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In every inspiring natural creation there is a realism that speaks to you. In every moment on a mountain you find it more and more...

KILIMANJARO, TANZANIA

Dave
2004-02-22 13:14:18

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entered the heath zone, which was a mix of bushes and grass, but no more trees. As we climbed and the weather slowly improved we were rewarded with outstanding views of Mt. Meru. This mountain is approximately 16,000 feet tall and sits right next to the town of Arusha. Each morning the skies would be clear above our campsite and we would watch a thick layer of clouds hovering around the base of Mt. Meru slowly ascend up to our elevation and then quickly cover us. Soon after it would begin to rain or snow.

Our guides had miraculously packed in bottled water for the first day and a half. This was tremendous weight and unfortunately did not last long. Soon we were using pills or filters to purify our water. Most of the water sources were quite dirty and often the filters would become clogged with sediment. I highly recommend taking 2 Nalgene hard plastic (Lexan) water bottles with you. On some days you will find the streams are far and few between and it is always best to have some water with you.

Our 3rd night was spent at lava camp, just below a rock formation at 14,500 feet called Lava Tower. The hike from Lava Tower to the Arrow Glacier camp at 15,500 feet was a short day and took only about 3 hours. Granted we did hike in near zero visibility through a snowstorm, but the distance that day was fairly short and steep.

The arrow glacier camp was situated on several snowfields with many rocks showing through the snow and ice. From this camp you could look straight up at the sheer side of the upper flanks of Kilimanjaro. You could see exactly where you would be hiking the next day. It was a scary, yet at the same time, an impressive sight.

Hiking the next day began around 6:30am. For the first ½ of this day I had my best time of the trek. I felt great, strong, and full of energy. I led the team for several hours up the steep face of the mountain. At times we were on ...