Mount Kilimanjaro day three

Jambo  everyone

Hope you are all well. It's been nice out this week - really feels like spring is in the air at last. Seems to have been a really long winter this time, I think maybe because of all the snow? Anyway I saw some beautiful wild daffodils today - made me smile, love that spring is finally getting here! - so the crocus's and daffodils are shooting up and we all feel much brighter and happier to see a swath of colours appearing in gardens and parks around us, especially after the months of grey winter we've endured.

It's been an average 7c this week, and when the sun's been shining I've had the jacket off and been walking in just a T shirt. It's been a really pleasant change.

Onto the climb!

Mountain day three - Feb 3rd. Shira camp 1 to Shira camp 2 - 1000ft increase in elevation.

Today was going to be one of our easiest days climb as in it was us continuing across the plateau to   Shira camp 2. Believe it or not even though the terrain was flatter it took us four hours to climb a thousand feet. It was a really amazing day out on the mountain, we had lots of chatting and laughing along the trail.....it's much easier to converse when not climbing ridiculously steep inclines, must because we weren't struggling for breath! Chacha and George are great guys, great guides and great fun to be around. The whole crew all contribute to making this climb so special.

We started our day as always after breakfast with our songs - the crew really enjoy this part of the day, you can tell by the enthusiasm while singing and dancing. We were singing along, we had learned most of the words to the Jambo song now. It's hard to put into words how much it energizes you to sing this song with the boys. It definitely warms you up after the chill of night under canvas on the mountain. It was getting colder on a night, obviously as we were climbing higher. We simply had the best gang of lads, always smiling, encouraging, laughing and congratulating....what more could we want or ask for? All the guys together in photo below.

We were now in the alpine forest, this was our third eco-system in as many days. It's hard to believe such diversity over the three days, it was really nice in the alpine forest. It's like nothing I've experienced before, hard to believe it's all on the same mountain.

We have so far walked in the Lemosho glades ( Forest ), the moorland and now our third day in the alpine forest.

The plan was after reaching camp and chilling for a while to recover we would go for a walk for about ninety minutes, climbing higher to help with our acclimatization, I was on and off feeling some effects from the altitude, albeit fairly mild at the moment, they were definitely there. Light-headed, dull headache, slight balance issues....it's strange because my balance issues are taking  me off to the right ( had to be didn't it! - my weakest ankle after fully rupturing my anterior talofibular ligament ) and Bec's had her off to the left! So that's where we would be heading after a rest - up higher on the mountain.

It really was a great walk, it was nice to be able to really absorb our surroundings, to stop have a rest, we weren't in a hurry to reach camp, chat and of course laugh. We were learning more about Chacha and George and they about us. Although it was more sedate regarding steepness it was still tough. I think a lot of this is the tiredness, a symptom of the altitude and lack of calories. Wasn't particularly eating well but my fluid intake was absolutely fine. The pain in my right lung was bothersome today, it never really eased off and maybe that's why I thought it was still a bit of a tough walk. It is paining me when I take a breath in, hoping it goes away. I've been taking some antibiotics Bec's brought with her, hopefully they'll do the trick.

We were nearly at the camp and had to climb a boulder wall ( really wish I'd taken photos of it! ) I followed Chacha up the wall and it was definitely my own fault....I had my walking poles in the wrong hand as I went for the final bit of the climb to the top.....I caught the toes of my left foot just under the ridge and went spectacularly over the top head first, Ali shouted as I went, I managed to flip myself over mid air as I was falling.

Cha cha's eyes were like dinner plates, that was all I could see and the blue sky, I'm now sliding down an incline, Ali's shouting "bloody hell Tracy!"...."I'm okay" I shout back as I'm still sliding to who knows where?!!!!  I finally come to a stop, luckily my backpack had taken the brunt of it as I flipped and slid down. Ali's saying ...."Tracy you're shouting I'm okay to me and you were still sliding down the rocks at the time, you didn't even know where you were going!" 

I'm up on my feet with a concerned Chacha checking me over, we are grinning and laughing by now. Bec's said "you okay?" I answered yes so she started giggling. She said the only thing she saw because she was behind Ali was the bottom of my hikers and how they turned mid air as I flipped myself over!  I've battered myself up a bit but it didn't even hurt to be honest....although it did later on. The initial assessment showed I'd got grazes above and below my elbow on my right arm with bruises with both that were about three inches in length. My left shin had a graze and a bruise coming up the size of my hand and my right leg had an egg come up on my shin and was looking like most of it was going to bruise ( it turned out later that it was bruised from knee to ankle ). I didn't notice until we were signing in at camp but  my knee and had a flap of skin loose, it was bleeding a bit. I was joking saying I didn't want to clean it because it had Kilimanjaro dirt in it and I wanted to take it home with me!   

When I later went to lay down I realized I'd obviously caught above my left butt cheek and lower back, I was okay unless I touched the bruises. Just glad I managed to maneuver myself and not crash my head into the rocks. 

