Kilimanjaro Expedition Dispatch
September 25, 2008 – Team Continues Up, Up, Up
Breathtaking views from above the clouds at high camp
Good day, this Gwyn reporting for the rest of the team from high camp on Mt. Kilimanjaro. This is the seventh day of our life changing expedition. It is now September 25, 2008 and an even more special day for me because it is my son’s birthday.
Yesterday we woke up bright and early once again to a spectacular bright sunny day on the mountain at Karanga Camp overlooking Moshi’s town below. As we looked back at the mountain some of us stated that, “the summit looks very close now”. Everyone slept quite well after the long challenging day before coming all the way from Lava Tower, through the beautiful Karanga Valley , up to Barranco Wall and then up to Karanga Camp at an elevation of 13,900 ft.
We then traveled through much more of the alpine desert with a steady up, up, up saying in Swahili “pole, pole” (slowly, slowly), adapting to the altitude as we climbed. Visiting and getting to know our several team members and our team guides more and more with each new step. Over the rocks and over the shale, we are being taught the history of this great mountain, the Swahili language, area and the cultures of the people surrounding. We climbed another 3,000 ft taking us to an all-time high elevation of 15,974 ft at the final destination of high camp.
Our guides, porters and cooks have given us wonderful service all along the way with helping hands, witty jokes and bright smiles. As we arrived at camp today, once again we were greeted with calls, thrills, dance and singing the Kilimanjaro song. They escorted us with dance all of the way to our next camp and new home for the night.
What a wonderful, unforgettable experience! We were served another delicious meal. We are all feeling quite well and going up, up, up with great anticipation and excitement. Lots of love to all our families and friends from high camp and up. We are thinking of you as we press on towards the summit of Africa’s highest mountain, Kilimanjaro.