing, noodles, spaghetti, rice, pasta, chips, potatoes, spicy sauces, bolognese, fried fish, BBQ chicken, Chocolate cake, lemon cake, fresh fruit it just keep coming: and then there was the soups every lunchtime and evening. Oh the soups, zucchini, carrot, cucumber, mushroom, sweet potato, they just kept producing bowl after bowl of the stuff and we couldn't get enough. Only Mark struggled with some of the food but when that happened he was brought a plate of chips and/or smothered everything in chilli sauce. He ate as much as the rest of us so fair play to him. The first time he was brought chips resulted in a lot of envy from the rest of us but we needn't have worried we would get some in the end. Mark's trip into food adventure culminated in him having a piece of carrot cake, something he wouldn't normally eat. He was so proud of himself he had to have it captured on camera so he could prove it to his partner.
Day 7 was an early start as we had to get to Kibo Hut as early as possible so we could get as much rest in as possible before attempting the summit climb. This consisted of several hours trekking across sparse alpine desert where there was little vegetation. Even the rocks were getting smaller so finding a suitable place to have a private pee was difficult.
This is where the mental part of the challenge started to creep in. The terrain was quite easy under foot and over the course of the day we would only be climbing from 4300m to 4700m. The problem was that we could see the camp very early on but it didn't seem to get any closer. It was dry, dusty and the sun was relentless. Although it was quite chilly we had to keep ourselves protected from the sun with headgear and SPF.
Here is the view to Kibo Hut camp from about 3 hours walking distance. In the foreground you can see a couple of white pieces of debris from a plane crash. Daniel told us everyone survived the crash but because it took so long for rescuers to get there they all perished. The cloud coming in from the right was bringing snow but we managed to get to camp before it started. From the desert to the top of the crater is approx 1100m and we would be scaling about 900m of that in the dark the next night. You can see the grey scar in the middle, that is the route up. Nerves were kicking in.
Our 4 main guides protecting us at the rear.
As we reached the camp we spotted the young Irish couple we had met at the start of the trek making their way down on another path way from us. We managed to get a signal from them that they had made it to the top and that gave us all a boost.
We reached camp and had lunch right away. We had to get a few hours rest before an early evening meal. As much rest as possible was needed as it was the summit next and we would be woken at 11.00 pm.
The Descent
Where is the story of the attempt on the summit? It seems appropriate that after all this time this story should end there. However, something that isn't referred to much when you read about people who have tried this is what is it like to come down from the crater? Let me tell you it is really hard and incredibly tiring.
In attempting the summit you have to leave Kibo Hut at 4700m, climb to the edge of the volcanic crater at Gilman's Point 5685m, then move on to Stella Point at 5756m and if you still have any energy left make your way to the highest point at Uhuru Peak at 5895m. If you make it as far as Gilman's point you still have to come down again and it is steep, it is on deep soft scree. It's hard to keep your footing. In addition you have slowly acclimatised to higher altitudes and your breathing has regulated itself for them. You are suddenly descending very quickly but your head and lungs are still higher up. As we made our way down porters from camp came rushing up to help us and at times more or less dragged us down back to camp. Personally, I could hardly stand by the time I reached camp. As I arrived every member of the camp came out to greet me, shake my hand, fist pumps give me a bear hug. Felix brought me a chair to sit on and another guy brushed all the dust off that he could. One by one the others reached camp to the same greeting.
As I was waiting I was completely confused as to who was where and doing what. I remember someone telling me that Roz had developed a migraine on the way down. At first the Doc thought it may be the altitude but unfortunately not. I am lucky that is not something I suffer from but those people I know who do I get a sense of how awful it is. I felt for her as it was going to be difficult anyway. The look of total anguish on her face when she arrived at camp was heart breaking, we could only hope she would recover quickly to allow her to fully appreciate her achievement.
The further problem was that after a short rest we had another 3-4 hour trek to the next camp back at 3700m. We had already been on the go for 12 hours by this point. The Doc talked through with Roz what she would normally try when she got a migraine and suggested a bit of a concoction of his own that he found worked.
We had to have some rest before lunch and the afternoon trek. I only made it half way into my tent before falling asleep half in and half out and still with my boots on. At lunch I had no appetite as I was so exhausted and barely managed to eat anything.
Due to the need to move quickly to the next camp, the porters hurriedly helped us pack our kits and we were on our way to Horombo. A pretty nondescript trek for 4 hours. I started sneezing and coughing, something that would last for several days. The Doc explained it was not unusual as by this time the body was naturally breathing more deeply and so as we descended to lower altitudes we would breathe in more dust and other crap from the air. On the way down Roz was left trailing at the back. After a couple of hours the Doc caught us up and told us she was feeling a bit better but would need a good sleep at the next camp. Ben stayed with her on the way down. About half an hour away from camp we had stopped for a bit of a breather when Roz caught us up looking much happier, the Doc's special brew was working. She immediately asked me how I was. There in a nutshell is a glimpse of what the group had become, despite the fact that she had struggled with her own problem she still wanted to know how we where. That was how the group was, we had become a single unit and we all to had to know every part of the group was okay no matter what.
By the time we got to camp I had my appetite back. Most of us, with the possible exception of Michelle were completely knackered by this point. Mark said his legs were a bit sore, my knees definitely were. Roz was in need of a good nights sleep more than any of us. We tried to comprehend what we had done over dinner but we couldn't. We had gone from a group who had chatted away easily every night to not being able to explain what had happened. However, we would look at each other and we all knew what each of us had had to put in and we didn't need words we could see it in each others faces and we just knew and it felt good. We were tired, we were proud and we were emotional. We had come so far and we had done it together, for our charities, for our supporters, for ourselves but most of all for each other. The group had become the most important thing, a bond had been made. We hadn't seen it coming but it did, it was surreal, but it was good.
After a good nights sleep we were all refreshed in the morning. After breakfast all the support staff sang a song of celebration for us. Go to my Facebook page to see a video of it. We left some excess kit for the porters and staff who struggle up the mountain for us. We each sought out those who had helped us individually to give them a little extra and then we headed off down the mountain. With the extra oxygen we were getting faster and faster until eventually by mid afternoon we arrived at the exit gate. We signed in at the office to say we were back and had a beer. It tasted good, very good.
All that was left was to get to the overnight hotel with the luxury of a proper bed, hot running water and a flushing toilet. Oh how we missed you!
After showering and putting on clean clothes. We assembled for dinner. Sam from the Tanzanian Travel Company, Daniel's boss, came to tell us how pleased he was with the daily reports he was getting from Daniel. He said that usually there is someone, sometimes a few, in each group who think they know better than the guides and usually they don't make it to the top so the way we had worked together with the support staff was a significant factor in why we had succeeded. He talked about how doing what we had helped employ people in Tanzania and it was very important for them. I looked across the table and was pleased to see it wasn't just me who had a bit of dust in my eye.
After Dinner we were presented with certificates confirming we had done it and we had our photograph taken with Daniel and Sam. We retired to the bar for some well earned drinks. Val and Roz were off on safari the next day, the rest of us heading home. Before we knew it it was over. 9 days previously we had met as virtual strangers and we had formed a bond, a strong one. As fast as it was created it was now going to break apart as we went our separate ways and it was hard. As we said goodbye to Roz and Val that bit of dust got in my eye again.
But this isn't the end of the story. I need to describe the attempt on the summit, it is no longer my journey but our journey and I need to do it justice, not just for me but for my fellow trekkers. I have tried wherever possible to keep this blog light hearted but summit night is different - I hope I get it right.
Watch this space.
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