I was scored an 8 for style and a 9 for execution! - so with such high scores it meant I didn't have to go repeat in the hope of upping my score!!!   

So after we had chilled we set off on our climb higher up the mountain for our acclimatization, we didn't take our poles with us and scrambled between the rocks. It was a good climb and I was happy because I didn't feel light-headed and my headache was gone. We came to a stop and stayed there about 20 minutes. A couple of the lads from the crew had decided to come with us on our little walk which was really nice.

Today I saw my first senecio tree, I love nature but do have a fascination about trees. I was really pleased to see them, they only grow over 3000m.....crazy!!

We slowly headed back to camp, our walk had done what was needed. Right behind our camp above the line of rocks was the summit of Kilimanjaro, today it was shrouded in the clouds, I hoped it would break tomorrow before we left camp. I really wanted to get a photo, boy we were getting closer! 

I experienced my first Kilimanjaro express today - OMG that was grim!!!....The Kilimanjaro express is the runs to which you get no warning whatsoever. No griping pains, no buggy feeling. I didn't have the express but unfortunately for me - walked into one of the toilets in camp when someone had got it! I think I need therapy to get over it....they poor soul had exploded and I mean exploded all over the place. The walls the floor, they must have wanted to cry if they didn't actually!!! I opened the door and then threw myself back out - OMFG the smell, the sight hit me, me stomach immediately rolled and clenched....I nearly knocked myself out on the door jamb trying to get away from it. I wanted to bleach my eyes seriously....the grimmest thing I've ever had the misfortune to see and experience! I don't ever want to see that again!

I find myself with an almost permanent smile on my face, I feel so at peace and tranquil out here on the mountain. It's everything I imagined and so much more. I know as I always did, somewhere in my subconscious that I was meant to do this, this my personal Everest. Who'd have thought I could be more relaxed and at peace than I am at home.

Next time we climb up to the Lava Tower - the most important day regarding acclimatization at 4600m.

Until next time

Tracy   

    

Restless - Aftermath of epic adventure maybe?

Hello everyone

I've been pretty restless since I got back from Tanzania, I didn't really think too much into it at first....after all I've just been away for eighteen days on the most amazing adventure, climbing a mountain, going on safari and seeing some amazing wild animals in their natural habitat.....having the most amazing but very humbling experience when we went shopping for food for the orphanage and spending the afternoon playing with the children. And all the other memories of the trip rolling around in my head, the friends we made and the continuous laughs we had.

I expected to feel this way, especially when I found the missing version of myself on that trip - on the mountain actually....the explorer version of myself that I lost along the way.....on my journey of treatments, meds and all the consequent diagnosed illnesses and complications in the past few years. But I also expected the restlessness to have faded as real life and work took over.

Thus so far hasn't been the case, don't get me wrong, I love my work and spending all day outside with the gorgeous doggie clans....but I'm still restless. Restless and my concentration is shot.

I had a MRI last week and am back to see my consultant later this month - if this doesn't show anything I know he is going to refer me to the chronic pain clinic....I have had investigation after investigation to which so far in three years they haven't been able to pinpoint what is causing the pain in my left side. The latest theory is it's actually been generated from my dorsal spine - whether it's an old trapping of a nerve that's been damaged and is causing the pain....or a possibility of  some deterioration of my spine due to the osteoporosis, I sincerely hope it's nothing to do with the latter. Anyway, I'll know end of month.

I think a fair bit of it stems from my being stalled at myself and a lost chance to get to know someone I actually really liked because I didn't know she liked me back. I can't explain or put into words how frustrating it is to not understand when someone is flirting with you, showing  their interest in you and you not getting it. I thought she only liked me as a friend when in fact it was more than that.....and by the time I found out, it was too late. The really sad irony of all this is that we've been in contact before and it all went wrong....turns out for the same reason, and even though I tried to explain my problem of my kindergarden understanding of relationship beginnings, I just don't think she believed me. I think she thought I was just messing with her head. And anyone who knows me knows I would never do anything like that,  be so disrespectful to anyone, never mind someone I liked a lot. I take things very literally and it's not like I'm going to say to someone I've just started talking to - oh hey, I don't understand flirting so won't get it....just in case you were planning to do that.....how completely sad would I look? I really hoped to get through the first awkward stage and for her to realise I wasn't understanding and to think it endearing and not just freaky. After that I would be okay, But I wasn't to get that chance. How sad that I feel like I lost her twice when the fact is, she was never mine in the first place.

I feel like I want to be off doing something, something new to take up my thoughts and occupy my mind for a while. Off exploring because the travel bug is back. I am enjoying writing the posts from the Kilimanjaro trip, and in fairness I've got lots I should be writing.....so maybe the answer is to sink myself into that. Who knows if it goes well it might generate the funds to allow me to be off exploring and writing about further adventures!

Here's to me hoping I start to settle soon because I could do with some more sleep for sure!

I'll be doing the next installment of the Kili climb later in the week.

Until next time

Tracy

Day two on Mount.Kilimanjaro

Jambo everyone!

