August 30 – Gordon and Cindy Reach the Summit of Kilimanjaro

Hi, this is Gordon Taylor and this is dispatch number 2.  It has been difficult to get a signal so we will start back at Tarn Hut.  We were in Tarn Hut which has a fantastic setting right beside Mawenzi Mountain.  We did the climb high peak protocol by climbing half of Mawenzi and spending some time up there.  The landscape was stunning and the winds at night were phenomenal which blew over a few camps but they were all set up by the time we got up in the morning.

We had a spectacular star show in the evening and Mars was particularly beautiful as it passed through the constellation of Hercules, it was quite amazing.  We got up in the morning and headed off to the Outward Bound School Hut (14,200ft./4330m) and that was a long trek across the saddle.  Again it was like being on a different planet because of the landscape; it was almost lunar like and strikingly beautiful

When we got to the School Hut we took a quick nap and then began our ascent at 1:00am in the morning.  We got to Gilman’s Point at about 6:00am and then proceeding on to Uhuru Peak at 9:32pm Pacific Standard Time on August 29, 2005.

Everybody is healthy and happy, we are now back down at the Horombo Camp (12,140ft./3700m) and we look forward to the drive back to the hotel tomorrow so we can have a shower and get cleaned up.  We just had a fantastic time, the scenery from the top of the mountain, the crater and everything else was stunning.  We’ll send some pictures when we get back.  That’s all for now, thanks!