Step Five: Don't you know that the time is right!

So just a little after midnight I set out with a headlamp on to light the way. I walked with a group of five people.

I'm no physicist, but for some reason the air inside packages swells at that altitude. My Energy bar packages inflated. Unfortunately, so does the gas inside your stomach. This gives you gas pains, but also makes you toot. Poor Lisa, who walked behind me.

It was a full moon that night, so it basically helped illuminate the path for the whole climb. The stars seemed to get closer with every step I took.



The steep part of Kilimanjaro that you see in pictures is what you are climbing. The crest of the climb is a place called Gilman's Point. Not sure who Gilman was, but I have a feeling he was a jerk because his "point" is very hard to get to. You have to climb on your hands and feet, and are working hard with little oxygen. Not a fan of Gilman.

From Gilman, its another hour to Uhuru Peak. Uhuru means peace, and was the inspiration for the Star Trek character of the same name. As you get closer to the peak, other trail routes start to merge with yours. It's such a rewarding time once you get to the top, sharing the reward with others who arrive when you do. I jammed my Canada flag into the sign (Upper left corner), had a sip of someone's beer, then called home.


Yes, there is cell phone reception at the top. From the top of Kili (the roof of Africa), they say you can see 7 countries. I only cared about one though...Canada. I called home and found out that Crosby had just scored to win us the Gold. What a feeling for me to hear that while I was at the summit.

We both kept up our parts of the bargains. I get to the summit, and they win the gold. Needless to say, I informed everyone on the way down who had just won the gold medal in hockey.

Kilimanjaro doesnt want to be mounted. You need a reason to finish. The mountain strips away all the crap from your life and tells you what the most important things are.

Step Four: I can give you more

So begins the longest day of my life. After leaving Horombo Huts you travel across the lunar lanscape called "the saddle". Its a cross between the surface of the moon and the place where the Grizwold's car broke down in the first 'Vacation' movie. Your goal is Kibo Hut. Its a long, slow ascent - a nice walk, but dry as a bone.

Made it to Kibo hut in the late afternoon. The advice from the guide is to sleep now until about midnight. Pssshh...please. I didn't sleep and not many people around me did either. At midnight, we climb again. Six hours straight up, on through the night and pole pole (slowly) so we don't pass out.

Step Three: Its just you and me

Horombo Huts. You can see the ultimate prize just in the distance there.

The cohort of climbers you go up with become very important to you. You wait for your friends at each camp and share your stories about how you are feeling and how your climb was. You also start to hear many tales from the peak. Many people come down disappointed in not having made the summit, others are in much worse shape due to the altitude or physical injury.

Anyway, I made it to Horombo and had a nice dinner. The dinner gave me some energy. After my meal I lightly jogged over to my hut, but when I got there, I nearly passed out! That little bit of exertion, coupled with the minimal oxygen, left me gasping for air. That's when I started to understand the magnitude of this climb. Horombo Hut is not even half-way in terms of altitude. I still had another 3000 meters to climb!

Step Two: There's so much we can do

The night at Mandara Huts was great. Clear skies, crisp stars and a bright moon. I woke up for a tinkle in the night and found myself surrounded by curious monkeys. Pretty spooky stuff when you are in the dark.

Met some great friends named Tony (Liverpool) and Lisa (New Zealand). Climbed up on day two with them.

You can see how the topography is changing here. No more jungle. More grasslands and succulents. No animals this high, except for mice and a few kinds of birds.

The next camp is called Horombo, and that's your goal for today. Get to Horombo and acclimatize to the rising altitude.

Step One: We can have lots of fun

From the Marangu gate, my porters and cook split off on another route and I started my trek with my guide (real name Lawrence). The first part of the climb takes about four hours.

You pass through lush forest. There are monkeys along the path and in the trees all along the way.

Your goal is the Mandara Hut camp.

Climbing Kilimanjaro: Step by Step

Well, I hinted that I had a great answer to the question "Where were you when Crosby scored in overtime?". The answer lies at the top of the mountain, but let me tell you how I got there.

I was picked up in Arusha by my Guide (Donny), my porters (Jordan and Jon) and my cook (Danny). On the way, The guide asked if there was anything else I needed. To be safe we stopped at a shop in Moshi town and I thought I'd get some extra batteries. I made the mistake of asking (typical Canadian) "do you guys need anything?" Next thing you know, the doors of the car fly open and they all go running to the counter with chocolate bars and cigarettes. Good thing those items cost so little here! A pack of cigarettes is only about 75 cents.

We drove to the Marangu gate of Kilimanjaro park from there. I signed in and started my climb.

Its Kili Time...Make the most of it

"Its time to switch to whisky, we've been drinking beer all night".

Like any true ambassador would, I've tried all of the beer here. Serengetti, Kilimanjaro, Safari, Tusker...

My choice is Kili.