Day 11: Closing Trip Reflections
“KILI TO KILI KILI”
(Rasta ◡̈ )
Massive, imposing, beautiful
What will she give us?
What do we take away with us -
emotionally and physically?
DAY 1 – SATURDAY : MACHAME GATE to MACHAME CAMP
- Excitement, anticipation
- We’re ready - so we all think!
- Delicious kick off lunch
- Rain forest hike
- Pole, Pole we take our steps
- Arrive at camp past dark
- Headlamps are our only lights
- Delicious dinner - full tummy
- To the tent
- Perspective of her magnitude –
- So much unknown and much to learn
DAY 2 – SUNDAY : MACHAME to SHIRA RIDGE
- Early wake up - knock, knock coffee
- Prepare - for a long day!
- Beautiful moss covered river bed
- Lunch
- Cross over to large rocks, paths
- Surprise waterfall
- Beautiful unfamiliar flowers
- Arrive at camp to sounds of joy and dancing
- Incredible sunset
- Tea and popcorn await
- Delicious dinner - something for everyone
- Signs of altitude sickness are beginning to show
- Discovery as we go; she is very complex and offers us new views at every turn. The quiet, besides our voices or song, is welcome. Great time to reflect on lots.
DAY 3 – MONDAY : SHIRA to LAVA TOWER to BARRANCO VALLEY
- More hiking - up, up up
- Lunch up high - and yet still higher to go
- To the LAVA TOWER at 15,000 feet - do you feel it?
- Everyone’s pace is different - self-awareness is key as we acclimate
- Back ‘down’
- Nights are colder - we are in the elements!
- Recognition of how small we are compared to this mountain; our preparedness for weather equals our comfort.
DAY 4 – TUESDAY : BARANCO VALLEY to KARANGA
- THE WALL - looms large over camp
- What a beautiful sight
- Hikers looks like ants scaling the side
- After breakfast and helicopter transport for our new friend who must yield to the complications of altitude heads down - we go!
- So exciting to climb this beautiful wall - we all finished with relative ease - passing the “kissing rock” and quite a few scrambles up
- Top of the rock offered us a view up to Kili but into the clouds over the valley - so peaceful and beautiful
- More hiking to our camp
- Singing and dancing before tea and popcorn and dinner
- Everyone is tired
- Self care prevails; face masks to be exact! JS #1! :) The joy you share amongst the fellow hikers and staff is real! Together we climb - together we summit!! True Pamoja Pamoja! XO
DAY 5 – WEDNESDAY : KARANGA to BARAFU to KOSOVO
- Our Summit night is so close
- Wind is fast
- Breakfast and off we go
- Lunch is a midway point
- We ‘get to go higher’ bc of a permit - very welcome as we are that much closer to the summit
- Early dinner at camp - relax/rest before summit breakfast and call
- WIND is crazy
- “Does this make sense?”
- Lots of doubts - fear - we must trust our guides
- Some choose not to go
- Complete humility - regardless of preparation - altitude and weather are unpredictable.
DAY 6 – THURSDAY : THE LONGEST DAY KOSOVO to UHURU PEAK to KOSOVO
- Awake to wind - questions loom - is it safe; (yes) will it stop? (no) Do we go regardless? (yes and it should stop an hour or so in, per our guides)
- Complete trust and faith we have in them.
- Some cannot climb as they are too sick.
- Medication is good for some and not for others
- Little to no sleep
- The SUMMIT HIKE begins at midnight
- Complete darkness besides the stream of headlamps, the stars above and the city below - spectacular view.
- The wind never lets up -
- Steps are slower than you imagine
- Breathing is very hard
- Your pace, your self-awareness is paramount if you want to succeed
- Some won’t make it - just too hard both mentally and physically
- 6+ hours to the break at Stella Point - a/k/a false summit
- More steps to the summit
- Thin air
- So close
- Beautiful surroundings!!
- Snow, clear blue skies, sun and wind
- Cold and exhausted yet an overwhelming sense of satisfaction
- Crowds of people
- Surreal
- Personal climb - how are so many others here?
- Reached the top. Feel alone with God at the top. Never been so close to heaven. What have I learned?…..time will reveal. Thankful for the immediate lessons and more to come.
- Back down almost immediately
- Much harder and takes longer down than anticipated
- Finally arrive back to our camp with the porters greeting us 1 hour out
- MUST Nap
- Lunch
- Pack up
- Hike down to 10,000 ft
- Feel your knees big time
- Exhausted yet a full and happy heart
- Hike along a beautiful dry river bed that seems to never end
- FINALLY, we are welcomed to the most peaceful, beautiful camp
- Tree canopy, cool air
- Seems like our guides could go on forever
- Smiling all the way
- WASHY WATER for the last time before dinner
- Get comfy
- Tea and popcorn
- Dinner
- Bedtime
- Best sleep of the week!!
- We can now rest in our joy, satisfaction, memories, new friendships, lessons from above - as we are about to re-enter our day to day lives. Our temporary time off the grid was not long enough. We all yearn for more lessons and quiet.
DAY 7 – FRIDAY : MWEKA CAMP to GATE
- Waking up to lots of songs of various groups in the camp
- Seems like the fastest end to an incredible week
- How did we get here?
- Yummy breakfast
- Tipping ceremony with all the staff
- Compliments from all the guests to the staff
- Lots of laughs and tears of joy and appreciation
- Permanent imprints on our hearts
- 3ish hours down to the exit gate
- Final hike out through the rain forest
- Lush, green and cool - esp in the shade
- FUN Lunch in the garden
- Donations of ‘stuff’ for the staff
- Sleeping bags, hiking boots, camp shoes, medications, socks, rain, pants, hats, etc.
- Lottery order
- HUGE smiles of gratitude
- We are changed - so are they!
- Language is a barrier for some but the heart knows the truth
- We are thankful. We are humbled. We are fortunate to have experienced this hike (whether to the summit or not) and all the lessons. Life will NEVER be the same - we have a new perspective and appreciation - spiritually, emotionally and physically.
- All lessons are not the same but equally as valuable. Journey of a lifetime!!
THANK YOU JESUS,
PRAISE YOU JESUS.
- Papa Deo
~ Ansley Conner