I hope you are all enjoying your weekend!....the weather has been great here in Yorkshire, the suns been shining and you can feel spring in the air!

Our second day saw us leave Mti kubwa camp in the forest and set off for Shira camp 1. This was a full days trek with an altitude gain of 2000ft. Not too long into the trek would see us leave the forest and into the giant moorland zone.

Before we set off the crew did a song for us- wow, all I can say is wow! it was amazing, great fun and really upbeat. We were all stood grinning from ear to ear as we picked up a couple of words and tried to join in. We danced and everything. What a fantastic way to start the day! We were full beans and felt really honoured with our crew. None of the other climb crews did that with their groups. We felt very special!

We were about to go when Chacha pointed out a Blue monkey in the camp.....it is also known as the sky monkey. It had an injured back leg and was roaming around the camp looking for dropped bits of food. It was in no way phased by all the people in camp. It just did it's own thing.

We had managed to make it through the night without any unwanted visitors in the tent - even after bathroom visits in the early hours of the morning! It wasn't a great nights sleep for any of us, the moon was really bright at one point, I actually thought it was near dawn....it was about two am! Experiencing the loo ( hole in the ground in the dark with a tiny torch wasn't anyone's idea of fun I can tell you )

So we got ready to leave our forest camp, quite a few of the groups had set off for the full days trek already. We were cool and relaxed and ready to start our day in earnest. Goodbye camp! Got a happy smiling Bec's photo, she's ready to crack on for the day.

We set off on our first full days trek. It was going to be tough with some very steep climbs ahead of us before we headed down to the Shira plateau and our next camp for the night. It was a really hot day and the sun was out in force....now this was going to add to our discomfort as we hadn't had chance to acclimatise to the heat yet.

Some of the climbs were really steep - George our assistant guide was setting our pace and thankfully we were on with our Pole pole Kilimanjaro. Just as well I don't think any of us would have made it otherwise. As we left the forest behind and entered the moorland zone, the difference was amazing. We kept climbing a strenuous climb and would catch our breath at the top...we were constantly criss-crossing with other groups, so there was plenty of good natured banter and lots of joyful shouts of Jambo!

The going was really tough, especially with the heat! Man!....it physically drained and zapped your energy quickly. I was having problems with an intermittent pain in my right lung, when we were climbing the steep inclines it was bothering me. But I recovered really quickly when we leveled out or stop for a minute breather.....so that made me feel good. George was brilliant - Hakuna matata he said....no worries! pole pole hakuna matata - this was our mantra the whole eight days on the majestic and magnificent Mount.Kilimanjaro. We were so lucky to have two fantastic guides with us.Chacha & George...we wouldn't have made it without these guys and of course the other 14 members of our crew. The most amazing set of lads without a doubt!

Ali was having a tough day - it wasn't the steep inclines....well no more than any of us were struggling with them.....it was the heat. It was really causing her problems and made her feel drained. We were all talking lots of encouragement, we were a team and we knew we were all gonna have a day that was really hard, a day where you hit your wall as it were. Today was Ali's, but she kept on, never a question of her not of course. We were glad for a break when lunch was called!! We were at around 10,000ft now.

We got settled for lunch and more importantly more fluids on board - I don't ever struggle with my fluid intake, I drink a major amount even back home. The girls and Dom weren't doing very well with the drinking and Chacha and George were reminding them a lot to drink more. We sat having lunch while watching a couple of white necked ravens having a bit of a spat....sorting out the pecking order if there were going to be any food about for them to get! beautiful looking birds....saw them quite a lot actually where ever people gathered to eat....bit like the pigeons back in the UK.

Our view from our lunch table as it were! - pretty spectacular I'm sure you agree, we were just outside the Shira crater here.....a very beautiful place to stop and enjoy our picnic lunch! It's difficult to explain how you feel sitting there looking out over views like this, it really does feel quite surreal, like you're not really there almost....so much to absorb!

We set off after lunch on what was a particular gruelling climb, it was long, hard and really steep, we were all feeling it, my breath was a little laboured, but was still keeping the pace. George said to us another 20 minutes and we'd be at the top....so on we went pole pole Kilimanjaro. We made it up and then we hugged and fistbumped, congratulations were given out enthusiatically , Chacha came to me and said you are a really strong woman. I felt overwhelmed and proud to be honest, ha ha, the praise made me feel really good I have to say!

We had a ten minute break and believe it or not we were all recovered and ready to go on, we were now making our way down to the plateau and camp. We'd been walking for some hours now but we were still full of beans and definitely loving every minute if it. What a trip, what a mountain, this so far had surpassed everything I imagined it to be, I knew nothing about this would disappoint me, it wasn't going to be possible. 

We stopped for a break not far from camp - I filled up with tears, this was our first view of the summit, it was actually Kibo in all it's glory. Sitting majestically in front of me the thing I've concentrated on for four years,shrouded in clouds was the object that I had concentrated all my determination and motivation into....the thing I had used to get me on the very long road to recovery, the thing I said all along, I will conquer Kilimanjaro.....and here was my first look at it properly, so yes I filled up. I was emotionally a bit of a wreck ha ha, but got myself under control.

