MY KILIMANJARO EXPERIENCE!

There are pictures of the adventure in Reception at Newtown Car Services.

As promised, my experience in words for you all to read!!  Can't believe I have done it and back home.  From the word "Go" it was a great adventure, the Kenyan Airlines flight involved no hitches, as did the small prop aircraft out to Kilimanjaro Airport, even down to the rough ride in the Toyota's out to Moshi.

Following our last night of comfort in the Hotel we were whisked off to our starting point.  The porters all gathered and weighed our kit, loads of pictures were taken and we set off.  Shira One Camp, the first night gave us a good insight into the size of destruction that the Shira Volcano had caused all those years ago.  Second night was Shira Hut and we were gradually climbing and acclimitising.

The nights in the tent were interesting, as the time went by, we reached Lava Tower, the coldest night so far!! minus 14c with ice inside the tent!

The following day we had to scale the Baranco Wall, this was tough and exhausting but everyone persevered until we reach Barafu, out camp for summit night.  We went to bed at 7.30pm and then were up at 11pm to leave at midnight.  Eight gruelling hours later, with very little oxygen, balance and vision a big problem we reached Stella Point.  Only to look up in the distance was our destination - Uhuru Peak - the top!  One hour later we reached the sign which says it all "Africa's Tallest Point" and "The worlds Highest Free Standing Mountain".  Just time for pictures and then we had to descend reasonably quickly before the altitude affected us.

Taking in the astounding views one last time we rapidly came down which took approximately two and half hours, back to Barafu Camp, one hours rest and then another two and half hours down to Millenium Camp where we stayed for the night.

Next day we made a very hard four hour downward walk through the rainforests and back to the trucks and the very deserving porters and guides.  We said our goodbyes to them all, made our way to the Hotel for a well deserved shower!!!  After the beard competition (the men that is) we all shaved them off!

To sum it up it was a fantastic experience that I will carry with me for the rest of my life and with all thanks to all of you who donated to my cause.

Till the next time!!??!!

Chris

 

                                                   THEY ARE THERE!  DAILY DIARY UPDATE!

08th February 2010 - I am home safely and rather worn out to say the least! In due course I will write about my experience for you all to read.  Thank you all so much for your kind donations before I went and those who have since donated, I am very grateful to you all!!

04th February 2010 - The picture says it all!! They done it!! Had a text at 10.20(GMT) with the words "We are absolutley kn******d! Took us 13 hours and every minute was torture! Now we have 1 hours rest and have to walk 2-3 hours to Millenium Camp! Thunderstorm in mountains at the moment".  We are sure they will sleep like babies tonight, even with those rocks underneath them!  Well done and very proud of you both! 

03rd February 2010 - As you can see we have a photo of Chris and Steve at Barafu Camp where they are resting and recharging their batteries!  Steve looks happy but look like they both could do with a good meal, shower and most of all a shave!!!!!!!!  The short text today said they had just had a hailstorm and were snug in the tent.  At midnight (21.00GMT) they will commence their summit walk and hopefully our next photo will be them at the top of Kilimanjaro (5895m).  Whilst we are having our breakfast they will be two very happy (very worn out) men! and will still have a gruelling descent to Millennium Camp, in total fourteen hours of walking/climbing tomorrow.  We'll be behind them all the way and can't wait to hear from them tomorrow. 

02nd February 2010 - More of an update today both sound well and enjoying it!  Text message says the phone is being turned off to preserve the battery as much as possible, so photo can be sent from the Summit.  They did an eight hour walk today including the Barranca Wall "God that was hard, never seen anything like it" was the actual words.  Overhanging rocks etc so must have been bad for Chris to mention this!  Tomorrow they have a four hour walk to Barafu Camp, then rest and then to the Summit at Midnight, which is 9.00pm our time and hopefully reach the summit at approx 3.30am Thursday morning (our time).  Not sure if there will be any news tomorrow as communication maybe hit and miss (and preserving that battery!) Good Luck for tomorrow night, all thinking of you!

01st February 2010 - Chris managed to get  through on his mobile today!! Signal is still pretty hit and miss due to the cloud coverage.  Climbed to Lava Hut (4800m), damn hard walk (apparently!), this will be the highest point they camp at before Summit night.  They had to do another three hour climb once they got to camp to acclimatise, this effected  various members of the party in all different ways, headaches/sickness/breathlessness! Chris and Steve are doing well! enjoying the spectacular scenery... no photo's came through today.  More will hopefully filter through tomorrow with some photos!

31st January 2010 - Communication is limited due to such poor signal!  The only text today has said "Moir hut camp tonite . Up on top peak you can see at mo awesome view, gettin harder now but good at mo “ and that signal was on the poor side.  So from that dialogue, it appears all well and enjoying it still.  Walking on lava ridges tomorrow..should be interesting. 

