we both recounted our best and worst moments of this adventure. we thought you might like to
share in those experiences. (warning: do not attempt to re-enact these incidents at home or
without parental supervision).
our most memorable moment: may not have been the best moment then, but certainly is one
of the best moments now...
journal entry: august 23rd: mount kilimanjaro, tanzania
'robert poured me a cup of hot tea but before i could take time to savor it and the
respite, we were being riled again. "too cold - no good here," joseph would say. and
we painfully hoisted ourselves up off of our already numbing butts. he looked at the
two of us and pointed to mark. "you, you strong." then joseph pointed at me. "and you, you
strong. we go to uhuru." uhuru was the finale and yet it was two hours away. i groaned
and sighed (but pleased i was still coherent enough to do so), put my gloves on and pushed
myself along with my walking stick.
reaching uhuru at 19,340 feet was probably the most painful part. every time i thought we
were summiting the final ridge, i'd get to the top and see yet another peak. i finally
resorted to counting 50 steps and resting, by which time, those 50 steps were in such
frustration that i'd bolted way ahead of mark, not even realizing how fast i was going. the
sun had come up over the clouds and was casting brilliant colors on the enormous, icy blue glacier.
once on top of uhuru peak, a 180 degree view offered spectacular sights of the remaining glacier walls,
said to quite possibly disappear within 20 years.'
in retrospect (though we never would have thought it then) but that summit would be one of the most magnificent and most
memorable parts of our 14 week trip around the world.
|