We got to camp and I was sat in the tent after nearly falling head first into as I tripped over the guide ropes much to Bec's amusement, she was laughing that hard I thought she was going to pee herself -  ( did I tell you I'm very clumsy hee hee! ) it was before our evening meal and my face was splitting with a smile that was almost a permanent feature by now and the thoughts and words on a loop in my head were....I'm on Kili, I'm on kili.....over and over and all the time I'm sat grinning like a mad fool. And do you know what???? I didn't care!!!!!

We were here, we were on the mountain, I was sleeping on my mountain!...I was going to conquer Kili and I was going to have the adventure of a lifetime, a wonderful million memory making epic adventure, it was already in the making.

Mountain day two - completed....BOOM!!!

Until next time

Tracy

Mount.Kilimanjaro one hell of a climb!

Hi everyone

This adventure, my challenge I set way back in 2010...this enormous challenge to climb to the summit of Mount.Kilimanjaro....it was finally here, I was so excited on the build up that I didn't sleep for three days before we actually flew! I actually would shake with excitement and anticipation and smile! on man I would break out into the biggest face splitting smile every time my mind thought Kilimanjaro.....I was after so many frustrating years actually going to be getting on that plane to Tanzania and my mountain challenge was on! And now looking back - I still struggle to believe what I've actually accomplished. I have stood on the "Roof of Africa".....amazing and unbelievable.

Friday January 30th - 13.55pm and we were on the plane to Doha airport in Qatar....the first leg of our journey. Suzie had driven Bec's and I to Manchester where we met Ali. And from that moment we girls started with the ribbing,laughing and joking.....this carried on for the whole trip. We landed at Doha 11.50pm local time and then had over seven hours to kill before our connecting flight to Kilimanjaro. The airport is out of this world, the shops were designer, but we found a great cafe with wonderfully comfy seating and a gorgeous hummus to boot! We got on our second plane and with great excitement set off for Moshi and the challenge of a lifetime! We didn't know until the flight had been under way for a fair old time ( it was an eight hour flight ) that we would be stopping at Dar Es Salaam first to drop off passengers. We were to stay on the plane for the hour it would take to get them and their luggage off. Then we were back in the air and onto our destination JRO international airport.

The airport from the outside actually looked like someone's bungalow! - it had what looked like well kept gardens!

  

Boy we nearly passed out when we got off the plane and walked to the airport building. It was around minus 2/3C when we had left the UK and here we was landing Saturday January 31st at 15.25pm to temps of 34C.....mental I tell you!

We were through the airport in good time and was met on the other side by Mussa our wonderful host from Wild Secret Safaris. And we were loaded and on our way to the Keys Hotel in Moshi for our overnight stay before the climb. We got booked in and taken to our rooms - which were little round huts, loved them...simple but great! We then went to a meeting to meet our head guide, chat about our next eight days on the mountain and to have our kit checked out.

The meeting went well and our kit passed muster as it were. Chacha, Mussa and Alphonce left us to get some food etc and said they'd see us at 7.00am to load up and set off.

We grabbed some food and called it a night....we had two rooms between us and said we would rota through so we all got a night on our own unless it was a triple.

07.00am arrives and we happily had breakfast, sorted out with reception for them to store our suitcases until our return and loaded our gear into the van. All we needed now was a photo before we set off and we were ready to hit the mountain!!

Ali and Bec's were full of beans and raring to get this climb going on lol.....we had to travel to Londorossi Gate which was about two hours drive away to register and get all the kit weighed. It was really exciting and Dom an Italian who they'd asked could join our climb was ready to crack on too.

A dreaded selfie and we were in the van and finally on the move - watch out Mount.Kilimanjaro we are coming to get you!!!!

Sunflowers - or more accurately....sunflower crops! I'd never thought of sunflower crops but as soon as I saw the fields of them it clicked and made sense. I was mesmerized by them to be honest, these beautiful and magnificent flowers standing so tall and proud facing the sun! I never actually got a picture.....something I regret but it was fascinating to see them. I like so many of you will have only thought of maybe a couple together growing not hundreds in one place. I couldn't stop looking at them every time we passed a crop, I found it so simple and so very beautiful.

On the way to Londorossi gate we had a puncture hardly surprising if you saw the potholes and deep ruts in the dirt roads. Our climb crew of porters, chef etc passed us in their van while they boys were changing the tyre. When we were back on the road we came upon our crew who had broken down big time in the middle of the road. After Mussa and co chatted with them we were off on route to the gate. They explained they needed to organise the crew and gear to be picked up and brought to the gate for weighing and would do so when we arrived there.

