Well, you can't actually come climb with me, as I'm setting off in just over 12 hours. 
BUT you can climb with me in spirit, as I hew paths through the tussock grasslands of the lower slopes, pick my way through the cactii-strewn Gardens of the Senecias,  scramble over the deserted and barren highlands, where "a field of sedimentary rocks litters the ground like many broken mirrors" (Wikipedia, 2008), wrestle white-necked ravens by the light of a shadowy moon, scale vertical glacier faces using only a toothpick and my trusty headtorch and finally conquer that ice-capped peak of glory, that cap of all of Africa: Mount Kilimanjaro.

Seriously, I am actually setting off tomorrow.  I've just come from the travel office where the three of us handed over just under US$1000 each (agh) to be guided the six-day hike up the Machame Route to the peak of Kili.  The itinerary looks something like this:

Day 1: Drive from our hostel in Moshi to Machame Gate, which sits at an elevation of 5718ft.  We breakfast here (all food included! Bargain.  I've bought some lucozade and a mars bar to see me through) then trek (hmm) to Machame, 9927ft above sea level.  Then we have a cup of tea, apparently, and later dinner.  Followed by another cup of tea, and some sleep.  Looking good. 

Day 2:  Hike up to the Shira Huts, 12355ft up.  The main problem people face when trying to climb Kili is altitude sickness, which can strike anyone and can be sufficiently crippling to end your trip.  The only way to avoid it is by sufficient acclimatisiation, which admittedly we're pushing due to limited funds.  For this reason we pass over the rim of the crater (the mountain is actually a dormant volcano) and descend to Shira 1 camp, sitting at a gentler 12,000 feet. In this way we adhere to the old climbers' adage: 'climb high, sleep low'.  I know this because I'm a proppar climbar, and also because I have a copy of Lonely Planet.  The camp is on a small plateau in the high moorlands, with a set of small caves a short walk away, presuming the hiker has any feeling left in their legs. 

Day 3: The scenery changes to alpine desert, as we hike up to Lava Tower (13800ft up, sounds terrifying) before descending into the Barrenco Valley.  Camp (cramp?) at 13066ft.

Day 4: Jesus, I'm getting tired just typing this.  Ascent of the Barranco Wall, a 'scramble' in climbing terms and no doubt something unprintable in pedestrian terms.  The views on this day are apparently spectacular as you dip past small streams before rest and lunch on the shores of the Karanga River.  A few hours further push in the afternoon lands you at the final camp before the summit:  Barafu, 15239 ft.

Day 5:  We set out in 'early morning'.  Further prodding reveals that this is, infact, 'midnight'.  I try to point out that 'midnight' usually constitutes evening, but to no avail.  So we'll hike through the raw, dark morning, pushing our feet through the snow, head torches and fanny packs forming rare indents in the puff of goretex and fleece.  After roughly six hours we reach Uhuru peak and watch the sun rise over the plains below.  This is the highest point in Africa, the world's tallest free-standing mountain, 19340ft, 5895m.

Afternoon of day 5, day 6: Stretchered back down.

I know many people have climbed Kili, but apparently of the 15,000 that attempt it each year, only 40% actually reach the summit.  So despite my extreme levels of physical fitness and extensive climbing experience, I reckon it'll be pretty hard-going and Iit would be great if it was for something more than my personal satisfaction.  And so....... I'd really appreciate it..... if you could sponsor me!  There it is.

Any sponsorship raised through this page will go directly to Camfed, a charity dedicated to fighting poverty and HIV/AIDS in rural Africa by educating girls and investing in their economic independence and leadership once they complete school.  The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) recently used the 17th International Aids Conference to urge developing countries to invest in female education, as there is sufficient evidence that keeping girls in school reduces their chances of contracting the disease.  By investing in this marginalised section of societyyou create a new social context in which girls can move as educated young women into positions of influence and leadership, so benefiting themselves and their communities

More information on Camfed can be found on their website, at http://uk.camfed.org/

Any amount that you could please sponsor me would be hugely appreciated, and will help a truly sincere and great cause.  Many many thanks in advance, much love xxx

P.s. My blog of our trip so far can be found at www.vinspired.com - I'll post a description of the climb when we get back.