Merry Christmas!

Wednesday, December 25, 2019
Barranco Camp, Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania
          Merry Christmas!  Seems like a bazaar Christmas morning here camping on the side of a volcano, but it was clear and we could see the snow on top of the southern ridge of Kili – so it’s kind of a white Christmas!  In the other direction we could see Meru again and the top of the Shira Peaks.  We started the long, slow, gradual slog up to the Lava Tower and 4600 meters (just over 15,000 feet).  After an hour or so of ideal weather, the clouds caught up to us.  It was pleasant at first – a walk through the clouds with a little mist to keep us cool.  But the mist turned to drizzle, then on and off rain and as we gained altitude, the temperature dropped.  Everyone was feeling the altitude in different ways.  My breathing was fine and the pace was slow enough that I didn’t feel too tired but I was fending off a slight headache again - I just hoped it wouldn’t get any worse.  We stopped for a hot lunch at the top in our warm mess tent and a meal and two Advil later, I felt fine.  Then, it was a two hour steep decent to Barranco Camp through the fog and pissing rain over multiple streams which sometimes merged with the trail.  It was nice to hang with the group for a while and have a hot drink before heading to my tent for a rest.  Not the most scenic day due to the clouds and rain but I felt strong at altitude which was good.
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