Kilimanjaro - Done and Dusted!

The first thing we found out of course was that our catch cry "Ni tu ya Kilima" was wacky Swahili......so, it should be "Ni Kilima Tu!" - It's just a hill!

Good for a catch cry but far....so very far from the truth. We all made it and had the most unbelievably rewarding time but are shattered....

Read below for a FB summary of the days and I will fill in the gaps over the next week.

Off to Livingston tomorrow and catching up with the orphans 12/10....stay tuned.

The Team warming up at the hostel the night before.........."Ni Kilima Tu!"

• L to R... Tony Tharenos, US/Beijing - David Moeller, Melbourne - Orf - Richard Gillis, Bowral - Mike Sneesby, AUS/Dubai - Gordon Kudelka, Brisbane - Martin Hoehener, Africa/Switzerland/London

   
• Shelley Gillis Great to hear from you on FB Orf !! Enjoy those beers and I look forward to seeing an 'after' shot of you all. Well done xx  
• Chris Orford About an hour or so and there will be reunion beers and photos Shell ;-)

 

Day One - The flat trudge into Camp 1.

 

 

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  Day 2. Great view of Uhuru Peak (The Peak) as the grade starts to increase on the 8 hour hike to Camp 2 at 3670m.

 

 

 

 

• • Shelley Gillis Looking good boys!

     

Day 3. Our only wet day - a short but steep climb to 4300m

Day 4. A bit of up and down - across the saddle to Camp 4 - 400m lower than Camp 3.

 

 

 

Day 5. From 3900 to 4700 at Camp 5 (Pre-Summit Camp)

 

 

 

Day 6 (Summit Day). Starting at midnight on the way to Gilman's Point for sun-rise......

 

 

 

 

 

Day 6 cont..... Gilman's Point 5700m. Kili's second highest point - 70% of all Kili climbers turn around from here rather than attack Uhuru (5895m), another several hours of climbing.

 

 

 

 

Day 6 cont..... Uhuru 5895m - The Peak of Kilimanjaro! 10.04 local time and absolutely shattered - barely able to stand for photo!

 

 

 

 

• • Lily Baniriah to be so close to the blue sky.

    Chris Orford The air is very hard to catch up there Lily...... but the sky is just beyond fantastic!

Day 6 cont..... Unable to descend on my own steam, I am at first supported by two porters, then later, stretchered down the mountain - 7 hours of bone crunching, kidney bursting descent in a three wheeled stretcher over the rough Kili terrain. Local doctor later confirms minor pulmonary oedema.....

 

 

 

• Rhonda Kortum Oh my god when will you learn??? Glad your fine, I love how much drama finds you

  Lily Baniriah what an ACT! :))) didn't feel like doing the boring bit of walking downhill? !!!!
• Cheryl Mleczko OMG! hope you are ok!
• Chris Orford Yep, although seven hours on a three wheeled stretcher bashing down the hill at 6km/hr over a dry river bed wasn't that much fun on my kidneys ;-)........ Still, I am drinking beers whilst the other boys are currently trudging out the last 20km down :-)

  Megan Moore A whole new event, 'The Kili Mountain Bash' has been pioneered by Orf!Take care and enjoy those beers x

 

 

Day 7 - FOR ORF........ ;-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now just waiting for the rest of the boys to join me here at the hostel where there will be a fair bit of celebrating........

 

NI KILIMA TU!

 

Orf