The first day is easy for this
well-trained group. Still, we
start out slow. I started to
stride quickly with confidence
but was told, "Pole! Pole!"
(That means slowly, slowly in
Swahili.) This hike has a
wedding march-pace making
sure our bodies have time to
acclimatize.
At first the pace is painfully
slow. You wonder if you'll be
able stand the lethargy of the
cadence. By day five, you
wonder if you can keep up.
These photos are from a rest
break. Robbie (right) stopped
about 20 minutes before
camp to give the porters
plenty of time to set up our
tents at Moorland Camp.
well-trained group. Still, we
start out slow. I started to
stride quickly with confidence
but was told, "Pole! Pole!"
(That means slowly, slowly in
Swahili.) This hike has a
wedding march-pace making
sure our bodies have time to
acclimatize.
At first the pace is painfully
slow. You wonder if you'll be
able stand the lethargy of the
cadence. By day five, you
wonder if you can keep up.
These photos are from a rest
break. Robbie (right) stopped
about 20 minutes before
camp to give the porters
plenty of time to set up our
tents at Moorland Camp.
Floral & fauna:
Some of the
climbers say
Tanzania's rich
soil and flowers
remind them of
Hawaii. This is a
red hot poker
flower.
Some of the
climbers say
Tanzania's rich
soil and flowers
remind them of
Hawaii. This is a
red hot poker
flower.
Day One:
Three hours, 2,132-foot climb
Three hours, 2,132-foot climb
Moorland Camp (8,530'): The clouds clear and finally, we have a view of what's ahead of us. It
snowed the previous evening. Our guides hope most of it melts over the next few days so our summit
attempt isn't slippery.
snowed the previous evening. Our guides hope most of it melts over the next few days so our summit
attempt isn't slippery.
The scenery along the Rongai Route is amazing.
Water rushes over what was once streams of molten
lava. It has carved pockets in the smooth, gray rock.
Though Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano
(thankfully) you get a sense (while stepping over the
huge, porous pebbles that something huge
happened here.
Water rushes over what was once streams of molten
lava. It has carved pockets in the smooth, gray rock.
Though Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano
(thankfully) you get a sense (while stepping over the
huge, porous pebbles that something huge
happened here.
Copyright 2008 Fat Woman on the Mountain
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Kilimanjaro Photo Diary
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