June 29, 2015
Top of Africa
Always nice to be able to report on another successful Kilimanjaro summit. The team is already well on their way down to Mweka Camp at 10,000’. Summit day is a long one. The first goal is Stella Point, where the route first reaches the Crater. Then it another hour to the true summit at Uhuru and time for team and individual photos. The journey from there is as much mental as it is physical.  Not easy, after a demanding climb, to make that 180 degree turn and hike back down to high camp at 15,300’. Even after lunch and a short rest, you still have to ‘suck it up’ to put that pack back on and get down to the land of the thick air at Mweka Camp, 10,000’.
Tomorrow’s a relatively short day’s hike, maybe 4-5 hours, to the Mweka Gate. Lunch will be waiting for the team and so will be the vehicles to get them back to the hotel and hot showers. They’re staying focused now until tomorrow afternoon and then they’ll relax and let the climb and summit sink in.
Congratulations, team.
Phil Ershler