Kili Day 5

Kilimanjaro Day 5

So this isn't exactly the post I was expecting to write today. After arriving in camp last night the headache returned with a menace and combined with a dodgy stomach had me concerned about the summit attempt. The headache I've no doubt is due to the altitude, I'm well hydrated and pain killers aren't helping much. The dodgy stomach could be a combination of altitude and some questionable food earlier in the trek.

It's incredibly frustrating but the symptoms are classic altitude sickness and the only thing you can reasonably do is descend. The decision was mine. I could of carried on and tried for the summit but risk the headache worsening and fluid pressure building up on the brain (severe headaches and nausea are early symptoms of this) and frankly that's a really miserable thing to have - resulting in missing my flight home, a $5000 helicopter rescue and a lengthy stay in Nairobi hospital.

So I'm not going to the summit, that's decided. Instead I'm resting until the morning and descending down to 3700m with Mandela, one of the porters and will wait there until Mick as Antipas return.

Waiting in your tent unable to sleep with altitude sickness gives you a lot of time to think. On a light hearted note I'm still really looking forward to a big bowl of ice cream in Moshi but more seriously I think about my travelling and future plans. I think I'm going to curtail it for a while, maybe take a couple of years off from globe trotting and climbing big mountains. That won't change my job at all, I love being a mountain leader and working all over the UK which itself involves a good deal of travelling in my little van (sounding like postman pat now). The last couple of years however have been manic, this year alone I've visited 12 countries on 4 continents. This Africa trip has been amazing, even despite the Kili disappointment. Recalling the Drakensburg, Sani Pass, Cape Town, Table Mountain, Namibia Deserts, Victoria Falls, the crazy train and the Indian Ocean camp all in the space of 6 mad jam packed weeks.

That said the travel bug has wained a little and I'm looking forward to being at home a bit more - spending time with friends, going to concerts and running etc. It's also about time I focus on getting some more outdoor qualifications - climbing, archery, power-boating etc and continue saving towards a flat/house. Whilst I've got plenty of work as an ML and with DofE stuff i need to make sure i diversify a bit and keep doors open in what is a very fluid industry. 2013/14 will be pretty quiet travel years I think. I've promised my sister we would go travelling for a few weeks after her exams which will be amazing fun but I think that'll be it. Things may well change but I anticipate my next big big trip will be with Liam in Charlie (my land-rover) whenever we get around to that, at least 18 months away I would of thought. We shall see eh. Knowing me an irresistible opportunity will pop up before too long.

So back to Africa, I'm up at 7 ish when Mandela brings me a bowl of soup. I pack my stuff and we descend to an interim camp which takes about an hour and a half. The sun is shining and there are magnificent views of the summit, the glaciers and then across to Meru in the distance. It's by far the best weather day we've had, despite being bloody chilly at dawn it's warmed up a treat. Hopefully Mick had good fortune and made the summit.

It struck me as well today that most of our guides/porters seem to be named after famous leaders with the exception of Antipasti. We have Baraka, Mandela and Zuma (South African president). Odd.

By 130pm were down at our overnight stop. Fortunately we're settled in before a smashing thunder storm with hail and rain, Mick gets back after a successful summit although completely knackered. My solar panel got some charge earlier so I can whack the iPod on for the afternoon until dinner.