Day 7: Climb to BARAFU

MOUNTAIN ROUTE OVERVIEW

As our climbers near the summit, they have another short day for acclimatization today. After breakfast, climbers leave Karanga Camp and make their way across moraine with a view of Mawenzi and Kibo to Barafu. The alpine desert terrain is full of boulders with lichen and moss. Upon reaching camp, climbers will spend the afternoon resting before packing for the summit and having an early dinner in preparation for their ascent to the summit to start at midnight. Summit begins at 5 PM EST!

MOUNTAIN ROUTE STATS

Starting elevation 13,300 feet

Ending elevation 16,000 feet

Elevation gain 2,700 feet

Distance hiked 3.5 miles

Average hiking time 4 to 5 hours

Getting ready for SUMMIT DAY. The emotions are high but our fearless leader John has said that we are ready, so we should be set to go!!

As we get ready to summit I am reminded of the ways that Jesus calls us higher throughout the bible. He takes people further than they have ever been and further than they thought possible. As we begin our ascent those characteristics of Jesus will be ringing our ears.

Now this hike will not be “easy peazy squeeze lemon” but the strong one (Olivier) continues to remind us that the Lord is our strength and with Him we can do anything.

All day tomorrow you can find us doing our mountaineering step from midnight to about noon.

I will be taking a 5 hour energy so please pray for those I am hiking with as I will be jazzed and energetic!!

As always we are reminded and humbled by the ways we are being served and loved by our porters, guides, and cooks. This trip is not possible without them, so we are overwhelmed each day. The porters have been carrying water for us on their heads - talk about above and BEYOND.

Thank you for keeping up with us. WE ARE SO SCARED AND SO EXCITED. It is getting real. The next time you hear from us let’s pray we have been to 19,000 and back.

Pamoja, Pamoja.

“Farther up, and further in.” - potentially C.S. Lewis, but I can’t fact check here in the mountains.

Anyway, here we go !!!!

⁃ Tyler Tankersley (aka the mountain goat, aka cheme)