Kilimanjaro Day 3

August 5, 2024

Last night was one of those rare, perfect nights for stargazing. The sky was crystal clear, and we were treated to an incredible view of the Milky Way stretching across the heavens. David and Koby were lucky enough to spot a few meteors streaking through the sky, though Bob somehow missed them. We all joked that August 12, David’s birthday, would be the best night for meteors, so maybe I’ll catch some more then.

Despite the beautiful night, the cold was intense. To combat the chill, we asked the crew to fill our water bottles with hot water just before bed. What a game changer! The bottles doubled as heaters, warming up our sleeping bags and making the night much more bearable. It was such a simple yet fantastic comfort in the frigid mountain air.

This morning, we gathered for breakfast: porridge, eggs, tortillas, sweet potatoes, and sausage links—a hearty meal to set us up for another challenging day on the trail. After packing up, we departed camp around 08:30.

As we set off, Koby mentioned he had forgotten his extra SD cards—another item added to his ever-growing list of forgotten essentials. Meanwhile, Doug had some personal excitement of his own. After joking about the "twins" he delivered yesterday, Doug bit into a French fry at lunch and—much to his horror—chomped something HARD. It turned out he had lost a tooth! At first, we thought it was just a crown, but upon closer inspection, we realized it was his tooth after all.

Amid the laughter and mishaps, our hydration routine continued in earnest. “Take a drink, boys,” became the unofficial catchphrase of the trek, a reminder we’d hear every few minutes. Hydration is crucial at high altitudes, and we were instructed to drink 3-4 liters of water each day to prevent altitude sickness. Our guides reinforced this with their own phrase, “Sippy, sippy. Water for life.”

Lunch today was both comforting and filling: a warm bowl of zucchini soup served with a deep-fried doughnut (which was absolutely delicious!), followed by fried chicken, French fries, and sauerkraut. It was just the fuel we needed after another long stretch of hiking.

We arrived at Moir Hut Camp around 14:30, feeling a mix of exhaustion and accomplishment. The camp was perched in a beautiful, remote location, with views that made the long day worth every step. Bob, ever the adventurous eater, decided to try the chili sauce that was offered with lunch. While it was more flavorful than spicy, it gave him some not forgotten heartburn. Thankfully, Koby came through once again with his impressive first aid kit, this time with Pepto Bismol on hand to save the day. Despite his knack for forgetting things, Koby’s big bag of first-aid supplies was proving invaluable!

STATS:

• Distance: 10.5 km (6.7 miles)

• Steps: 20,000

• Time: 5 hours 36 minutes

• Pace: 51.17 minutes/mile

• Cadence: 53 steps/min

• Ascent: 2,119 ft

• Current Altitude: 13,611 ft

During our trek, we learned and practiced the mountain hiking strategy of “hike high, sleep low.” This technique helps with acclimatization and ensures that our bodies adjust better to the higher altitudes. Once we settled at Moir Hut, the guides suggested a short acclimatization hike in the late afternoon to prepare for tomorrow’s challenge—a trek to Lava Tower, which sits at 4,650 meters. We could see the trail for the acclimatization hike clearly as we made our way into camp, and though we were tired, we knew it was necessary.

We took a much-needed two-hour nap after the day’s hike, giving ourselves time to recover before setting out for the acclimatization walk. By 17:15, we were back on the trail for a 1.5-hour hike, gaining 450 meters in elevation.

The acclimatization hike was slow but steady, and by the end, we could feel the effects of the increased altitude. It was a good preview of what was to come and a necessary step in preparing for the more challenging terrain ahead.

Dinner tonight was another nourishing meal, perfect for refueling after a long day. We started with a bowl of butternut soup, followed by rice with peas in a tomato sauce base, okra, and a mix of beans, corn, and carrots in red sauce. It was a comforting and flavorful end to the day.

Acclimatization Hike Stats:

• Distance: 1.24 miles

• Time: 1 hour 39 minutes

• Cadence: 30 steps/min

• Altitude Gain: +472 ft

• Steps: 4,500

As we settled into camp, tired but satisfied, we couldn't help but marvel at how much we had accomplished. Tomorrow’s ascent to Lava Tower would be even tougher, but with each step, we were getting closer to our goal. The cold might be real, but so was our determination.

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