The Peak

Hey everyone. Things have just flown by this past week, but I really wanted to throw all of the details from the Mt. Kenya trip onto our blog. Even though I'm in the states already, I think it's worth posting, so here you all go. (Warning, it's a pretty long one)

Sun. April 1 - Day 1
-Organized our group (which consisted of me, Gio, Jason, Edu, Kibaka, Mark, Nick, and Monica) and packed
-Departed the apartment 2 hrs. late (thanks to Edu) to catch a matatu to Chogoria
-Arrived in Chogoria and hiked about 8 km to the Forest Gate
-Hiked another 8 km into the forest after refusing to purchase a ride all the way through the next morning
-Camped illegally on a small patch of ground between the road and the forest
-Shared a tent with Jason; slept horribly (I honestly dreamed about an elephant devastating our camp)

Mon. April 2 - day 2
-Woke up fairly early and continued to hike about another 8 km into the forest
-Sick of the heat, the forest, and the flies, we lucked out and got a ride with a Forest Ranger to the Mountain Gate
-Chilled at the gate for a while, enjoying water
-Paid the entrance fees for the mountain (mzungus had to pay a lot more, but I lucked out and only paid the children's price, my birthday was only 9 days away)
-Took our first exciting (yet fairly easy) hike on the Mountain
-Arrived at Road head and illegally made a sweet camp fire
-Shared a tent with Jason again, but slept remarkably well

Tues. April 3 - Day Three
-Woke up and took a crazy hike to Mintos
-Monica started to freak out and hyperventilate
-Our pace slowed drastically
-Jason and Edu ran ahead to set up camp, leaving the rest of us to hang back with Monica
-Took Monica's pack and progressed through the steep trail
-Edu returned from the camp site and relieved me of Monica's bag
-Kibaka and I break away from the group and head to the camp in order to help Jason set everything up before the rain/hail began to fall
-Everyone arrived at camp
-Kind of got lost in a cloud going to the outhouse, but I eventually made it back o.k.
-Went to sleep pretty horribly, and again slept horribly

Wed. April 4 - Day Four
-Woke up and headed to The Temple (this awesome, huge cliff)
-Proceeded to spit off said cliff (awesome picture)
-Headed back to camp
-Gio lost his dishes to the tarn (lake) by setting them afloat in his bowl/ship with the intention of washing them after collecting water
-Proceeded to depart for Austrian hut
-Did some crazy hiking through snow/sleet
-Mark and Edu became incapacitated from altitude sickness; Gio suffered as well, but not as badly
-After setting up camp on the rocks, Jason, Kibaka, and I were the only ones really standing
-Jason prepared food and I hiked down to the glacier in the dark to gather water
-Gave Edu my -25 degree sleeping bag for the night because he was really sick
-Slept with only two thin fleece sleeping bag liners
-Froze all night spooning with Mark and Gio (extremely uncomfortable, but unfortunately very necessary)(got closer to Gio than Jackie has been at night)

Thurs. April 5 - Day 5
-Got up at 8 and peaked at Lenana (6000 m.) with Jason, Kibaka, Nick, Monica, and Gio
-Most difficult and dangerous, yet indescribable climb ever
-Climbed back to camp and headed down from Austrian Hut for the Met Station
-Rapidly decreased altitude
-Went down some crazy skree (loose gravel stuff) (it sucks)
-After skree, all energy leaves my body, and I no longer feel like Superman
-After some debate over our pace, we arrive at Met. Station and get some sleep

Fri. April 6 - Day 6
-Woke up sorer than ever and left for the gate
-Jason, Edu, Kibaka, and Mark bolted ahead
-Gio, Nick, Monica, and I went a painful and slow 2 mph to the gate
-Eventually made it to the Gate with time to spare before being forced to pay for another day on the Mt.
-Caught a matatu at the gate (thank God) and headed out for South C
-Dropped Nick off on the way home with money so he could pick up pizza
-Continued home to unpack
-Showered after going a whole week without
-Ate pizza, looked at pictures, and wrote all of this down in my journal

I think that pretty much covered the Mountain trip. It was truly indescribable, and I have never felt cooler in my life. I have a new passion for mountain climbing; so if anyone is interested in a few trips, let me know. They should be organized soon. Well, I have more to say, but I think I'll throw it into another post. I love you all.

-Victor Rogers IV