DAY 4: CLIMB TO SHIRA CAMP

MOUNTAIN ROUTE OVERVIEW

Today is a shorter day that starts with climbing up a steep ridge to a small cliff named Picnic Rock. Climbers will start in the moorland zone which is above the rainforest and clouds. As our climbers hike up the steep ridge, they’ll be rewarded with a sweeping view of Machame Camp and Machame Village. The air will become increasingly thin as they reach the halfway point and vegetation will slowly give way to black lava and sand. The trail continues up and up pst small mountain streams, rocky walls, and deep ravines. Shira Camp is in the middle of the Shira Plateau. Climbers will have views of Mount Meru and Kibo from camp is the weather is good!!

MOUNTAIN ROUTE STATS

Starting elevation 9,900 feet

Ending elevation 12,500 feet

Elevation gain 2,600 feet

Distance hiked 5 miles

Average hiking time 5 to 7 hours

First morning at camp site waking up in the tent!! - surprisingly pretty good sleep, seems like most people woke up earlier than “wake up” time at 630. Only one of us got out of our tent to watch the sunrise (hint hint Adam)

Little late start to the day as we were all figuring out how to repack our packs and learning just how long it would take. It is a process let me tell ya. Josh first to get ready of course .. but little did he know he left his rain jacket at camp!!

Breakfast of camps to get us started in the am including Nutella (the ultimate blast from the past).

Muchhh more of an incline day but seems like it went much faster than expected. I think we only walked 2.5 miles ?? lol. But we did get some good elevation gain #gainz. <— channeling my inner Murv. Started the hike with 45 minutes of silence to reflect/pray and be with nature. Rest of the hike was filled with great conversations within our group and some fun questing games led by our sweet Emily. And of course, Annie and Murv’s giggles for some background tunes. Lunch on the mountain!! Our SWEET and SERVANT HEARTED porter team set up a tent and served us lunch and hot tea.

I dropped my phone in the toilet. rip.

Oooh terrain. Foggy/eerie day. Trees are incredible - feels like Scotland or avatar or the hobbit .. or maybe just Tanzania. Also some waterfalls today!! Some light rain but not nearly as bad as yesterday - less of a mess getting changed after today.

MJ had a near “freak out moment” as John Simon would say with her coat zipper, but all worked out there. (Adding that comment to make this much more fun.. we all know MJ is too cool and chill to “freak out”)

Ok but for real the best part about today was walking into camp greeted by our porter/dinner crew singing and dancing and smiling. Made me so happy seeming them all together having fun 🤸🏼‍♀️💃🏼🤩🕺🏻🪩. And of important note for all you David fans, he had some killer dance moves in the middle of the circle, and no not just dad dance moves.

And lastly, RIP to group journal as it is soaked as are many other iteams of Jordan’s .. we still don’t know how that happened. Prayers Jordan’s bag would dry and she keeps warm and dry for tomorrow

-MJ