We went and sat in the shaded area with a packed lunch while the guys organised for another company to go get our crew.Firstly they were going to drop their own crew off at the gate to have everything weighed, while that was happening they would go collect our crew and bring them to the gate for the same weighing in process. They would take their own crew to the start point in the Lemosho glades and come back to collect our crew and take them to the start point.......well organised so far away from the town, it was just going to take some time to do that's all.

We were just chilling and chatting among ourselves and with Mussa, Chacha and Alphonce....the time passed quickly and then we were ready to be on our way. Chacha asked if we had our headtorches in our daypacks because we had a 3-4 hour climb ahead of us and it was after 15.00pm now. We checked and in most cases got out of our big packs ( we hadn't expected to need them today ) and we were off for an approx drive of 45 mins through a forest to the Lemosho glades and the true start of our epic climb of Mount.Kilimanjaro....we were completely buzzing, I again was shaking with excitement....it was here, and for all those doubters, I was here and I was about to embark on an experience most will never have in their lifetime. I was here and fit enough to be climbing, I had no matter what proved the doubters wrong! Should never underestimate me and my determination that's for sure.

We were out of the van, smiling at our crew who we would gt to know over the next few days and then we were off on the first days climb through the forest. We were climbing up to Mti Mkubwa camp and would be staying there overnight. Overall the climb wasn't too bad, we managed to do some chatting and laughing on route. There were a few steep climbs that had me completely breathless and I did think on one of them, oh boy this looks like it's gonna be really tough especially with the scarring on my lung!

Chacha had said before we even left Moshi the rules of Kilimanjaro are simple. In Swahili it's a saying Pole pole Kilimanjaro which translates into slowly slowly Kilimanjaro.....it is so true, you aren't going to succeed on the mountain any other way. He went in front to dictate the pace which was a lot steadier than we had been attempting at this height, it wasn't the altitude that was causing most of the problems but the heat. It was in the low 30's C and it was having an affect on us, especially me on this our first climb. Pole pole definitely worked. We made it to camp just as it was getting dark, so no torches needed. Chacha was happy with us, we'd done the first days climb in two hours instead of the 3/4 hours. 

We were definitely happy bunnies and very happily signed in with the officials at the camp.Our names are forever in the records of climbers of Mount.Kilimanjaro - something I'm very proud to say!

We went to the tents of which there was a single and a two man. Ali got the single this night and Bec's & I shared. We put out our sleeping bags, made sure the tent was zipped up ( don't want any unwanted visitors from the forest!! ) and went to the mess tent for our first camp meal. We started with soup - cucumber soup made by our cook Job....it was bloody delicious! Enjoyed our meal, had a cup of Yorkshire tea ( of course I took some teabags with me!! ) and got Dom the Italian coffee drinker on them and Chacha our head guide..... one cup and I'd converted them to the nectar that is Yorkshire tea. My job was done for the day ha!!

An amazing first day walking in the forest and of course all the excitement of the puncture and breakdown before that. We happily chatted about our first day, the adventure and what was still to come. We knew day two was going to be around eight hours of climbing, so a big day ahead. We all called it a night around 20.00pm. We were getting a knock ( if that's possible on a tent ) at 06.30am....so it was time to try sleep with the sounds of the forest and everything that was buzzing in my head. I still hadn't stopped smiling at this time....well apart from my first visit to the toilet....an open at one end wooden structure with a hole in the ground. It wasn't the squatting that bothered me I've done that before in India....it was the rank smell, these things outside....leave a lot to be desired, but it was what it was!

Until next time

Tracy

I went, I climbed and I conquered!

Jambo!!!

       Mount Kilimanjaro February 6th 2015!

How are we all doing? I am floating somewhere out there in the universe as I am still absorbing the fact I climbed and conquered Mount.Kilimanjaro! I can't stop smiling ....I feel so very proud of myself and so incredibly proud and happy for Ali Smith and Becky Templeman.....my two intrepid pals and climbing buddies......well done on the fundraising for Cancer research girls too!

What an amazing time we three have had, we have laughed and ribbed each other constantly the whole trip....and we have had anyone whose come into contact with us laughing and smiling too. I would call that a massive victory for all of us. The bonge amigos lived it large! Looking forward to our next adventure in the future!

There will be a series of posts over the next week or two that will tell more of our epic adventure, hopefully you won't all be bored to death with it!

I did manage a couple of the promised video blog diary entries and although it will seem strange, I will do some more from home. It was really quite difficult to do them to be honest.....probably more to do with the fact I was too shy to just set up and do where ever I was!  It was difficult to find time after a long hard day of climbing, to find a quiet spot that made me slightly less self conscious    ( but not much!! )...and in some cases not enough light available. Within a couple of days the idea of getting set up didn't cross my mind and then there was the days of suffering with high altitude sickness......so in theory it was a grand idea - in practice not so much.....so like I said I'm going to force myself to do some at home, I'll apologise now, me in front of the camera is not  good guys...you've been warned !

Our summit selfie! seems a good place to start.....joking! this was the end result of the most amazing time on Mount.Kilimanjaro, it was unbelievably hard and for both Bec's and I a rough time with differing symptoms of altitude sickness to contend with as well. Ali was so very lucky and didn't suffer with it at all. Although she thinks we were better off as Chacha and George carried Bec's and I's day packs to the summit and down for us!

