The following is an excerpt from my Kilimanjaro travel journal, written June 7, 2010
After an overcast and drizzly first day on the trail, we awoke today at Simba Camp with our first glimpse of Kibo and its snow-capped peak.
After breakfast, we spent the first few hours marching toward Kibo with it in clear view before the clouds rose and blocked it from our sight. By awaking at 6 a.m. and eating breakfast at 7, we broke camp before the anticipated 8 a.m. start time which allowed us to enjoy the great views. By the time we rolled into the Second Cave campsite for lunch, however, it was out of site for the day.
Our lunch starter with fruit and bread, followed by lentil soup and then — for our British companions — fish and chips.
After lunch, we branched away from the usual Rongai Route and took the Unique Rongai Route — which is specific to Team Kilimanjaro — an additional six kilometers to Kikelelwa Camp. Our pace was particularly quick and we arrived at 3:10 p.m. to find the speedy porters already had our campsite set up. It was a welcome sight after covering 12 kilometers and reaching 3,675 meters (12,057 feet).
A few members of our team began suffering mild altitude sickness today; mostly minor headaches. I did not have any troubles until around dinnertime when a slight headache set in. I took my first Diamox tablet this evening to help fight the symptoms. Hopefully that will do the trick.
After dinner, Joshua went over the schedule for the next few days, and Peter — one of the funniest guys on our team — noted in a somber tone what all of us were thinking when he said, “Wow, this really is some serious stuff.”
Chris Wristen 