Kilimanjaro Diary - Day 3

After the last good nights sleep I was going to get for a week it was up bright and early (I don't remember how early), breakfast of toast and weetabix (breakfast of champions!) and once our possessions had been sorted into staying, day bags and duffles, it wass time to hop on the minibus to Machame gate.

There was a fair bit of milling around while we collected water and lunch (in the cutest little tins) and signed in so that the park, in theory, would know who was inside at any time. Having seen the system through to the end I have very little faith in this system and you could probably get nice and lost in there for weeks at a stretch if you wanted to.

We had the obligatory group photo and got introduced to the vast team of guides and porters who were to accompany us all the way to the summit. We had 3 main guides, cooks, water porters, toilet porters (has to be the worst job but they were fab) and an abuncande of other people. We were probably outnumbered 2 to 1. And then we were off. The way was pretty well trodden to start with, good packed dirt track and steps. Started to get to know my fellow trekkers and the immediate team. Dr Geoff intrigued me most as he's a real action man but keeps it very down low. Simon is just insane. He was going to be climbing Kili again with a different group as soon as we'd finished! And Tariq was just along to see what it was all about.

Of course there are no toilets to speak of on the mountain. Actually there are a few sheds with holes in the floor on the lower reaches (thank you India) but otherwise it's a case of finding a spot where you won't be spotted, so to speak. You get better at this, or at least more daring, as the week goes on and the vegetation thins out... Anywho, we eventually stopped for a lunch of sweet sandwiches, baby bananas, cake and chocolate. And water. Lots and lots of water.

I don't really remember anything amazing happening until we reached the first camp. What was amazing was watching the porters over taking us with duffles, tents and other assorted equipment balanced on back, shoulders, neck and heads. One was even carrying fresh eggs! We saw him repeatedly over the course of the week. The first camp was a little cramped compared to what we experienced later. Several groups were there at the same time. The tents were comfortable enough, 3 man tent for two. Dinner was soup and either pasta or rice, I can't remember, vegetable sauce and fresh fruit. Despite the fog that swept in, the views across the valley were spectacular... just some of many we were to see...

Kili Video Diary - Day 2

Kili Video Diary - Day 1

Kilimanjaro Diary - Day 1 & 2

I think the best way to tell you about Kili is to do it diary-style with bits of video and photos thrown in. The whole set of photos are on facebook but I know some people don't "do" facebook so I thought there's no harm in putting the best up here too. So let's start at the beginning.

Day one is actually day one and two I guess. It started with a breakfast of boiled eggs and soldiers and packing the last minute things.

My parents arrived at about 11am with a bottle of bubbly which we cracked open after a nice lunch at the local deli. Suitably tipsy I was driven to Heathrow with approximately 25 kilos of lugguage to find the rest of the group and check in. It was relatively easy to spot the group, just looked for the people with huge rucksacks and walking boots on. It was a little overwhelming because I didn't really know anyone but I soon spotted Donna and Claire. Tickets collected, bags dropped, hugs from Mum and Dad and I was off through security control. Eventually, after sitting on the plane for nigh on an hour we were off. At least I had a window seat. I soon got to know some of the people I was travelling with, Phil and James who were sat next to me, for instance.

We arrived at Kenya airport just in time to catch our connecting flight to Kilimanjaro International from where we got a shuttle bus to the Protea Hotel. After a complimentary fruit juice and being assigned room/tent buddies we were out by the pool and then being introduced properly to the leaders and talked through what we should and shouldn't be taking up the mountain. Once we'd decided that we didn't need 3 pairs of trainers and that unfortunately that bottle of shower gel was going to be a bit useless it was time to chill out and explore. My roomie, Kelly, and I went to explore out the back of the hotel where there was a river. We met a few of the local kids and saw coffee growing!

After a group dinner it was time for bed and dreams (or nightmares) of what was to come...

I'm leaving on a jet plane

Today's the day. I'm off. Bags are packed, meds taken, parents on standby to take me to the airport. There's no more prep I can do. I just have to hope that I've done enough to get me through.


I will admit my training has been patchy at times. I'd like to think I'm dedicated but it's been really hard at times to keep up the motivation over the past 9 months or so. I've not done as many long walks as perhaps I could have done. Maybe not enough weights. My fitness level has definitely improved but there's no more time for fretting. This is it.


I won't be able to update this blog while I'm away but I will Tweet when I'm able to (VikkiRoberts) and may even be able to upload a couple of pics to Facebook. There will be full reports when I'm back, supplemented with any photos and video footage I've managed to take. I'm looking forward to meeting Claire and Donna at the airport and comparing frantic notes about what we've packed, getting kit envy and scaring each other silly with expectations and stories we've heard from someone's cousin's sister who climbed Kili three years back.


Thanks to all once again. See you on the other side!

The Final Countdown

"We're heading for Venus". Well ok, Tanzania...

It's the final week and it's all horribly real. I'm thinking about it every minute I'm not doing something that completely absorbs me, such as baking. The office will be getting another cake tomorrow... I've had good luck cards from my family and a fabulous poem from my Aunt which I laughed at so much I almost cried. Thank you so much, you have shown me such support and I really wouldn't be where I am without you. Extra special thanks as follows...

Thank you to my Aunt for the poem and for trapsing around the village collecting on my behalf, it means so much to me. Thank you to Richard for climbing Ben Nevis with me. I'm glad we were able to share the experience. To my grandparents for their generous donations and to their circle of friends. Thank you to Anita and Gordon for your kind words and sponsorship. To Jo and Brendon for offering refuge and sensible words. To Shruti for making me do this in the first place and for being so encouraging and a great friend. To Dave for keeping me smiling. To everyone who's sponsored me, wished me luck and offered advice. And biggest thanks of all go to my parents who have given me more support in more ways than anyone else, despite their fears for my well being, safety and probably sanity. I can't begin to thank you enough but I will try. I hope I do everyone proud.

I've raised a total of £4,344 but this isn't all with the Charity yet. Some people wanted to wait until I actually got back before giving me the money... I guess that's ok. I tried to arrange something last minute for this weekend but the store was rather uncharitable. I'm not giving up on that £4,500 target though. I'll get there by hook or by crook, even if it's a little bit after the event.

There's really not a lot left to do now. I'm packed, all but the last minute things. I've got Friday off work and I'm coming home Thursday lunchtime to work from home so that I can get a last minute B12 jab. I have a deficiency that can make me tired and lethargic which is the last thing I need. I've done only minor exercise the past week or so but I intend to do a lot of stretching out so that my muscles don't start off really tight.

I realised I've not done much in the way of video diaries or photos of late so I'll be doing one before I go and do some more while I'm away ready for posting when I get back. I don't intend to stop writing this blog after Kili. I'm going to use it to document all my other adventures and efforts. There's plenty more where this came from!

Can I stand the heat?

I realised that although I've got together all my trekking clothing, I've not thought much about what I'll wear at the hotel. This led me to wonder what the weather was doing out there so I looked up the weather report for Kilimanjaro. Looks pretty rubbish right now, 22 and rainy but last week it was a balmy 33 degrees and sunny. Scorchio!

And then I thought it might be nice to share with you my itinerary. But I haven't got webspace to upload it and it looks rubbish as a picture so you'll just have to go without... for now at least.

Just over a week to go now. I'm pretty much packed and I've not done much in the way of exercising in the last week or so. Partly because I've been on a course with work and partly because I'm now terrified of getting an injury. Let's save those for the a more impressive situation ;)