First Day of the Ascent… Wednesday, February 10

The morning was clear skies and the view of Kili from our hotel was spectacular. We could see the whole mountain which looks like a long arm with a fist at the end (the summit). We headed out for a one-hour van ride, which brought us to the beginning of the trail. The porters met us and began packing up all of our stuff: food, pots and pans, tents, tables and chairs, all stuffed into big white bags. Incredibly we have 27 porters on our 8 person climb! A group of women stood nearby and I assumed they were the wives, but we soon discovered that they were the carriers of the water jugs. *Interesting note: Kurt explained to us that the porters are from the “Chagga Tribe”, who have historically lived at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro for many centuries. They accompanied the very first ascent of Mt. Kilimanjaro in 1889 with Hans Meyer, and they have traditionally been porters on the mountain ever since. Kurt said they have become like family and are a very intrical part of his staff. They welcomed us by saying in Swahili "Jambo", meaning "Hello"!

The 8 of us started up a long wide road in the midst of tall thin trees that formed a canopy over us. Moss of every shade of green hung off the limbs and climbed up the trunks. The road was littered with leaves forming a soft cushion for our feet. Two hours along, the trail turned narrow and steep. We were in the middle of a deep forest with occasional breaks in the trees which let sprinkled light in. I expected there would be many bird sounds of the forest but it was actually pretty quiet. Soon the porters passed us by with their big loads. The women had sprinted up the mountain and were already on their way back down before we were even half way up the 6 hour climb! It was cool in the forest but we were sweating through our clothes. We took a few breaks for water and food. After a while, we split into 2 groups - I started feeling woozy from the altitude so I was in a slower paced group, which included Sara (our guide), Bill, and the head porter who accompanied us. Our pace was like a slow drip drip drip as we went up up up. The Swahili phrase that is mentioned over & over is "Pole...Pole..." which means "Slowly...Slowly".

Bill decided that the best way to get me pumped and keep me moving (forward) was to sing with the porter, so for the last two hours of the climb, they regaled us with "Hakuna Matata" in Swahili! Lord knows the words seemed to change in each rendition and who knows what words Bill was actually singing, but I will say it did make for a cheery climb! I have instructed Bill that by end of the trip he is to have learned the entire song as I want him to perform it when we show all of you the video. My favorite word is "digee a la, digee a la" which we say all the time at various levels of volume - meaning "all's well".

Finally we arrived at Cave Camp (Camp #1), which is 9350 feet (having started at 6000). Donna and I immediately took our "pan of warm water" bath which was heaven on earth and I'm not exaggerating. Then to dinner of some kind of fish sticks, cabbage + carrots, and soup. I don't think I'm going to gain weight this trip! My head was starting to really hurt from the altitude so I popped a Diamox pill, and 3 Excedrin migraine pills. Loving husband Bill walked me to my tent and there I fell into a deep sleep.

But the story does not end there, as the night was not calm and cozy! But more on that later as my battery is running out! Just imagine a shrieking bird nearby, night walking without my head lamp (where the $#@! did I pack that thing??), a tent that smelled like fish but none I had ever tasted, and... Well, stay tuned.