Daily Journal
From Mawenzi Tarn, Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Africa
Taking deep breaths, Don Bulmer was the first to chat on the satellite phone, speaking from their camp at Mawenzi Tarn (14,200 feet) on day three of this year’s Ascent for Alzheimer’s. "At 14,000 feet, we’re definitely up there; every breath is kind of difficult."
"And it’s pretty cold," he added. "Apparently Vancouver’s finally warmed up, but we can’t be envious – this is incredible."
The weather on Mount Kilimanjaro has been pretty mixed, alternating bright sun with a pretty persistent cloud cover and fog that keeps rolling back in. "We’re above the clouds now," said Don. "It’s like being on top of the world."
Mawenzi Tarn is an alpine lake – the only permanent one on Mount Kilimanjaro’s slopes. With camp set up on one side of its shores and the jagged and rocky peak of Mawenzi towering above, the view is spectacular.
"We hiked up over 3,000 feet today," said Ariela Friedmann, noting that the hike from their previous camp at Kikelewa Caves (10,800 feet) took about 7.5 hours.
A porter, with Mawenzi peak in the background.
(Click for larger version)
It was a long day of hiking, but Dr. Danny Dibski says everybody is doing really well, sticking together and keeping pace. "We’ll have a good, strong group for our summit push this weekend!"
Tomorrow the team can take a brief bit of respite as they maintain their campsite for another night. The time spent at the Tarn will help acclimatize the team, with only a short hike tomorrow to the nearby north corrie - a circular hollow where they'll be able to get a close look at pinnacles of hard dark lava.
The 2006 Ascent for Alzheimer’s team
as they approach Kibo Hut.
(Click for larger version)
On Saturday, however, the team will press forward and set out towards Kibo Hut (15,400 feet). The trail winds right past Mawenzi and then stretches across an area called the Saddle – a barren, alpine desert some have compared to a moonscape. There’s nearly nothing to mark the landscape here except Mawenzi on the path behind and Kibo looming up ahead.
Arriving at Kibo Hut mid-afternoon, the team will have time to rest before midnight – when the final drive towards the summit will begin!
(NB: Weather conditions may impact the team's schedule. All dates and times noted are given in Tanzania time unless otherwise noted.)
