Waking up at an altitude higher than we've ever been, in Tanzania, feeling refreshed, and none of the altitude symptoms from the night before brought a tsunami of emotions. Gratitude for all the blessings!
With full breakfast bellies, sunscreen on, an extra layer of clothing to keep out the cool morning temperatures, and enough water, we started walking away from Shira Cave Camp. The highlights we looked forward to on Day 3 were the Lava Tower, the Alpine desert, and Baranco camp, 6.36km and 845m of elevation gain.
The hiking started easily with gradual elevation gain. It was when we started seeing the large lava formation named Lava Tower that Benni, our guide, pointed to the left, drawing our attention to the Lemosho route hikers approaching the Lava Tower from our left, to join the same route as our Machame route to the Uhuru peak summit.
Lava Tower, situated on Kibo's western slopes, literally towers upwards, with its highest point at an altitude of 4572m. It is here where the crew again spoiled us, pitching our dining gazebo and toilet—a true highlight to enjoy a hot meal sheltered from the wind that picked up. Lunch consisted of delicious salty soup with vetkoek croutons, chicken and banana stew, and fruit. Chef Marimotte knew precisely what to prepare at altitude to keep us from losing our appetite.
I needed the long daily walks, day after day, for hours, to reflect. Walking closer and closer to the mountaintop taught me to look up and around. See the person on my right, left, in front and behind, greet and care, and move away from "ME". It is all to easy to get caught up in ones own concerns and thoughts and lose peripheral vision. Another lesson I have learned while climbing Kilimanjaro is:
Be patient. Reaching the summit takes time. A slow, steady upwards climb.
Lava Tower marked the highest point we would walk to on day 3, which meant we looked forward to our first descent for the day. Walk high, and sleep low to combat altitude sickness the order of the day. And so we started our gradual rocky afternoon hike through one of the most beautiful, mysterious landscapes we've ever seen. The Alpine desert has unique vegetation with streams and what I can only describe as upside-down pineapple trees. Walking through the Alpine desert took us to our camp where we would rest and refuel.
Baranco camp at the foot of the breakfast wall greeted us where our tent was pitched at the base of the towering Baranco or breakfast wall. Why breakfast wall, you may ask? Well, it is the first sight one sees after waking up and having a breakfast. And, of course, the breakfast wall needs to be climbed after breakfast to move to the next camp.
Day by day, we walked closer and closer to the roof of Africa.
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