Mt. Kilimanjaro — There and Back Again

We started our climb at the Lemosho trailhead

At Forest Camp there was a monkey that hangs around and eats climbers leftovers. We named him Frank.

Night two on the mountain, and we're already sleeping in jackets.

Once camp is set up, the porters waste no time before getting into their shared tents.

"Blue Steel"

Lava Tower camp.

Trying to sleep off an altitude headache.

Breakfast under the Lava Tower

Our eerie welcome to Arrow Glacier Camp

Sunset on the Western Breach. Tomorrow would be a grueling day.

Sunrise on the Western Breach

Samia catching his breath on the Western Breach

Our arrival to the summit crater was bleak...

...but soon enough, we needed sunglases!

The Northern Ice Field: Kilimanjaro's largest glacier

19,00 feet, the Ash Pit: the center of Kilimanjaro

The Furtwängler Glacier

The Western Breach get's its name for the whole it makes in Kilimanjaro's summit crater. 500 feet above our camp is Africa's highest point, the highest of the walls that form the top of this volcano.

Clay and Samia.

Three hours later, the second group made it to camp. Taeko didn't even have time to remove her gaiters before she fell asleep!

After sleeping a cold night at 19,000 feet, we left camp at 7am to make for the summit.

From the summit, looking North across the top of Kilimanjaro

Somehow Usain Bolt's victory pose turned into the Spice Girls reunion tour.

Taeko getting a piggy-back down the mountain. And she doesn't care what you think!

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