Day 4: posted from the Horombo huts 12,000 ft

Finally out of the rain forest, break downs, and Mr. Chow joins us.

Start of the day the sky cleared we could see the stars and rest of the camp looked to be a great morning Gabe snored like an old man all night.  I was up early packing and getting ready for the next climb to the Horombo huts at 12,000 ft and while putting on my shoes my back went out.  I can’t believe after one day I was done.  I had walking poles and if we could make it to the next huts the boys can attempt to summit.  Everyone mood changed I was a grump, sick and disappointed, but was able to walk with the sticks to the Horombo huts 5 hours away.  We climbed well and the next day was a recovery and acclimatization day with a short hike hoping for a recovery.  The boys were having to do every thing now from putting my socks on to picking up what I dropped.  The higher I go from this point the harder it will be to rescue me.

Luke and Gabe have came down with altitude sickness early Luke took migraine meds he brought with him and feels better Gabe has already lost his appetite and Amos is making him lime water and making him eat.  We have 2 days until we try to summit and not looking good.

Later that night thing get better first Gabe eats, Amos tells him even if he throws up, which he did, he will feel better which he also did.  Luke was still having issues and spending time in the only sit down toilet we would see in 6 days.  I think they name the stall after him.  He used up our last bottled water and now we drink treated water the rest of the trip.  Gabe and I are keeping the last wet wipes for emergencies.  

We are finally laughing again the park ranger comes knocking telling us they need our extra bunk.  In walks Mr, Chow which Isn't his name but he speaks no English we introduce ourselves and he just bows so we name him Mr. Chow from the hangover movie that he has a slight resemblance.  We clear our gear of the top bunk already in our sleeping bags for the night trying to stay warm, and Mr. Chow drops his pants in the middle of the room releasing a stench worst than me, that night he proves he can snore louder than Gabe and fart louder than Luke he is a master there are 20 other Chinese climbers in his party I think it was no accident he was odd man out and exiled to live with us.

Luke

Gabe

Definitely feeling the altitude, I felt terrible earlier with a headache shortness of breath and nausea, but my boy Amos made me some special concoction and I drank it and surprisingly felt better.  It is freezing now and I have to sleep in the same gear that I travel in so needless to say its super dirty and dusty in my sleeping bag.  Also we get to share a room with a Chinese guy that dad kept calling Mr. Chow even though that was not his name.  He woke everyone up at 5:00 when he was getting up to take pictures of the sunrise.

Day 3 5:30 am writing from Mandara Hut

Yesterday we started our climb after a wonderful night sleep hot shower and meal the last for 6 days.  We met our guide at the African Tulip hotel for our climb briefing.  His name was Amos he was 27 years old and first glace I was skeptical I have used Roy's Safaris on other trips to and they have always been first rate.  I overheard him talking to our agent in Swahili heard Papa which was me and saw them both look at my stomach.  I think I know what they were talking about.  He then dumped our packs in the floor of the bar and inventoried our equipment not satisfied we had to rent additional.  I questioned his education, experience, medical supplies, evacuation plans all of which he answered to our satisfaction.  He went on the talk about his testing of blood ox levels and he carried oxygen.  The facts I am old, we were inexperienced, and he was doing his job.  We drove to the gated picking up 7 porters, a cook, and his assistant guide named Stone.

The trek started through a rain forest to a elevation of 9000 ft where we would spend the night in the Mandara Huts.  We arrived tired wet and already feeling the temp change and altitude.  We were in the clouds poor visibility.  It was like walking through a green tunnel huge moss bearing trees full of monkeys barking at us.  Footing was slippery we passed people descending to the gates.  They looked like Zombies we could tell by the look in their eyes and the filth they have been to the top.  They gave us advice, half got sick, they told us to keep eating and drink lots of water early because you cant when you get above 12000 ft.  Just a few minutes earlier Luke laid on his pack crushing his water bladder and lunch in his pack he starts on a diet.

The hut is a what most hikers use it is a aframe with four bunks 3 on the 4 inch foam mats on the floor in a ushape and one upper it is about 12X12 no heat and no bathroom there is a thin wall in the middle the same on the other side.  There is a mess hall in the middle and toilets, there are about 40 other hikers in this camp none American and very little English spoken, we were tired from the trip and turned in early.

