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 if 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

What a gift it has been to hike this mountain together. Phrases like “Pamoja Pamoja”, “Pole, Pole”, and “JAMBO” continue to ring in our ears. Our day went at a steady pace (thank you Abel) and a lot of “sips sips sips” of water (again thank you Abel). There were moments of good conversations and repetition of the prayer “thank you Jesus, praise you Jesus.”

The day began in a thick fog. We hiked up … and up … and up … and up for what felt like hours (because it was). We had a quick stop for lunch where I drank 2 full cups of hot coco and did not regret a single sip. Our fearless leaders Abel, Gabriel, and Kevin entertained and encouraged us the entire way up. Abel stopped many times to educate us on the flora surrounding us as we changed climates. It was sweet to watch Gabriel and others chime in.

Not only are days filled with challenge and laughter, but also constant song. Our porters and guides welcomed us to our camp site after a long day with dancing and singing. They sang songs of prayers, worship and JOY, inviting us into each melody. We had an afternoon of rest where Hadley whipped out her ukelele (thank you porter Michael for carrying that all this way) and blessed our ears with some beautiful worship. Everyone sat around and enjoyed both the music and the scenery. Today was such a gift.

Each night we have been able to spend time together in our mess tent with tea, popcorn, soup, and more food than we could ever ask for. Thank you Aman and Meshack for the ways you prepare our food AND ensure no one can leave hungry.

My favorite part has been the trail conversations within our group and also with the porters/guides. What I have learned so far:

Gregory: guide, wants to be a business man in New York City, Age 29, loves Chris Brown, nickname: Mckenzie.

Alfa: porter, hopes of being a guide, hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro 100 times, and hopefully one day Everest; second born child with 3 sisters, age 24, in many ways he is living his dream life today.

Aman: porter in charge of the food, so kind and ensures that every need is met…always, proud father of 3 kids ages 4, 2.5 and 4 months.

Meshack: porter in charge of the food, goes out of his way to meet our needs and love us well, father of one daughter and will never bring her on the mountain.

Kevin: guide who encompasses JOY, he calls each girl “sister” and checks in on each of us as if we were his own child, father of 3: Kent, Karen and Ken.

I can say confidently that today we lived out our words given by “the strong one” (Olivier) REJOICE & JOY.

Pamoja Pamoja!!!

⁃ Tyler Tankersley