The Kili Blog

7/28/2019 The Kili Blog

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CONQUERING KILI

DERICK JACKSON


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Conquering Kili

What its like to journey to Africa to climb the highest freestanding mountain in

the world? Find out here in Derick Jacksons diary of his trip.

Derick and 27 other climbers flew to Africa last Friday and started their trek to

the top of Kilimanjaro on Sunday. They are raising money for St Oswalds

Hospice that the Newcastle office is supporting in this years national charitycampaign, Together for Short Lives.

By dawn on departure day, Derick had already raised around 2,500. GVA

has pledged to match his final fundraising total.

Pre climb build up

The truth is we dont know how this is going to go A combination of

technology and power issues and not to mention a close to four mile high

mountain to negotiate, but this may well turn out to be the highest Livetalk

diary yet!

Around 16 months ago I was asked by St Oswalds hospice to take part in

their 2013 Kilimanjaro climb. Ever since Id seen Moyles, Cole, Barlow and co

conquer it for Red Nose Day 2009 it had been on my bucket list so I thoughtwhy not? St Oswalds is one of the regional hospices supported by our chosen

national charity this year, Together for Short Lives, so it is fitting that my trek

falls in the same year.

The start date seemed so far away when I signed up that I was sure that after

a few words of advice from colleagues that had done it before (thank you

Mark and Katy!), together with the supporting information from Different

Travel/St Oswalds, that I would be thoroughly prepared when the time

came. That was not quite the case, however as, living up to my recentlydiscovered personality type, the week before this trip was totally chaotic with

re-arranged client meetings, an extra day in the office to that planned andlast minute trips to Go Outdoors and Cotswold Outdoor!


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Day 1 Friday 24 May

Newcastle to Moshi

The group of 27, most of whom Id only met once before, were due to meetat 4am at Newcastle airport. I arrived at about ten past due to an alarm

malfunction (!) but it was good to see everyone in their official St Oswalds

hoodies, which Id been able to organise in the weeks before.

We progressed through check-in without any real issue but with some slight

delays as we kept getting asked about the trek by others waiting in line who

all wished us well.

St Oswalds expect to raise around 120,000 from this event and, as we

waited at the boarding gate, we were each presented with a thank you card

made by one of the children there, which focused our minds on why we were

attempting this .leading to a few itchy eyes in the group

The flight was long and unsurprisingly fairly dull but gave us the opportunity toget to know a few of the others in the team. As wed arrived at Kilimanjaro

Airport in the dark the first glimpse of the mountain from our hotel in Moshi

would have to wait.


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Day 2 Saturday 25 May

Moshi

Cloud greeted the group when we awoke the next day and we met for apresentation by our guides. This covered further bits about kit to take up,

expected weather and what to expect on the mountain but also a few

details on altitude sickness and the reality that not all of the group would get

to the summit. Fingers here are firmly crossed!

A more positive and brighter afternoon followed with the cloud lifting at

around 5pm to reveal our mission Mount Kilimanjaro. Even more ominous

when we were told that it was 25 miles away and still looked huge!


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Day 3 Sunday 26 May

Moshi Machame Gate Machame Huts

Today we started our trek to 3,200 metres (10,498 ft) from the MachameGate. This is the start of the Machame route, the route we are taking up the

mountain. It is the route of choice amongst most climbers because it provides

impressive views and a variety of habitats. It is known as the whiskey route,

given its reputation for being a tough climb, in contrast to the easier Marangu

route, which is known as the Coca Cola route. Unlike the gradual incline

and hut accommodations found on the Marangu route, the climbers on

Machame hike steeper trails, for longer distances, while sleeping in tents.

The day started at the hotel with a quick breakfast before the bus arrived

which would take us to the Machame Gate: the real start of our Africanadventure. We arrived and signed in and it was only then that the reality hit -

19,350 ft is really high!

We met over 85 porters, five guides and around five cooks each carrying 25kg of kit - everything from tents to cooking equipment: a truly amazing site.

They set off just ahead of us and its only with their help that well get

anywhere close the summit.


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The trek itself was long today but the spirit of the team was fantastic

especially for a group who had only known each other for a couple of days.All were supporting each other to the first camp, after a welcome break for

lunch en-route.

It was heading towards darkness when we arrived at the camp but the tents

were already set up and the porters had tea, coffee and hot chocolate on

and enough popcorn (a snack before dinner) to feed a small army. A couple

of our team suffered with the trekking today and there were a few mutterings

of doubt given what is ahead, but generally things were positive as we

headed to bed at 9.30pm.


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Day 4 - Monday 27 May

Machame Huts Shira Plateau

We awoke about 6am to get up and ready for the day ahead. Some of us,however, had been up a few times anyway due to tent mates snoring (!) and

side effects of the Diamox most of us are taking to help to cope with the

altitude (Ill not go into detail!). It wasnt a particularly cold night but

nevertheless I was still relieved to have taken the advice of investing in a

good sleeping bag.

After a cooked breakfast of porridge (with a look of wallpaper paste about

it), sausage and eggs we headed off on the trek towards the next camp

which at 3,840 metres (12,598 ft) was slightly lower than the highest point we

will get to by the end of today at 3,950 metres (12,959 ft) which was meant to

help us acclimatise. On that point, we had our first casualty today when one

of the team dropped out. More to do with an existing condition than the trek

but it still served as a reminder as to how difficult a challenge we had ahead

of us.

The trekking today was even slower than yesterday with the guide giving the

usual instruction of pole pole (pronounced po-lay, po-lay) or slowly - all

to do with a gradual ascent. There were a few scrambling bits today which

didnt suit everyone but we made it to camp on time, but due to the cloud

we couldnt see much apart from our own tents. After supper, as it was one

of lads birthdays, the cooks had made a cake and we had a bit of a sing

song with the porters, guides and team which was a great way to end to theday.


