My itinerary  for anyone interested.

D3 17th OCTOBER MACHAME CAMP 5-6 HRS TREKKING

After a good breakfast we make the transfer by road to the Machame Gate. On arrival we meet the rest of our team, including our guides, cooks and porters. We register for the trek and our bags are weighed to ensure each is within the 15 kg limit. Finally it is here – the moment we have all been waiting for! We begin our trek through lush vegetation of the humid rainforest with its fascinating range of bird life, wild flowers, endemic trees and insects. If we are lucky we might even spot a blue monkey or hear the shy Colobus monkey leaping through the trees above us! We have some short breaks en route before reaching our camp in the afternoon. There is some time to relax before dinner. We then settle for our first night under canvas.

Start height: 1773m

Height gain: 1207m

End height: 2980m

Day distance: 11.6km

Total distance: 11.6km

D4 18th OCTOBER SHIRA CAMP 7-9 HRS TREKKING

This morning our route takes us through the ever changing scenery as we make the steep ascent up through heather and moorland to the Shira Plateau. We continue across the plateau to our camp and this evening we can relax and enjoy the fabulous views.

Start height: 2980m

Height gain: 863m

End height: 3843m

Day distance: 6.9km

Total distance: 18.5km

D5 19th OCTOBER BARRANCO CAMP 7-9 HRS TREKKING

Today we trek east across beautiful barren moon like landscape and around craters that scar the earth. We trek always in the shadow of mighty Kibo until reaching the where we stop for some lunch. This afternoon we descend through the surrounding ravines, with their wonderful micro climates and beautiful birdlife. We eventually reach our camp late in the afternoon. This descent aids the acclimatisation process and allows our bodies to adjust to the ever changing altitude.

Start height: 3843m

Max height: 4526m

End height: 3965m

Day distance: 10.6km

Total distance: 29.1km

D6 20th OCTOBER BARAFU CAMP 7-9HRS TREKKING

We leave camp early and our first challenge today is a climb and scramble over the volcanic rock of the Barranco Wall. On reaching the top we have a well earned snack break and enjoy fantastic views over to Barafu. For the rest of the day we make the steady climb to our camp positioned on a ridge overlooking the south east valley. We reach camp in the afternoon and after a good meal, we put on some extra layers to keep warm and try to relax and get some sleep in preparation for our early morning summit bid.

 

Start height: 3965m

Height gain: 665m

End height: 4630m

Day distance: 9.1km

Total distance: 38.2km

D7 21st OCTOBER DAY 12-15 HRS TREKKING

And so to summit day and our toughest challenge yet. We awake just after midnight and after a hot drink and snack we begin our climb. For the next 6 hours we trek the steepest and most demanding part of the route by torch light. This is a long and gruelling trek through scree to reach Stella point at the crater rim. After a short rest we make our final traverse to , the highest point on the African continent at 5896m. The rising morning sunlight gives us spectacular views across the plains below and of in the distance and we feel on top of the world! After some photos we have a tough decent to Barafu camp where we stop for a rest and some breakfast before continuing on to Millennium camp. After a long but exhilarating day we can finally rest our tired legs and get a good night’s sleep.

Start height: 4530m

Max height: 5896m

End height: 3091m

Day distance: 20km

Total distance: 58.2km

D8 22nd OCTOBER MOSHI 5-6HRS TREKKING

After breakfast we continue our descent back through the rainforest to Mweka Gate where we enjoy lunch. A transfer by bus takes us to Moshi and our hotel (the Sal Salinero). Here we can finally take off our walking boots and enjoy our first hot shower in almost a week! We have the afternoon to relax by the pool with a drink and this evening we enjoy a fantastic celebratory dinner to celebrate our remarkable achievements and for those who have the energy we can party in to the night!

Start height: 3091m

Max height: 3091m

End height: 1700m

Day distance: 8.8km

Total distance: 67km

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Word up sponsor type people,

This October I shall be embarking on my biggest and, quite possibly, most extreme adventure to date. I will be trekking to the roof of Africa (and hopefully back down again), . In doing so, I hope to raise exorbitant amounts of money for SCOPE, who provide support for disabled children and adults with cerebral palsy.

Every 6 hours a child is born with cerebral palsy, making it the most commonly diagnosed physical condition in the . It occurs around the time of birth when the brain fails to develop properly. It can happen to any child with Scope being the largest charity in the  working with people with the condition, their families and carers.

Cerebral palsy is not a disease or an illness. It is the description of a physical impairment that affects movement. The movement problems vary from barely noticeable to extremely severe. 

No two people with cerebral palsy are the same; many people with cerebral palsy are hardly affected, whereas others have problems walking, feeding, talking or using their hands. Some people are unable to sit up without support. Sometimes other parts of the brain are also affected, resulting in sight, hearing, perception and learning difficulties. 

The trek will take 10 fun filled days where I’ll be going to altitudes of 5,895m, with trekking days from 4-12 hours. Having read the training and itinerary guide, I’m already looking forward to showering with wet wipes and feeling constantly headachy and sick! So, my training for the moment will be to stay hung-over and smelly for as long as possible – just to make sure I can cope you understand. But, unfortunately, I’ve been told Ill have to start doing some hardcore training over the next coming months. Bring it on!

I’ll try to keep this page up to date with training plans and how I’m going. 

Wish me Luck!

And please sponsor me; it’s such a good cause.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Thank you very much for whatever you’ve sponsored….and if you haven’t sponsored what you doing on this page?!?