Kilimanjaro Day two – We’re awoken at 6am by the kitchen crew with a hot drink (don’t think this is glamping, it’s not – it’s just their way of checking up on us!) The morning is cold and we’re served a hot breakfast of Porridge and tea (And a large amount of Milo). We pack our bags and leave at 7am and walk from jungle edge through a sparser landscape of heathland plants. We walk up and over rocky crags to our next camp, gaining another 800m in height. Arriving in camp about 3pm I have now begun to feel very unwell. I pass on lunch and then am promptly violently sick (Keith going above and beyond the call of duty… I leave the details to your imagination). I am sent to bed and told by the amazing Doc that if I am no better in the morning then the climb is over for me. At that point I really want it to be. I felt like I’d drunk a bottle of whiskey on a cross channel ferry in a force eight gale. The rest of the party head out for a short walk to the Shira caves to gain altitude and then come back to ‘sleep low’. By the time they are back the drugs have kicked in and I feel less like I want to jump off the mountain! Altitude sickness is NOT fun.. .
Day three – I wake up feeling better and want breakfast. Conflicted – I now know I can continue. Keith has been amazing (my turn to return the favour will come) We walk up to the lava towers and spend the day at altitude (about 4000m) but come down to Barranco Hut to ‘sleep low’ at about 3600m. We’ve gone from lush jungle to sparse alpine desert in only a couple of days. Everyone is feeling the height now but the guides, team leaders, doc and the camp staff and cooks keep us going. The meals are hot and thankfully stodgy. Salad is not going to get you up Kilimanjaro!!! Day four to follow…
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#gardendesign #designer #kilimanjaro #climbforcharity #hiking #altitudesickness #africa #tanzania
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