Before I get into the actual writings of the epic adventure and climb - I thought I would spend time on this first post telling you about the company we used for both the climb and safari.

www.wildsecretsafaris.com  - check the link.

Wild Secret safaris - an amazing company where you the client and your needs are foremost and nothing is too much trouble. Mussa Gora will take great care of you and your parties needs. I cannot recommend them highly enough!

I did all my dealing via email with Mussa who came back to me promptly and was always the professional. He made our trip planning so stress free and took on more than he needed to to ensure we had a fantastic trip that ran so very smoothly. We booked our climb, our safari and all our hotels while in the UK and we stayed in four different hotels over our stay! Nothing is too much trouble for Wild Secret and I can't tell you how much we appreciated all Mussa did. Above and beyond without a doubt.

Regarding the climb make sure you book Philemon Chacha and his crew. They are simply the best, they will keep you motivated throughout the climb, they sang every morning and had us up and joining in, a superb way to shake off the chill from the night, warm up your muscles ready to face the days strenuous climb. Don't think of using any other crew - you want the best? look no further.

We three girls wouldn't use any other company and if you are going to Tanzania to climb Mount Kilimanjaro or Mount Meru you know who to book with.

Wild Secret offer many safari packages and whichever you choose, know that you will be with the professionals.

Bec's, Ali and I really can't recommend them enough. Thank you guys for making sure our epic adventure was amazing and so stress free and so very memorable!

Over the next few posts I'll tell you of our epic climb adventure from the forest trail to climbing the great Barranco wall at 14,928ft....a definite eye opener!!, our major acclimatization day at the lava tower at 4600m,  to the summit and the trail back down to the finish at Mweka gate. About the singing with the crew in a morning and falling into the tent on a night! Of our continuous laughing, the friendly insults that started from our eyes opening to the altitude sickness that hit three of the four of us!

Our most amazing day shopping for and visiting Osiligi orphanage - and the fun we had with the kids - a truly humbling but most rewarding day for sure. Of our three days of adventure on our safari trip, the animals we were so lucky to see and in most cases get photos of. The most wonderful friends we made on our trip and our sadness at leaving and struggling to settle back in to life in the UK. The two day journey both ways and our crack us up captain on one of the flights that had us giggling and singing like deranged kids!!

I have definitely left a piece of my heart in Tanzania where I felt I had known it forever and not as a visitor in a foreign land - Mussa, Alphonce,Chacha and George made me and the girls so welcome we really didn't feel like strangers visiting at all.....and to that I am so grateful, so relaxed and chilled out, a truly amazing adventure and hopefully will not be too long before visiting again.

There will be photos to accompany the stories so you get to see what I'm trying to describe to you....well in most cases!

I really hope you enjoy my account of my challenge of climbing Mount.Kilimanjaro and I will chat to both Bec's and Ali and ask them what they personally thought of the whole adventure and write their thoughts and feelings in one of the posts.

I have finally caught up mostly with my travel journal and now its just a case of the odd story my Jelly brain forgot! And the most heart melting message my little buddy Molly wrote for me to take with me up the mountain that I read all the time....it made me smile so much, thanks crazy kid I love it!!

I find myself in almost constantly in a state of surreal surprise - it's still sinking in exactly what I've done and achieved this month! it even feels funny saying that....I went, I climbed and I conquered Mount.Kilimanjaro this month!!! February 6th 2015!

I find I can't stop looking at the photo above, I have made it my new profile picture on FB. I seriously cannot stop looking at it, not because I'm vain ( everyone who knows me will be laughing so hard at that, I barely remember to do something with my hair in a morning!! ) but because I look and feel myself transported back to that moment. I remember resting and trying to catch my breath, trying to steady the dizziness and the feeling of been light headed with dodgy balance and not fully in control of my body. Trying not to move my eyes too fast and set them off rolling in the sockets!.....of feeling even in rest mode my hamstrings and calves on full stretch because it's so steep......and I remember lifting my head slowly up and up until I could see the horizon and where the summit lay, and thinking....this has been one hell of a climb! - that photo captures all of that so very clearly I think.

And the feelings, all the memories slowly surfacing from somewhere in my memory and it feels amazing, it feels like I'm reliving it all over again, but this time the memories are staying clearer. The more it sinks in the more incredibly proud I feel of my achievement - I find I'm filling up and smiling at the same time. I found myself on this epic adventure, a version of me that was lost for so long through diagnosis, treatments and subsequent illnesses and problems.....a version of me I don't want to lose again.

I set this challenge way back when I was in hospital trying to come to terms with having my chemo cut short because of the pneumonia and collapsed lung, it was my way to motivate myself back....and as the years carried on and the delays kept happening for this challenge due to the ongoing health issues I was having....it became everything to me....it was for me the way to prove I could make it back after a very rough and frustrating few years of complications caused by my cancer and the treatments - and I did exactly that!

