Kilimanjaro - Day 5 Continues

Trip Start Feb 06, 2008

Trip End Mar 03, 2008

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Flag of Tanzania Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Friday, February 15, 2008

We lay next to each other in our tent, too tired to move, too tired to sleep, amazed at what we had done. Our devastated bodies gulped at the blissful inertia--lapping it up like dying men at an oasis. The revolting thought was that we still had a four hour hike down to the last camp before nightfall. Nyambo cheerily brought us a meal of pasta and sauce. We got our bodies vertical long enough to provide ourselves with desperately needed calories. It began to snow--angry flakes that beat against our tiny tent. Godlisten broke the great news. Due to weather and our condition he suggested that we hike down to the High Camp instead of Mweka Camp for our last night on the mountain. The High Camp is only 2 hours away. Hallelujah--praise God for the High Camp!

To steal a phrase: "There and back again." Our Mount Doom lay behind us; our Shire was close. We broke camp in high spirits. Our weakened legs caused us to take extra care. No point cracking our heads or twisting an ankle now. As we approached High Camp we came across two Israeli hikers and their guide. One of the Israelis had a knee problem and was limping down at an agonizing pace. Amazingly, their guide was leading them down for another 2 hours to Mweka Camp (low camp). We passed them, thankful that we would be stopping soon and before dark.

Our last dinner on the mountain tasted sweet beyond imagination. One more night's sleep and a last six hour hike would bring us "back again". Our sleep was heavy and heavenly.