The Gopal Family Kilimanjaro Climb and Safari Dispatch

August 13, 2012 – We’ve Reached 15,000 Feet at Lava Tower Camp

BAI guides Emmanuel and Herman have been calling in through the day to report the team’s progress on this short but difficulty day climbing from Moir Camp to the Lava Tower.

By 10:30 am they were at the “junction” where the trail to Lava Tower branches off the main Machame Trail. For here the climb is easy, but it goes slowly because the team is climbing to the highest elevations yet.

But 2:00 in the afternoon they had taken a big lunch at Lava Camp and Emmanuel reported that everyone was going to take a 2-hour nap, not an unreasonable thing to do at this new elevation. Later in the afternoon the team took an acclimatization hike above Lava Tower and Ajei called to report on how everyone is feeling. Our two doctors Minnie and Aasha have had the most struggles, Minnie showed up with a cough before she went on the mountain that has been persistent through the climb to altitude. The team is taking in one day at a time however and they are in close communication with us. They know from the BAI guides that tomorrow will be a longer hike, but they will end at a lower camp, Karanga Camp. From here the corner is usually turned with acclimatization and we expect the entire team will feel better.

It is not easy climbing Kili! The beauty, the team spirit and the challenge keep one going, but the Gopal family is definitely at the crux of their mountaineering expedition at Lava Tower today.

We will report how tomorrow looks to them when we get the news from 15,000 feet on Tuesday.

Good luck team!

Approaching Lava Tower

Kili is getting closer and closer

The Lava Tower

Lava Tower camp

Views from Lava Tower camp site