Aug 14, 2011 - Kili Day One: Marangu Gate to Mandara Hut (2700m)

My nerves didn't allow me to sleep much and I was first down for breakfast and antsy to get the day underway. Usually trekking clothes (for all but summit night) consisted of two pairs of socks (liner and wool), pair of lightweight hiking pants, light weight thermal top and my South America scarf which I think I could have bought here just as easy.  The scarf has come in handy for various purposes not uniquely sun protection, nose and mouth cover in the stanky toilets but it is also my "comfort" item.  Something other than thermal...

Aug 13, 2011 - Day trip: Marangu Town and Chagga museum

It was decided by Lottie that I would take a day trip for 120 USD to Marangu to see the waterfall. I described Lottie as mild mannered which he is but with me, he had a tendency to make my decisions for me. After the first night, I never chose my own dinner, he would come find me, tell me what time for dinner and then he'd stop make his "thinking" face while making the "hmmmm" sound then tell me what I wanted to eat ". "Tonight I think pasta and meat sauce" "Hmmmm pork chops and french fries today, I...

Aug 13, 2011 - Kili Pre-Climb briefing and preparations, meeting my group.

After a few days on my own I was anxious to finally meet the people I'd be climbing the mountain with and after seeing that they will take people up the mountain alone if there are no other people in the group I can't express how relieved I am that there were in fact other people in the group.  As an aside I am extremely relieved that I didn't even consider the possibility of climbing alone, it saved me hours of stress and anxiety. At the planned 6:00 pm briefing I met my guide for the next six days - Thomas Nguma from Peaks of...

Jul 14, 2007 - Awaiting the Big Climb!!!

HI Everyone, Well we made it to Marangu Hotel - a quiet serene place at the base of Kilimanjaro yesterday afternoon - after an epic 8 hour bus ride from Dar Es Salaam. Beautiful hotel with a great bar!!! Amazingly enough we are being served 3 course dinners every night - we are basically royalty (or at least feel like it). Servants carry our bags etc... Very weird feeling to be waited on, however the hotel seems to treat all their staff equitably. We are getting stoked for our trek up Mount Kilimanjaro which is set to begin tomorrow...