Route:
Macheme Gate (1800m) to Macheme Camp (3000m)

Time:
5-7 hours

Outfit:
Head: Red Sox hat
Top: Mountain Hardwear Rain jacket, Columbia Omni-Shade shirt
Bottom: Mtn Hardwear shorts and light pants
Feet: Gaiters, Monotrail Masachists

We woke up around 6 / 630 and I took my Last hot shower until next Thursday. It’s Friday. Breakfast was not as good as Sopa which was to be expected. I had some Kilimanjaro coffee and some watermelon then we gathered our bags and brought them downstairs to meet up with Pasian. Pasian took us to the equipment rental store to pick up gaiters and the gloves I forgot to pack. Ehdeat! We ended having to wait about twenty minutes for Pasian to get back with the crew so we went across the street to a community art store, looked at some cool carvings and paintings and then played with one of the owners children for a little bit. I tried to convert one of them into a Sox fan and t gave them cheezits. The father then gave us a lucky coin to get to the top. We are now on the way to the Mountain. We are excited.

Update: 4:20pm
Just got to camp. Legs are tired. Going to sleep like a baby. T did very well. Godfrey walked with us half of the way up and then took off and then left us with Tim. The beginning of the trail was pretty foggy and lush with dense green veg. Slowly but surely the climate turned sunny and the climbing environment became dryer and dusty. We were consistently passed by other porters carrying extra large objects with their necks and heads. I think the best thing I saw was a guy carrying a huge Gatorade cooler on his head.

Update: 4:57pm
Tim and his crew set up our tent shortly after we arrived to camp and we are now laying down in it in sleeping bags. It’s 4:57pm. It feels incredible. The only thing keeping me from passing out is the idea that I get to stuff face again today.

Notes from today:

We hiked about 4.5 hours and ascended to 3000 meters above seal level.

“pole pole” means slowly slowly. This was the message everyone conveyed to one another on the trails.

T and I have 2/3 porters for each of us to carry all of our equipment. For a group of 15 people that number is like 80 total.

Update: 7:06pm
Just peed in an outhouse with a 20 foot hole filled with pee and poo. Lots and lots of poo. Its pretty chilly out. Probably about 50 degrees. One of the porters brought us a fantastic dinner that consisted of a large tray of popcorn and gingersnap cookies, hot water and a very large assortment of mixes (africafe instant coffee, some chocolate energy drink, hot chocolate mix, powdered milk, tea and butter). Not sure what the butter was for. We just brushed our teeth and are going to settle into “bed” and watch the rest of “the dark knight”. Kick ass. Not sure when we start tomorrow, but we have a five hour or so hike ahead of us to a camp that gets below freezing with wind-chill. Night night.

Update: 7:53pm
Just kidding. Right as we were turning on the iPad, our chef comes to the tent and announces it’s tine for dinner. T asks his name and he says “good luck” so that’s his name from now on. First he brings in a table cloth, plates, dishware, and bread. Then he comes in with all sorts of sauces. Then he brings it a portable pot of goodness. Good luck has cooked a pot roast 3000 meters high in the mountains. We ate a friggen pot roast in our sleeping bags. Then to top it off, he brings a candle for us. Talk about awesome chef. Ok. Night time now.

Lala salama.