Kili part 2!

Ok, have 10 mins to write this so probably wont finish, this might turn into a three part saga.
DAY 4, BARANCO 3900 m asl to KARANGA 3930 m asl
First thing first, up baranco wall. literally a vertical wall. We asked our guide, is it flat. 'yes,' he answered, 'if you lie on your back and look up at it!' (Issac our guide, fricking ledge!) So much scrambling up rocks in the morning, good sun and my oh my did the lekki poles get in the way. Quickly seperated into our walking groups. I realised our groups was the slowest because of our frequent need to pee, or 'chimba la dawa' as Issac told us, because he kept getting embarassed at our frankness of, OI GUYS, I NEED A PISS, STOP YEAH?' fair shout really.We were all, but Willeam, on diamox, which helps altitude sickness. However the unfortunate side affects are near constant tingling (like pins and needles) in various partys of the body. Arms, fingers, toes etc, and even once my left bum cheeck, highly unpleasnt. Also it is a dialetic = akes you peee like a bitch! i swear to every 3 liters of water i drank i immediatly peed out 2.5. gr....

anyhoo, nice break at the top of the wall and a good photo op! then of course, the rain came. we were just walking up and down valleys, the last one being a sheer drop with many overflowing river which we had to jump, and mostly failed to do so. Then we had to climb up it again, URGH! We got to an overhand where we all shelterd from the rain and genrally congregated in a soggy miserable mass. Note to al those intreste in climbing mountains, NEVER hire equiptment, ESPECAILLY WATERPROOFS. They are NOT waterproof, and you will become wet, cold and chilled and there is nothing you can do about it! Victoria at this point was at her lowest and even threatend (in a jokey way) to throw the guide off the mountain if he lied about how far it was to camp (which he frequently did. my ass was that an hour!)
Got into camp, the happy tent (the communal tent where we had dinner and breakfast) was saturate, we were saturate, our tents were saturate as were our sleeping mats. Bad times, very mserable at this point. After about an hour or two the clouds settled (as in we were above them!) and old sun came out! we went for a breif and very enoyable acclimatisation walk beore just chilling enhoying the amazing veis and sunset over the clouds and on kili. Wonderful stuff!

DAY5 KARANGU 3930 m asl BARAFU (Base camp) 4600 m asl
Woke up to a wonderful sunrise (still above the clouds- we werent to drop below them now until desent) Had breakfast outside in veiw of all the outstanding beauty that was arround us. Best breakfast of my life! Far in the distance we could see moshi... we waved but couldnt see anyone waving back. A short walk to Baranko (about 3 hours) which was very pleasnt. As we walked we thought of the americans we passed the day before. They had decided to skip Karangu and go strait onto barafu. Therefore arriving at camp at 6ish. Then they were summiting that night (12 midnight) and wanted to come down in one day. We met them on Zanzibar and were amaed to find they actually did it, but at a massive cost. Every one of them was very sick and one even had a seizure (having never fitted in his life). Mountains and alitude are dangerous cookies and must be treated as such, bloomin fools. a descent of 5800 to 1000 in one day is far to much for one body to bear without serious side affects.

Got to camp about 12ish in time for cooked lunch (Woopee!) sun was shining and a clear veiw of mwenka. Now we just chilled and aclimatised, rested for summit night. a big BIG night. The camp was beautiful and set on an overhangthough there were and awful lot of gerbil type creatures. Willem woke up in the tent with one on his chest, which we were all alterd to by some very feminine shrieks! Dinner was a good affair but most of us had lost our appetites becuase of the alititude. Sleep early and awake at 11.30 for chai and bisquooit (PM that is) to set off up the big ol' hill at 12. NO SLEEP WAS ACHIEVED IN THIS TIME. THIS DID NOT HELP MATTERS.

however, i am once again out of time, so the horrendous experience that was summit night will have to wait for another day!

love you all, and must admit im feeling most fondly for my duvet right now!
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