Day 2 - Intense Sun & Then Rain During 8 Hour Hike

Date: Friday, September 18, 2009 Time: 8:30pm Tanzania, 1:30pm EDT, 10:30am PDT Location: Kikelewa Camp - Nalemaru (Rongai) Route Altitude: Start: 8500 ft Lunch: Simba Camp Camp: Kikelewa Camp 11,900 ft Hiking Time: 8 hours We don't know if any comments came in about how many ascents our chief guide, Frederick, has made. In fact, in checking on the number there was a fair amount of controversy over the number but we have finalized the results with E&Y auditing the results - and the number is 394 amazing times. Our leader, Dr. Sue Hollenberg, commented on the day, "the team is strong, cohesive and having a lot of laughs. It is important to remember to enjoy yourself on this hike (Rule #4 from Seamus) and not fret too much about the next leg of the journey." Today was the second longest day of the week long ascent - the only longer day is when we hike to the summit at 19,340' from 15,000' then descend to 12,300' for a total of 13 - 15 hours. Tonight we sleep with hats on as it will be close to 0 degrees C. The team today not only had a long day but a varied weather day. For an hour in the morning we had intense equatorial sun that heated everyone up, then in the afternoon we had an hour of medium hard rain and we were wearing three layers of upper body clothing. In only two days we have gone from a shower before we left to very dusty and dirty, it will be interesting to see us after we are finished! Over the next two days we will have a fair amount of free time once we reach our next camp at 14,000'. The purpose is to acclimatize so that we can make the very difficult final route to the summit. We will try to post more pictures as we have some great shots of the team and terrain. This e-mail was delivered via satellite phone using OCENS.Mail software.

Comments

[Tory Black]

Hi Peter and Shirley: You will be sound asleep after a long day 2. The blog and pics are great. Best of luck for the next few days.
Tory

[Anne and Russ Wilson]

Hi Jim and Deb - enjoying your trip with each posting - sounds amazing - looking forward to each day's events and posting - A.

[Lori Kelly]

Hi team. Really really enjoying this blog, you guys. SO interesting to read how many times Frederick has gone up - that IS incredible. Sounds like you are doing really well and getting great guidance - looking forward to the pics. Thanks for keeping us 'in your back pocket'!

[Jane Lustenberger]

Its so great to see pictures of you on your trek.
And I thought bears were scary!
Have you seen any snakes yet?
xo Jane

[Margaret & Robert Smith]

It is just fantastic to get your updates, including photos, and learn how everything is going. Sounds as though all are doing well. If having lots of folks routing for you helps, you all have nothing to worry about. Do snakes realy go that high up? Yikes!

Cheerio,
Margie & Bob

[Jean Black]

Hello Shirley and Peter: The comments and pictures are wonderful. Enjoying it all with Tory, Kevin, Stacy and Teaghan at Kevin's. Kevin wants to know if you can get beer up there.

Love Jean and Don

[Mugs]

Shirl, Pete, Deb, and Jim..............unreal!!! What a marvelous adventure you are all on. The blog is great, so descriptive and puts me in the moment with you. Thank you so much for sharing what is such a personal quest and the ultimate conquest - together, you & all of us, will get there. As my brother would say, "charge on!" and enjoy it to the max. Shirl - you amaze me and you inspire me. Know that I am with you every step of the way.
Peace and love all the way.
Mugs

[Mary Downie]

Hi all,

I am watching your blog daily and I really feel that I am on the journey with you. Shirl & Deb, I hope all the trips up Cypress prepared you well for your BIG CLIMB. We continue to climb Cypress, with you in mind, and we are with you all the way.

Namaste, Mary Downie

[Mariana & Joze Sparovec]

Hi Shirley, Deb, Peter and Jim,

We are glad to hear good news about the progress on ascent of Kilimanjaro.
We are proud of you and happy for you in your quest to climb Mt. Kili.
Blog and pictures are great way to follow your splendid accomplishment to raise funds for Alzheimer’s Society of BC.
Waiting for you to come home and share the stories with us.
Mariana & Joze Sparovec

[Elizabeth Bonner]

Hi Peter and Shirley,

This is fantastic! Finally got the link from Robin so will follow along from here...reporting to Mom daily. Thank you to Jim for making this possible!

We are cheering for you all and with you in spirit!

Safe journey!

Love,

Lizzy

[mark roberts]

Awesome job everyone. The Roberts family is planning our trip now. Keep it going to the top. Pete, the restaurant sales suck, all our deals have collapsed, we are way over budget, the economy has not improved, and all the staff are getting younger. Keep climbing. love you all
mark, jen, mac, cole and luke

[lindameinhardt@hotmail.com]

hi shirley & peter,

congrats on your climb we love to follow along your journey, as hard as the last day prior to summiting might be it's all worth it. on a clear day you can see forever!! enjoy this magical mountain.

linda meinhardt and colin stacey

[Lisa Yeates]

Hey Gang,

So far your trip sounds incredible. I can't wait to hear the next leg. We are all rooting for you guys and this incredible challenge you are on. Hope the altitude sickness went away as Deb's headache.

xo LISA