On the 5th day after waking up from my failed summit attempt (YET TRIUMPHANT KILIMANJARO CLIMB) I was so sick. Keeping down food or water wasn’t an option. I remembered my contract for the climb including rescue fees and since I had been climbing up for 5 days there was no way in hell I could get myself back down in the condition I was in. So …rescue it was. Well, that’s what I thought until the news was broken to me that there was no rescue services at the camp where we were. We would have to hike to the next one. 😐 Continue reading
Category Archives: Mount Kilimanjaro
I’m coming up on the rough side of the mountain – Day 5
I was woken up at 10:30 and told to pack on the layers. We were leaving at midnight on our way up to Uhuru peak. I was nauseous, exhausted and freezing (thanks to the numerous holes in my tent). I felt horrible. But there was no way I was going to admit that to myself or to the team. I was going to attempt to reach the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. This is what I came here to do. Continue reading
I’m coming up on the rough side of the mountain – Day 4
I believe I was thinking “What the hell am I doing up here?” Please excuse the ratchet $13 braids…no further comment.
I woke up not feeling well at all today. I could only take a few bites of bread. It’s crazy how your mind can be so on board and ready to reach your goal but other factors that are out of your control prevent you from getting there.
Each day I have hiked 5-7 hours. It’s been raining, cold, and difficult as heck. This has seriously been the most physically challenging thing I’ve ever done in my life. Leave it up to Venus to just walk off of the plane and decide “Oooh that mountain looks nice…I’m going to climb to the top” 😐 Continue reading
I’m coming up on the rough side of the mountain – Day 3
Camping in the clouds
It was the same shennanigans with the guide today. I slipped and fell on a huge boulder and hurt my hand and this cat was so far away that he had to yell back at me at the top of his lungs and ask if I was ok 😐 . If I hadn’t seen first hand the level of attention that the other guides were giving their clients I wouldn’t even be sweating this dude. Thank God I’m smart enough to know how to follow footprints and scents otherwise I’d be lost out in the wilderness. Continue reading
I’m coming up on the rough side of the mountain – Day 2
I woke up to this view today
I was prepared to wake up feeling like I was trampled on by a large pack of African elephants and mauled by wild dogs this morning. Instead I woke up feeling great. My body even felt strong throughout today’s climb…and today’s climb was a BEAST. Not just any beast…..a wild ferocious beast. Imagine climbing 6 + hours straight up a steep mountain….over huge boulders….in the pouring rain. When I say steep I mean I felt like we were making a B-line straight to heaven. Continue reading
I’m coming up on the rough side of the mountain – Day 1
Getting ready to go…
Although I could’ve used 97 more hours of sleep today started off pretty good. I said a prayer with my Mom last night but I still think my nerves got the best of me as I spent most of the night tossing and turning. Continue reading
Lord, don’t move that mountain. Give me strength to climb it.
I’m ready. Let’s go!
It is 5:30 pm local time and tomorrow morning I leave to conquer the tallest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro. I’m not even going to lie, I woke up at 2 am nervous as heck at the thought of taking on this huge beast. My nerves were so shaken up that I had to get up and “use the bathroom”. This was actually a pro since my system had taken a leave of absence since the safari. Continue reading