Barafu Camp – Summit (5895M) – Millennium Camp (3790M)

Before we set off, I dressed in multiple layers to keep warm. Walking through the night and at high altitude, it was going to be cold. I think I had six layers on.

• Long sleeved Marino wool base layer
• T shirt
• Long sleeved T shirt
• A Fat Face Top
• Fleece
• Goose Down Jacket and Hood.

My legs had a couple of layers, and my hands a couple of pairs of gloves. I was lovely and warm.

We set off at 11.00pm and started the slow walk to the summit. First, we had to pass through the campsite and then onwards and up. I was really struggling and was out of breath on the walk up. Eventually after climbing 590m and reaching 5150M I had had enough. There was a discussion, and the guides were already thinking I should turn back. Some part of me thinks I could have gone on it if we had done shorter walks before taking a break. I read that often groups took fifteen paces and paused. We seemed to go for several minutes before stopping for three minutes. I found the long but slow walking intervals just too much for me.

Jimmy, the tour leader, accompanied me down. The way down started on a different route to the way up. The way down was down a scree slope. I quite enjoyed this, despite the darkness and we made fast progress. Picking our way down through the later rock path was challenging. On the way down, there were several climbers who had succumbed to the altitude, and even one stretcher case.

We made it down to the campsite, and I went back to my sleeping bag.

The rest of the team completed the challenge and made it to Stella Point and eventually the peak at Uhuru Point. They saw the sun rise. They made it back down, had breakfast and a rest.

Summit Attempt

Barafu Camp(4673M) – Millenium Camp(3800M)

We then set off at around 9.30 for a 90-minute trek down the mountain to the Millenium Campsite at 3800M I had recovered and raced down the mountain with one of the guides, arriving just as it started to pour with rain. The others on the trip down were not so lucky weather wise and caught the full rain. Before Supper, there was a large meeting and tips for the porters, cooks and guides were announced. We all put in $200 dollars each. This was going to be changed to Tanzania Shilling the next day and handed out. Before the meeting there were some calculations as to how much each person was to be given. Jimmy rejected some of the dollar bills, they had to be newer than 2006. Dollar bills older than 2006 get a lower exchange rate because they were deemed risky. One client was incensed that Sainsburys had given her old notes, which looked uncirculated.