Due to my altitude sickness we were forced
to part company, saying our good-byes and wishing each other the best at
reaching our separate destinations -- me going down the mountain and Salim,
Safiya and Spencer going up to the summit. It was a bitter sweet moment. I was
disappointed at not being able to join them but proud that they were going to
carry on with our Kili Challenge, bringing the specially carved staff with
our and Lana’s names carved on it, and The Answer Company flag to the
top.
The following pictures and videos and the
next few blog posts will depict their "polepole" (slow walk) to
Gilman’s Point and Stella Point. Then, finally, to Uhuru point, the Rooftop of
Africa!
The sun was coming up just as the group
started the climb at about 6:30am from Kibo Hut. The wind was slow but steady
and given they were ascending during the day the temperature was not too cold
(ie. -10 to -15) as it would be if the ascent began the night before around midnight
like many of the groups ahead of us. The ascent traditionally is done during
the night in darkness with head lamps to light the way to catch the sun rise at
the summit. However, for our group, it was decided at the outset that our
ascent would be done during the day for an easier climb given my visual
impairment. Unfortunately, best laid plans were foiled by Murphy lurking around
the corner to pounce and pounce he did with pulmonary edema forcing me down the
mountain. Winfred, my assigned guide and three porters headed down the mountain
and Elias, the senior guide, plus two other assigned guides to Salim, Spencer
and Safiya headed up the mountain.
A mountain cloud view as the
group climbed higher and higher towards Gilman point, two thirds of the way to
the top with the air continuing to thin and the wind becoming stronger. They
were forced to trek even slower than before, from small steps they were forced
to take half steps, almost shuffling up the mountain to conserve energy and
prevent over exhaustion. They were experiencing some nausea and head aches but
gritted their teeth and continued to climb. Their guides were a phenomenal support,
motivating them to keep going when they felt like stopping and turning back.
Their guides at several points held them by the arms and guided them to the
next rest stop.
Success! They’d reached
Gilman point, about 10 hrs after their start from Kibo Hut.
Salim reporting.
Salim, Spencer, and Safiya.
They toughed it out and are enjoying the moment.
From Gilman point you can
see the glacier crowning Kilimanjaro. This was what had captured the
imagination and the incredulity of the early explorers and discoverers of
Kilimanjaro. In the heat of Africa how can there be a mountain with snow on
top? With a glacier on top? Hard to believe and that has sparked many to find
out for themselves. Just as Spencer, Salim and Safiya are finding out for
themselves as they look up towards the peak of Kilimanjaro. Fantastic! as Salim
would say.
Different views
of the massive glacier at the top. Thankfully, the weather was holding out and
no snow was falling to make the next stop, Stella Point, difficult to reach. Everyone
was snug in their many under layers, down parka jackets, winter gloves, mittens,
balaclavas and goggles. On they trekked.
It took the Team another
hour or so to reach Stella Point, the second last stopping point before the
summit, Uhuru Point. They were totally exhausted but could see the summit from
Stella point.
A report from Salim. With the guide's prompting
they continued to trudge ahead against the wind, the cold and altitude sickness
(nausea, headaches, etc).
We are almost there! Don’t give up yet. Keep
following the Team to the Roof Top of Africa!
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