This weekend has been at time of reflection and celebration as our tear parts ways and returns home. Lots of hugs, some tears but most of all MANY laughs.
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Our climbers are waking up to their last day on the mountain. They’ll have their last breakfast in the mess tent and then start their trek. They’ll descend through the rainforest past towering trees and lush ferns to a hot lunch at Mweka Gate – where they’ll end their adventure on Mount Kilimanjaro.
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Summit is an 11 to 16 hour day. Climbers go to sleep after an early dinner the night before and are woken up around midnight to being their summit attempt. After a light snack, they ascent into darkness, cold, and wind. Temperatures usually range from -4° to 5° fahrenheit. This is where climbers feel the altitude, so they’ll carry
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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
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After breakfast, one of the biggest challenges for our climbers begins. They’ll climb up and over the Great Barranco Wall. Getting to the top of it will take 1 to 2 hours. After the wall, climbers will cross a barren and rocky plateau with views of Kibo and three glaciers before descending into Karanga Camp. As they cross the
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Today, the trail runs through a black lava desert past millions of boulders. From the Shira Plateau, the group will go up a ridge, past the trail to the peak of Kibo, to Lava Tower (known by locals as Shark’s Tooth). During their lunch break, they can take in the snowline above the Lava Tower. After lunch, they’ll descend to the
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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
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Our group will start climbing after registering in the National Park’s Climber Log and eating lunch. They’ll start hiking on a forest road through the rain forest – which is why it’s wet and humid climate where they start climbing. To the right and left of the road are Mount Kilimanjaro’s giant red germs and impatiens. The path will
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Today we returned to Sokone One, and engaged in Neighbood Visits with local YL Arusha volunteer leaders and their families. We separated into two groups and travelled to our respective houses. When we arrived at Yousseff’s house, Yousseff’s parents were working outside. We were welcomed inside and Yousseff’s parents
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Today was the same schedule as yesterday, except we are going off the reservation for dinner. Dinner will be at a local restaurant, the Blue Heron, with monkeys in the trees. Last night after dinner, we gathered to sing, share and listen to Costa. Tonight we are looking forward to hearing from Chris. The people at the Young Life
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Today followed the same schedule as yesterday. We arrived at the Young Life Clubhouse to find a group of young men playing soccer outside the compound and a group of men ready to start working on the gate and walls inside the compound. The bonds we are making with the locals are starting to form. Erich was blessed
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Our team began by meeting after breakfast for devotion time and prayer before heading out to Sokone 1, a neighborhood where Young Life has an established presence and even a building where they hold club. Chris Ayo arranged to have a bus transport us from the hotel to the YL clubhouse. It was entertaining hearing
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The team arrived safely at the Mt Meru hotel in Arusha from various points...some spending a couple of days in Africa before meeting up together for dinner and team bonding. We had a special treat as Alexis had arranged a birthday cake and celebration for Clinton’s 43rd Birthday. We exchanged travel stories, talked
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Read a day by day log of Young Life’s trip to Mount Kilimanjaro, lead by Beyond, from July 7th to July 21st. All posts will be written by those traveling on this trip and published in real time – even when they’re climbing to the summit. They’re in for the adventure of a lifetime! And you’ll get to follow along!!
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