I have shown that even though I am surviving cancer - it is only a small portion of the essence that's me....I don't and have never allowed it to dictate my life and actions.....and hopefully others will see it doesn't have to for them either.

I have proved in the most positive of ways to anyone having a difficult time what I've always said - nothing is impossible if you want it enough.....we can all set our own version of Everest, work hard for it and revel in the feeling of achievement when you conquer your personal challenge.

I hope you go out and set yourself a challenge or two and I wish you all the very best of luck in conquering them! 

I've not really thought what I'll be next setting for myself - I'm going to take my time and really absorb my success and the enormity of what I've actually done first!

So the next post will get into the climb adventure, I hope you look forward to it as much as I'm looking forward to telling you about it.

And to Molly - my best little bud.....I said I'd do it and I did - this was for both you and I....l love you crazy kid! xx

Until next time

Tracy

21 hours and counting down to my biggest adventure yet - Mount Kilimanjaro

Hello everyone

A very short message but my last before setting off and my biggest adventure yet!

Im putting this up now, thank you all for the fantastic messages and words of encouragement. I feel like I've had the biggest workout ever and that was just shutting my suitcase with all my Kilimanjaro kit in it!! I am beyond excited, am so ready for this.....4 years in the making to get well and fit enough to tackle the World's tallest free standing mountain. This is my personal journey to prove to myself that I'm back, that I made it and nothing can or will ever keep me down. The combination of the cancer and pneumonia couldn't do it, and that;s exactly where this self challenge came from, challenging and motivating myself to fight back from the weakest I'd ever been to get up, get out and go get my mountain. Those who have followed my difficulties in recent years and I'm not just talking about the cancer will know how hard I fought to keep on top, my resilience was never in doubt even though it's been a very turbulent road I've traveled. And while writing this little message to you all I've not stopped smiling. Thank you for been part of my journey and always giving me great support. It does and has always meant a great deal to me.

I don't know if I'll be posting anything while I'm away or if you'll have to wait until I return....but rest assured there will be plenty of photos - a video diary and I'll be writing my journal at the end of each day. I want to say a massive thank you to each and every single one of you who have supported me in any way and to all those of you who have sponsored/donated to my chosen charity Alopecia UK.....all the money raised will certainly help researchers in their quest for a cure, and most importantly shows all sufferers we do care and we see them. Molly my best little bud - this is for you crazy kid xxxxxxx



Until next time

Tracy

Mount Kilimanjaro Challenge just a hop skip and a jump away!

Jambo everyone !!!

I hope you are well this fine Monday! Well I am feeling totally overwhelmed right now....The climb is finally here! I fly out on Friday on the start of my epic adventure - it feels surreal to be finally here after all this time. 4 years - 4 years to actually see it come to life. Avery long, tough and very frustrating journey it has been, with so many knock backs and delays.....but that actually means nothing right now...all the disappointment has drifted away like a morning mist!

So here we go I'll give you the rundown of  Mount.Kilimanjaro 2015. The if anyone wants to check off where we'll be at any one time you can do so!

We looked at many different companies and settled with Wild Secret Safaris. I have to give them so far a massive recommendation. They have been so helpful, well above and beyond what was their responsibility. I've been in constant communication with Mussa and they have booked our hotels for us, which is not part of their job. But have done so. They have been nothing but helpful and have made the planning of this epic adventure easy and very smooth running. We all three of us want to say a massive thank you to them for making what could have been a quite stressful time planning from so far away enjoyable. 

So this is how our trip is planned out:-

We fly out of Manchester Friday Jan 30th lunchtime and which a 7.5 hour stopover at Qatar we land at JRO ( Kilimanjaro ) on Saturday Jan 31st mid afternoon where we will be met by Wild Secret Safaris and taken to our hotel in Moshi for the evening. Early the following morning we will set of to climb Mount.Kilimanjaro! As I said all along we are doing the Lemosho Route ( my best chance of ascending to the summit )

Here's out 8 day climb broken down for you: The team consist of Bec's, Ali and myself.

 Day 1 : Drive to Kilimanjaro National Park Londorossi Gate, Hike to Mti Mkubwa Camp

Visiting: Moshi to Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route 8-Days

After breakfast and briefing, drive to Londorossi Park Gate (2-3 hour dirve). From here a forest track requiring a 4WD vehicle leads to Lemosho Glades. Walk along forest trails to Mti Mkubwa (big tree) campsite.

• Elevation: 1830m/6000ft to 2650m/8700ft
• Distance: 6km/4mi
• Hiking Time: 2-3 hours
• Habitat: Montane Forest

Day 2 : Hike Mti Mkubwa Camp to Shira 1 Camp

Visiting: Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route 8-Days

After breakfast, we continue as the trail gradually steepens and enters the giant heather moorland zone. After several streams are crossed we continue over the Shira Ridge then gently downwards to Shira 1 camp located by a stream on the Shira Plateau.