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Day 5 Tuesday 28 May

Shira Plateau Barranco Camp

We woke today to minus 6 degrees and ice on the roof of our tent. But theviews from the camp can only be described as incredible whatever I say

here cannot possibly do it justice.

We got out of our tents and in front of us just beyond the mess tent we couldsee cloud and a distant peak just poking through and behind us our path for

the day leading further up the mountain.

In practical terms, though, the best sight was the two porters carrying coffee

pots towards us!

Today we would be heading to the Lava Tower (at 4,600 m/15,092 ft) from our

camp at just under 3900 metres (12,795 ft), then a hike to the Barranco camp

at around the same height as our starting altitude. The local guide said that if

we do the Lava Tower with no serious issues then we have a good chance toget to the summit.

We set off at 8.45am walking through burning sun and misty rain, crossing

what could only be described as a lunar landscape and reaching the Lava

Tower around 3pm. A few of us have suffered today from headaches due to

the altitude.


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We headed back to camp and arrived at the foot of the Barranco Wall

ready for a well-deserved meal, plenty of tiger balm on the knees (following

the descent) and some sleep. A very long and very tough day.


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Day 6 Wednesday 29 May

Barranco Camp Karanga Camp

The Barranco camp is at the foot of the Barranco wall, an 800 ft high rock

face which we were told last night by our guide, Antipas, well definitely notclimb, it is he says, a bit of a scramble. This conflicts slightly with what has

been researched by my Newcastle colleagues, who helpfully pointed out

before I left that others who had gone before said this is a tough climb and at

times the advice must only be to kiss the wall. Well see.

After breakfast ending at 8.10am (we have never managed to get away at

the designated time!) we start the scramble. Much to the disappointment ofthe guys in the teams in Newcastle its not as bad as expected, though it

quickly becomes clear that the porters are much better than us. After taking

down the mess tent and clearing the entire site away they overtake us at 400

ft with 25kg loads, almost leaping across rocks. Amazing to see but no photos

sadly as both hands were required!!


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It takes us two hours to get to the top and a further four to get to camp, a

particularly frustrating journey as at one point we can see the tents all set up

but then we realise its beyond a deep ravine, so its descent followed by

ascent again before we can get there and enjoy a couple of hours of rest

and relaxation before our meal.

After the meal Antipas gives us the itinerary for tomorrow, the main point

being that we must be ready to leave at 8am


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Day 7 Thursday 30 May

Karanga Camp Barafu Camp

We awake to another magnificent view, the top of the clouds in front and thefinal ascent behind us.

Most on camp are ready for breakfast at 7.30am but for various reasons westill dont leave until 9am; Antipas did not seem pleased!


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The walk today is a relatively straightforward route around 3,950 metres to

4,645 metres to what will be our base camp for our final ascent. On the final

climb into camp I really feel the altitude sickness for the first time, along with acouple of others total breathless, feeling sick and very tired. Were told

slowly slowly and again plod on.

We arrive at around 1pm into camp, great views but noticeably cooler nowand very windy. Once again the porters have done a fantastic job and

prepared it for our arrival. We would be getting lunch shortly and were told

we will then need to rest until our meal at 5pm.

Its then to bed as soon as possible thereafter ready for the final ascent to the

summit we leave camp at midnight and the theory is we will be there at

sunrise heres hoping!!!!

Day 7 Friday 31 May

Barafu Camp Summit Millennium Camp

I say day 7 again as this is really an extension of yesterdays update!

Im not sure if its the altitude (its certainly not the time difference of only 2

hours) but it seems weve been on the mountain for a month. Everyone has

bonded really well and Im sure weve had more in depth discussion,

particularly concerning bowel movements (apologies!), with each other than

any of us have ever had with even the closest of friends and family!

We got our wake-up call at 10.30pm last night to get ourselves ready for a

midnight departure from base camp, to hopefully hit the summit before

sunrise. Wed been briefed on what to wear several times before and during

the trip but had not been as prepared for the weather, which believe it or notwas storm force wind and snow even at base camp level. So cold, in fact,

that the tent zip had pretty much frozen shut!

We were filled with dread to what might lie ahead on the top, if we made itthat far but head torches on, we set off.

Even though we were only around 1,300 metres from summit, the peak of

the mountain loomed larger than ever above us. We were used to the pole

pole thing now and most of us just kept our heads down in silence (or with

ipods on at least when the earphones didnt fall out), trying to avoid the

snow and wind, with our hoods up and layers on.

Around two and a half hours in to what was meant to be a six to seven hour

climb, the headaches started to hit me, despite taking the Diamox before

leaving camp. Then hallucinations started to set in (the rock appearing to be

strewn with items of luggage, reminiscent of an air disaster movie, for some

reason). However, as the doctor who was with us pointed out, it would havebeen far worse if Id thought these hallucinations were real.


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During this time, which probably lasted for an hour and a half or so, it was very

difficult to concentrate on drinking and eating appropriately which was, we

had been told, the key to success. During the week of the trek we had beendrinking between four and five litres of water a day and burning up to 5,000

calories, so it was certainly important!

The team work ethic we had built up through the week really came into playtoday and those around me were there to make sure I was ok by checking I

was drinking whenever possible and snacking whenever we stopped.

Around an hour from top and with only about 200 yards to go, the pace

slowed to almost a crawl and we could hardly put one foot in front of the

other. Two half steps then a quick breather quickly became the order of the

day.

The encouragement and support from the team (including the guides) was

truly fantastic, something that will never be forgotten, and after around eighthours after wed set off, we hit the summit.

A few of us with more than just another bad head, some feeling sick and all of

us freezing cold, but elated that we had made it, standing on the top of

Africa!

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