Lisa wakes me up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom with her. She hears the monkeys chattering in the trees around camp and doesn’t want to go alone. I take her by the hand with our headlamps on and we walk out to the bathroom. There is a light mist falling and the monkeys really don’t like our headlights. They call out louder as our lights reflect off the trees. I check the stalls to make sure there are no animals taking shelter from the weather and stand guard to make sure none arrive. The drizzle lands on Lisa’s head while in the loosely roofed stall. She says it’s like trying to go potty while receiving the Chinese Water Torture.
An Eastern Black and White Colobus peers through the leaves near Mandara Camp on Mt. Kilimanjaro at Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania, Africa Thursday, March 1, 2007. (photo by Tammy McKinley)After breakfast we hike to Maundi Crater. The morning light breaking through the jungle growth is incredible. The views from the Crater’s rim are amazing. We can see Kibo and Mawenzi peaks in the clouds and the whole jungle below. Everywhere I turn looks like a painting. Teacher helps me climb one of the dead trees for a picture. Again I say, “Teacher, push”.
Lisa Hepinstall and Teacher walk on the trail near Mandara Camp on Mt. Kilimanjaro at Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania, Africa Thursday, March 1, 2007. (photo by Tammy McKinley)
Mt Mawenzie rises from the landscape near Mandara Camp on Mt. Kilimanjaro at Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania, Africa Thursday, March 1, 2007. (photo by Tammy McKinley)
The snows of Kilimanjaro emerge from the mist near Mandara Camp on Mt. Kilimanjaro at Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania, Africa Thursday, March 1, 2007. (photo by Tammy McKinley)
A dead tree is covered in Spanish moss near Mandara Camp on Mt. Kilimanjaro at Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania, Africa Thursday, March 1, 2007. (photo by Tammy McKinley)
A mist rises from the hills and valleys near Mandara Camp on Mt. Kilimanjaro at Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania, Africa Thursday, March 1, 2007. (photo by Tammy McKinley)On the way back from the hike we see more Colobus monkey’s having breakfast in the trees. Teacher takes us a little off trail to get closer. The monkeys watch us closely as they pluck the leaves from the tree to eat. Something dropped on Lisa’s white shirt and she ran back to the trail. We tease her and tell her it’s monkey poop.
An Eastern Black and White Colobus monkey reaches for his breakfast near Mandara Camp on Mt. Kilimanjaro at Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania, Africa Thursday, March 1, 2007. (photo by Tammy McKinley)
Teacher holds one of the many flowers that are indegenous to the area near Mandara Camp on Mt. Kilimanjaro at Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania, Africa Thursday, March 1, 2007. (photo by Tammy McKinley)Back at camp we watch as new groups arrive from the base of the Park and groups that summated yesterday come down the mountain. We meet some really interesting people. We met a man from Hong Kong in his early forties on his way up who quit is job several years ago to travel the world. Bandits in the Serengeti National Park robbed him a few days ago. But he isn’t discouraged. Teacher says this is very rare. That it only happens once every 8-10 years. We see a young man from Canada that we recognize from Springland Hotel. He made the summit in three days on the Rongai route. I am surprised by how many middle aged women are climbing the mountain alone.
Lisa is excited about having the opportunity to wash her hair. The porters bring us a big bowl of hot water. We stand outside our hut and I lather up Lisa’s hair with liquid soap and use a water bottle to rinse it. We spend the rest of the afternoon just lounging around, chatting with other climbers and guides, feeding the white-necked ravens trail mix, taking photos and writing in our journals. I am fascinated by a white-necked raven on the dining hall porch railing and Teacher has to shoo it away a split second before it comes in to take a bite out of my camera.
A White Necked Raven sits on dining hall deck at Mandara Camp on Mt. Kilimanjaro at Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania, Africa Thursday, March 1, 2007. (photo by Tammy McKinley)
Expedition cooks prepare the meals in one of the huts at Mandara Camp on Mt. Kilimanjaro at Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania, Africa Thursday, March 1, 2007. (photo by Tammy McKinley)At dinner, we get word that Joan and Ada made it to Uhuru Peak and that Laura made it to Gillman’s Point. Laura has to be taken down by stretcher from Kibo Camp to Horombo Camp. Teacher assures us that she is ok. She is exhausted and the altitude has made her a little sick, but she is recovering.
We stay up late tonight packing for the trek back to the gate. Although, I hate to leave the mountain, I am ready for a shower.