The boys were making fun of my whiskers coming in gray Gabe said I would look like Gandolf (which i wasn't sure if he was the guy from Harry Potter or lord of the rings) Luke was looking a lot like Joe dirt and Gabe with a 4 week head start was looking like a Ewoc from star wars.  We are having a blast Luke having issues and i will let gabe tell of the disgusting details but if we don't reach the summit we will have turned back because Luke used half our toilet paper an wet wipes first day.

Luke,

Gabe,

Finally able to get on the mountain and start climbing.  Dad pretty much covered the climb up and all the details to do with it.  We checked into our small hut and they gave me the sleeping bag with all the brown stains on it so that was a good start.  They also didn’t have regular “sit down” toilets, they just had a big oval hole in the ground.  I’m not gonna go into too much detail but ill just say luke couldn’t figure out how to successfully execute the action. And I will also say after his attempt we were left with a fraction of the toilet paper and no wet wipes for the trip. Other than that incident all was pretty good.  I could feel it getting harder to breathe. 

pre mountain climb

-Day 1 getting there

Gary 3:04 am Amsterdam layover.

"See that mountain over there, yeah, one of  these days I'm going to climb that mountain"

I heard this on the start of the Alabama song "mountain music", an old man talking to a young man about one day climbing a mountain that he knew he would never try.   I am on a flight with my two sons to climb a mountain i have seen twice, and  in 24 hours will start climbing.  Will we make it to the top?  All we know now is we will try and if we don't make we will never lament about never trying.  I hope at the end of the day will be another life lesson that will make them better men.
This blog is about a journey Gary, Luke and Gabe.  We will go dark in a few hours but use this to communicate to friends and family.  We will post when we can and bring friends and family along on the adventure.

Luke Amsterdam 8/8

Just arriving to Amsterdam approx 7:45AM feeling like a champ (not really).  Haven't seen much yet only airport interiors which it is interesting to see an airport without a Chili's and McDonalds next to every gate. We are all quite jetlagged and ready to arrive to Africa.

Gabe Amsterdam 8/8

Left Boxville yesterday morning now chillin in the Amsterdam airport. Watched about 5 movies on the flight didn't sleep a wink.  Excited to be on the mountain and ready to be in Africa!

Day 2

Gary African tulip getting ready.

I forgot how painful 22 hours in airports and planes are but to finally arrive in Africa is worth the pain.  Felt a little bad about taking a upgrade and leaving Luke and Gabe in the back of the plane on a long flight with bad food and crying babies but they are young and can sleep siting up and not be crippled at end of the day.
I am finally out of cell and contact with the world, which is a little scary, but after the last few days,weeks,months is also welcome.  I stressed about preparation, work, am I properly trained, will i return like the astronauts from the planet of the apes where i don't recognize the world i left.  Slowly i am looking at the mountain and that's all i have to worry about.
We talked to a family of people on the climb they took the 10 day route and  struggling 8th day and they are attempting to summit,  temps in single digits, lack of sleep, crowded trails, trash, and bad food is what we are told to expect.  I was prepared for this  i think.  We chose the quickest way up and down saving days for the beauty of Africa and warmer temps.
 

Luke

Another day closer to Kili arriving to Africa at 8:00PM Friday.  Dark outside but that doesn't stop the locals of Arusha from getting out as we saw them shower the streets on the way to the hotel. The hotel hasn't changed much from last time still the same friendly people and Indian food buffets. Feeling pretty risky given the fact that our room was inhabited mosquitoes and we opted out of taking malaria pills...until next time.
PS The only toiletries Gabe brought consists of a hair brush and Gold Bond anti-chaff powder and he has still yet to brush his teeth.
 
Gabe

Rough travels again didn't catch a ton of sleep over the 8 hour flight mainly because of excitement....and flying through thunderstorms. Got a gnarley nose bleed on the flight, so God only knows how this 20,000 ft altitude is gonna treat me.  Arrived at the Kilimanjaro airport around 8 pm. It feels good to be in Africa again. The ride to the African tulip hotel was interesting as usual, its pretty awesome seeing how they live their everyday life. MOTORCYCLES EVERYWHERE. So these Africans must be pretty cool people. Also mosquitoes everywhere.The staff at the tulip remembered us from our last trip and was very welcoming.  Great people. Got all our gear in line for tomorrow morning bright n early.  Bout to pass out and get some sleep for tomorrow!