So what happens after you climb the highest mountain in Africa? You get to descend 15000 feet in 2 days, and it wasn't pretty. After we summitted and descended to Barranco Camp (15300 ft) and had lunch, we had to drop down to the Mweka Camp at 10000 ft. It was brutal. It turns out that after you spend so many days climbing a big mountain, your climbing muscles are in great shape, but your descending muscles have been getting a free ride. By the time we got to Mweka, I could barely walk on flat ground let alone downhill. Doreen had a very hard time too.
The next day we had to get up and hike the rest of the way out- another descent of 5000 ft. Just as brutal as the day before. When we got down, we had to sign out, have one last picnic lunch, and say goodbye to our climbing crew. I'll really miss a bunch of them.
Then we climbed into jeeps and rode a few hours out and into Arusha, and got to our lodge for the night, which was a very beautiful place. But more importantly- hot showers and cold beers! And real beds that are bigger than our tents. Tomorrow we transition to safari.
PART TWO
Photos:
1. One more picnic lunch at the ranger station.
2. Me and my buddy Gotfried.
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