Kilimanjaro+

Kilimanjaro! Intense. That's the only word I have to discribe it. The climbing itself wasn't that hardcore, but at altitude the whole no oxygen thing really drains you.

We spent four-and-a-half days going up, and then one-and-a-half down. The first couple of days, we kept telling ourselves "this is going to be easy!" It was pretty much just a few hours of hiking per day. Then, on day three, came the "Breakfast Wall". We got up at 6:30 in the morning, and Cheka and Wilson (our guides) pointed at this rock wall, and told us it was the first part of the climb for the day. Intimidating. So this is when it became less of a "walk in the park".

Every night we had views of beautiful sunsets, and every day we were so fully immersed in Life. It really gave a new appreciation for the beauty of nature. I loved every minute of the climb, even the difficult parts. I learned so much about my body, its limits, and what happens when I push beyond them.

The last part of the climb was the most difficult part of the climb. We started off at the Barafu camp at around 4600 meters (that's high). We left at 11:30 pm, after about two hours of sleep. Pitch black, with just our tiny headlamps, we made our way up to the peak. It's about a six or seven hour climb to Uhuru peak, and if you're quick you can watch the sunrise from the top. I wasn't so quick. They warned us that our water bottles would freeze around 2 am. They weren't lying. About two hours into the climb, I started to hallucinate. But it wasn't bad, and it added a little to the barren landscape, so I wasn't complaining. About an hour after that I started vomiting. While this does slow you down, I really didn't want to give up, so I kept pushing myself. After a little more of that my vision started to fade. So, that was annoying. Every couple of minutes I had to sit for a little and wait to be able to see again. I ended up eating some snow because I was ridiculously thirsty. Almost to the top, at a place called Stella Point (5745 meters), the sun started to rise, so I waited there for a little and let myself warm up. By then, my body was exhausted and I could barely see. But, I wanted to push a little more. So close to the top! But then the logic side of me kicked in. "If you push any more, you won't be able to get back down."

While collapsing at the top, and then having to be carried down would make an interesting story, my insurance doesn't cover "extreme sports," so I decided it really would be best to head down rather than push myself anymore. Too tired to be frustrated about not making it quite to the top, I started my way down. It was a slow process. By the time I got back to the Campsite, Jenna was already packing up her stuff, a bundle of energy (she's got a ridiculous amount). She was the first person to the summit of the day. I laid down in the sun and pretty much passed out.

So, that's what happens when I push my body beyond its limits. Good to know.

I have to say, I'm not upset that I didn't quite make it to the summit. While, yes, summiting would have been wonderful I don't think it really had a negative impact on the experience. I certainly don't think of it as a failure. It just means I'm going to have to try again (Hah, maybe not, since the first time blew out my bank account). But I would love to do some more mountain climbing when I get back Stateside.



Later this week, after a few days rest, we will be going to Zanzibar to work at the Kizimkazi Cultural Music Festival. The festival is to promote diversity, environmental awareness, and "Social Responsibility; Usafi Kama Kawa" (cleanliness as usual). We will be building a stage, and some little shops for refreshments and the like. This is through the Kizi-Noor Cultural Center, if you want to look it up (I haven't, so you'll know more about it than I). I think their website is www.kizinoor.org.
Then, I will be back in Arusha for a week of orientation for the Sustainable Agriculture part of the GSC program. After that week, we will be spending two-three weeks in the villages/"the Bush," and then a week back in town, on rotation. I most likely won't be online as much as I have for most of this experience. That's when I start the agriculture part of the program, so I'll basically be digging holes and gardening , and throwing in a couple HIV/AIDS (VVU/UKIMWI) lessons along the way.

I love you all, and I wish you all the best.


P.s. I'm a little frustrated with the Tanzania Postal Service (though not surprised). I've received two cards and one letter, from my parents and girlfriend, since arriving here, and I know more than that has been sent. None of the packages sent to me have arrived. Yup. And apparently post cards have a smaller chance of getting home to the States than letters/cards. So I'll send more cards and letters, I suppose. I've sent over thirty postcards/letters/cards, but only heard from three or four people that they've received anything.