• Elevation: 2650m/8700ft to 3500m/11,500ft
• Distance: 8km/5mi
• Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
• Habitat: Moorland

Day 3 : Hike Shira 1 Camp to Shira 2 Camp

Visiting: Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route 8-Days

After breakfast, a gentle hike across the plateau leads to Shira 2 camp on moorland meadows by a stream. A variety of hikes are available on the Plateau, making this an excellent acclimatization day.

• Elevation: 3500m/11,500ft to 3850m/12,600ft
• Distance: 8km/5mi
• Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
• Habitat: Moorland

• Day 4 : Hike Shira 2 Camp to Barranco Camp

  Visiting: Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route 8-Days
  From the Shira Plateau we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth” (elev 4650m/15,250ft). Shortly after the tower we come to the second junction which goes to the Arrow Glacier. We now continue down to the Barranco Camp. Although you end the day around the same elevation as when you began, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.
• Elevation: 3850m/12,600ft to 4000m/13,000ft
• Distance: 8km/5mi
• Walking Time: 5-6 hours
• Habitat: Semi-desert
• 
  

Day 5 : Hike Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

Visiting: Kilimanjaro

After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley and the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail.

• Elevation: 4000m/13,000ft to 4050m/13,250ft
• Distance: 5km/3mi
• Hiking Time: 34 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

Day 6 : Hike Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

Visiting: Kilimanjaro

We continue up to the Barafu Camp. You have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day.

• Elevation: 4050m/13,250ft to 4700m/15,350ft
• Distance: 4km/2mi
• Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

Day 7 : Hike Barafu Camp to Summit, down to Mweka Camp

Visiting: Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route 8-Days

Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit.

From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. Once at Uhuru Peak you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa!

From the summit we begin our descent by continuing straight down to the Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You may want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. We arrive at Mweka Camp and enjoy our last evening on the mountain.

• Elevation: 4700m/15,350ft to 5895m/19,340ft
• Down to 3090m/10,150ft
• Distance: 5km/3mi up / 13km/8mi down
• Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up / 5-6 hours down
• Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

Lava Tower - planning to climb it!

And there ends our magnificent climb of Mount.Milimanjaro! 

We will now have a 2 hour drive to Arusha where we are going to be staying at the Outpost Lodge for the next two nights. We are having a couple of days to recover from our climb, to absorb what we've actually achieved and have a beer or two in celebration, swim in the pool, go check out Arusha itself!! The reason behind not going back to Moshi after the climb but Arusha is because when we start our safari after our two day chillout - we have a 2 hour drive to Tarangire, so it's a lot closer from Arusha than Moshi.

So here's our safari;

Day 1 (February 11-2015): Drive from Arusha with picnic lunch to Tarangire for game drive - overnight Eileen's Tree Lodge near Ngorongoro.

Day 2 (February 12-2015): After an early breakfast drive 30 minutes to Ngorongoro crater via Masai Boma, game drive inside crater until late evening drive out of crater - overnight at Eileen's tree lodge.

Day 3 (February 13-2015): Drive 40 minutes to beautiful Lake Manyara national park for game drive, late in the afternoon drive 2 hours to Arusha.  Overnight Outpost lodge – Arusha

We'll then move to our last hotel the Planet Lodge for our last couple of days in Tanzania where we will be strolling around the town, hopefully speaking a little Swahili and having lots of fun and laughter while we take in all our achievements. 

And knowing we have all helped raise money and awareness for our chosen charities is the most wonderful of feelings.

I don't think I've told you about us going to help out a little orphanage when we get out to Tanzania... It's called Osiligi Orphanage Children Center - The orphanage has 11 children aged 6-11 and they survive off donations only. The company we are climbing with gives a % of the money from bookings to help keep it afloat.

Their no 1 priority is food, followed by books, paper and pens and then toys. We have chatted between the three of us and will be going to the supermarket to buy food for them ( of course we'll make sure there's so sweeties for them too!! ). We are going to look at getting some paper, pens etc and even a few toys.

I'm hoping to get a football so I can have a little kick about with them. This epic adventure is going to touch me in so many different ways - I hope I give back some really happy positive thoughts to everyone we meet through my own words and actions.

So for my final thoughts this side of the climb. I am honoured to be raising money for Alopecia UK and I know many people won't understand that when I am surviving cancer myself that I'm not raising for cancer - especially my own War on Cancer. It took me months to decide what I was going to do....chooose cancer? choose Alopecia? do it for both?

But quite rightly it was pointed out to me, if I said I was doing for both, Alopecia wouldn't get anything because everyone would go for the cancer charity. So this and my little best buddy Molly made up my mind for me.

So Molly and all Alopecia sufferers I'm dedicating my climb to you and hope this will help raise awareness and much needed funds to help aid the research into finding a cure for which currently there isn't one.

So friends, you know where and what I'll be up to in Tanzania - so look up to the sky on February 8th and know I've given it my all to be on the Roof of Africa, and I'll be there! - I'll show you the photos when I get back!!

Until next time

Tracy