30th January 2010 - They have arrived safely at tonight's camp, Shira Hut (3840m), as you can see we have received two photos of camp and their digs! Communication is intermittent, however, one text said "awesome,brilliant, well organised and freezing" so have left the 40 degree heat well and truly behind!  They look well and in good spirits!  No Saturday night takeaway for them tonight? Looking at their photo's from today not actually convinced they are on Earth, looks very much like Mars to us??  4-6 hour walk tomorrow viewing the Northern Icefields, lets hope for some more photos!

29th January 2010 - Chris and Steve have now started the ascent. They found it extremely hot in Moshi, 40c!, hopefully it will cool down as they ascend.  They are in a group of thirteen trekkers and the guides.  Today's walk should not be too strenuous as they acclimatise to the altitude.  They are heading for their first night under canvas! Good luck Chris sharing with Steve!!!  Until tomorrow... struggling with sending photo's back to the UK, just the one today.

28th January 2010 - Chris and Steve have arrived safely in Moshi, after flying overnight to Nairobi and then flew on the boneshaker to Kilimanjaro Airport!  Having a restful day in a basic hotel to conserve their energy levels, although they do have a kit inspection later today! sounds very military!  So here's to a good night sleep tonight for the real business of starting their trek tomorrow! (Chris is a little happier that another trekker is older than him!!).  More tomorrow!

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 I am raising funds for the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance.  I am leaving the UK on January 27th 2010 and reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro in the early hours of 5th February 2010 (hopefully)!  I will arrive back in the UK on 07th February!  I have a companion, who is my nephew, Steve.  Here is the plan!:

The Shira Trek is considered more strenuous than the other routes.

It involves camping in basic campsites throughout the trek. It is graded as tough!!!!

 

Day 1:- January 27^th – Fly from Heathrow to arrive in Nairobi at 6.30 of day 2.

 

Day 2:- January 28^th- Fly on a boneshaker from Nairobi to Kilimanjaro Airport. Rest of day to recover from flight!! Travel to Moshi for our last comfy nights sleep in hotel.

 

Day 3:-January 29^th- Drive to Londorossi Gate and to the Morum Barrier where we begin our trek through a shrub forest to reach the rim of the Shira Plateau (3350m). Then on to our first camp Shira 1 (3550m). 4-5 hours walking.

 

Day 4:- January 30^th-Walk to camp at Shira Hut (3840m) 2-3 hours walking.

 

Day 5:- January 31^st-Walk to Moir Hut – on route viewing The Northern Icefields and views of Kibo (4100m) 4-6 hours walking.

 

Day 6:-February 1^st-Trek to the Lava Tower-walking on lava ridges beneath the glaciers, with fabulous views and a stunning sunset. (4800m). This is now getting us acclimatised. 4-6 hours walking.

 

Day 7:-February 2^nd –Trek to Karanga-this is a steep descent through volcanic scree and lush vegetation. (4000m) 6-8 hours walking.

 

Day 8:-February 3^rd-Trek to Barafu Camp-A steep climb out of the Karanga Valley. (4600m) 3-5hours walking. Now rest to prepare for the final ascent.

 

Day 9:-February 4^th-THIS IS IT!! High altitude and extreme cold. We start at Midnight-A strenuous walk with frozen scree, snow etc. A zig-zag path to reach Stella Point (5780m) on the crater rim. Only being able to walk approx 10 paces due to the altitude before stopping to rest. Then onto the highest point (hopefully) which is Uhuru Peak (5895m) for the magnificent dawn sunrise. Only a short stop to savour it all and hopefully our achievement, take pictures and then we descend back down to Millennium Camp (3750m) A gruelling 14 hours walking!!

 

Day 10:-February 5^th- Walk to Mweka Gate and drive back to Moshi to the hotel, A shower and a proper bed. 4-6 hours walking.

 

Day 11:-February 6^th-A free day with an optional game drive to see the animals then back to the airport.

 

Day 12:-February 7^th Arrive home at 05.45.

 

Thanks to everyone for their support! I will try to keep you all updated during the trek (if the mobile works)!

 

Here are some facts and figures for you about our Air Ambulance:

 

Did you know YOUR Air Ambulance

 

• Is on call seven days a week, 365 days a year
• Operational across the three counties every day
• Can be airborne within 3 minutes
• Has a top speed of approximately 150 mph
• Can land in an area of half the size of a tennis court
• Up to 50% of our missions are road traffic accidents
• Carries a patient and a carer

But

• Costs are on average £165,000 a month
• £2 million a year to operate our seven day service
• Receives NO funding from Central Government or the National Lottery

That's why:

THEY rely on US ... so WE can rely on THEM!