We are a family of triathletes, so we didn't expect difficulties, at least physically - we are used to running a lot, but
in vain:)) But about that later...
Of all the things I needed on the mountain, I had only a cap, goggles, running shoes and shorts.
Everything else (trekking shoes, boots, jackets, flashlight, pants, backpack, etc.) patiently helped
everybody was patiently helped by our manager Irina. We rented sleeping bags, mattresses and trekking poles on the spot.
In general, of course, if you have nothing like me for the mountains, it is necessary to lay in another $700-1000
for purchases. A personal miscalculation was that I did not have time to "walk" these new clothes. And in
new to go - you know, blisters, etc.
I can't boast of mountain accomplishments, but I've heard from all the experienced mountain lovers,
that the trek itself is oooooo good and comfortable. We also learned that Kili should not be chosen as
as your first ascent, because then you get spoiled (due to the fact that in the morning you
bring coffee directly to the tent, fed three times always a variety of food, carry all
things).
Before the hike, I read and reviewed everything I could about Kilimanjaro and prepared for
showers in the jungle, snow and wind at the top, but we were lucky. The weather was favorable. For five days
trekking I walked in ordinary sneakers and only on the assault came out in boots. At night it was also
enough warmth at night: thermal underwear with a fleece and a sleeping bag were more than enough. The first day
the tent leaked and the lock broke. Our guides hospitably invited us to switch with them.
In just one week of climbing we changed five camps. Twice a day we were brought hot
water for washing, full breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack (usually,
tea and popcorn or cookies) and a lunch box (juice, muffin, waffles, bananas) for the trip. What
to say - I've gained 2 kg in a week!
The menu deserves special attention: great local food, breakfast always had eggs, pancakes,
always eggs, pancakes, toast, fruit. For lunch/dinner there was soup (different every day!), pasta, rice, potatoes, meat, stewed
or fresh vegetables. In short, you won't be hungry for sure! My peculiarity is that the change
Climate and food the first two days always hurt my stomach, in this case - Espumisan.
Jungle, mossy thickets, senecia, stone volcanic desert, and finally a snowy (actually, no, and
thank God!), the summit. Why thank God, because if we had also walked knee-deep in snow - it would have been
much more difficult. It was unreal to fit everything into 5 days! Each day - a new climatic
a new climate zone, new weather, new landscapes. In a day we walked from 4 to 7 km on average, only
the first and last day was more than 10 km. I am convinced that everyone can do it, even without
I am convinced that everyone can do it, even without special training - you walk, you admire, in the camp you have a delicious meal and rest. О
sleep))))) I slept badly, to the point that I took sleeping pills. Towards the end of the track, the girls in the band were also
In fact - more, apparently, I couldn't fall asleep from emotion.
After every day there was cramp on my calves and sore feet. If you have a massage gun or
"pants" for pressotherapy - it is safe to take. I wanted to, but I put it out at the last minute
because of my husband's "are you crazy?" look. Anyway, it would have taken more than
mirror, for example)
On the first day of the trek, we remembered that we had forgotten to take Diacarb, a medication for mountain sickness, but in fact,
diuretic to relieve blood pressure (as it turns out, you should take it 48 hours before the
climbing, otherwise later it makes no sense). But every day I had a headache and drank
ibuprofen (on the day of the assault I took Ketanov, because the predecessor was not good enough). They say,
headache is the most common symptom of mountain sickness and bothers almost everyone who climbs. Я
listened to myself to see if I was getting pulmonary or cerebral edema :))))
luckily, my two-kilogram first-aid kit wasn't needed.
There were four of us, we did not know each other before the hike, but as it turned out, there are very interesting
and adequate people - we became very good friends. The girls had been to Nepal, Kazbek, Ararat, and what I
I liked it most of all, they were very positive, even though they understood what was waiting for us,
cheered us up and in general we were a super-team.
We had 11 porters, 2 guides and a cook with us. When I saw this gang - I could not believe how many
I couldn't believe how many people were involved just for the four of us! The first, and perhaps the most important thing I heard from the guides -
Think positively, do not think about bad things, and everything will work out. Guides Emanuel and Daniel were with us
During the daytime crossings they told us about the history and culture of Tanzania, showed us interesting plants and animals, and sang the famous "J. J.
animals, sang the famous "Jambo", and the others walked faster, so that when we arrived at the camp already
to get everything laid out and ready for us when we arrived at camp.
Again, just because I had reviewed videos of climbing on youtube at the time from
other groups - I was expecting to take our well-being more seriously. I was expecting
every morning to take blood pressure and saturation, to ask about our health in detail at the end of the day.
In fact (maybe it's for the best, because the guides know better) everything was limited to a short question:
"How did you sleep? Is everything okay? What's bothering you?" But, getting ahead of myself, on the summit assault I
almost lost consciousness, asked for oxygen, because I saw with one eye the tank in the backpack of the guide, and
the guys were a little confused. They gave me Coca-Cola, candy, and at my request they tried to
to check the saturation (because my hands were like two frozen icicles, it didn't work),
The device did not want to work).
Assault....) What can I say, unexpected, incomprehensible, exhausting. It's no exaggeration to say that I
Thought I was dying)))))) I just wasn't mentally prepared, because I've never had to
to climb 6,000 meters before. Everyone goes out at midnight, we go oooh very slowly to have time to breathe. І
so 8 hours constantly up)))) We don't make more than 5 min stops, because it is very cold. Personally
I couldn't move my fingers and toes.
Approximately at this altitude I was "overtaken". My strength left me, I wanted very much to sleep, I
I closed my eyes and lay down on a rock. I thought, "That's it, they're going to take me down now". But our
the guides started giving coke to boost my glucose, and surprisingly I "bounced along like a butterfly".
It's a strange feeling when you take a breath and there's no air, your heart is pounding, your pulse is racing.
I was "killed" by the thought of another 5-6 hours to go, I was very cold (even though I was dressed like a
cabbage). Here everyone is on their own with their minds. As you agree)))) Physically - not
difficult, the pace is very slow.
In addition, at the end of each day we made acclimatization trips to 100-200 m upwards, to make it
easier. The guides took my backpack, and the last hours literally took me by the hand to the summit. When
we reached Stella Point, I was crying with happiness, until I found out that another 40 minutes (and with
my pace, more than an hour), to crawl up Uhuru Peak. By then I was ready to eat an elephant,
my body wouldn't listen, it was like I was in astral. The field-field....
As I was told later by experienced people, they take very little oxygen to the summit,
only for emergencies. And if I had been given oxygen, then it would have been even worse without it. А
our guide said that he was watching everyone carefully, and our condition was within normal limits, that's why the "heavy
artillery" was not involved.
5895 м. Shining peak. Done! Frankly speaking - no joy, no pride, no catharsis ...))
I just wanted to lie down and go to sleep. Now I'm looking at the photo from the summit - who is that girl with the flag and
smile? I do not remember this photo shoot. Then three hours of suffering downhill, it was very
It was very hot and I had no strength to undress. Back - obligatory (!): cap, sunglasses, lip balm
and sunscreen. A kilometer from the camp we saw our porters - I have never in my
I had never been so happy to see in my life. They picked up all our stuff to ease our plight.
At the base we were met by a cook with juice, then - an hour and a half of sleep, lunch, and we set off down to 3100m.
