People generally hike Mt. Meru in 3 or 4 days. There are two lodges on the way up to stay at. Since we only had three days off, our itinerary was this:
Day 1: hike from base to the Miriakamba hut: 5 hours
Day 2: hike from Miriakamba to Saddle hut: 4 hrs. Followed by an afternoon hike to the peak of Little Meru: 2hrs.
Day 3: hike from Saddle hut to peak: 5hrs. Then all the way back down: 8hrs.
These times were all very idealistic....
Initially we had planned to do this trek on our own, carrying all of our food and water and bedding. Thankfully we decided last minute to book our trip with a company. We traveled with a ranger (who had a gun in case of animal attacks), as well as a guide. A team of ten porters and a cook went ahead of us, probably beating us to the destinations by hours, carrying likely twice the weight that we were carrying. (Crazy Africans). I still carried all of my stuff, besides food and water. I felt like this was excessive at the start, but at the end I was so grateful!
Day one was a fairly easy day. We ascended 1km gradually. We passed through some really interesting vegetation...each day revealed a different ecosystem. At one point, the landscape was speckled with beautiful yellow and orange flowers. We saw lots of animals on day one: giraffes, monkeys, buffalo, birds, and were welcomed to our hut with hot chai and fresh popcorn. That night we were in great spirits, enjoying each others company, playing cards...
Day two we started early. We spent the whole day above the clouds. The path was definitely more steep, but it was also still a path. We ascended some stairs that seemed to be never ending. We eventually made it to Saddle hut without realizing how deceiving these trails were. After we dropped our stuff at the lodge, we ascended Little Meru, a side peak. This was recommended to get to this altitude to acclimatize. We all enjoyed a stunning view just before dusk. After another fabulous meal, we headed to bed super early. The hardest day was ahead.
Day three: Monday morning, we woke at 12am and were on the trail by 1am. In the pitch dark, with head lamps and jackets, we moved together as a group. The trail ended early on, and we found ourselves scaling windy mountain crests and scrambling across what seemed to be the edge of a cliff. The air was cold and the altitude made it difficult to breath. On top of this, our group was plagued with problems: altitude sickness, diarrhea, food poisoning, swollen ankles, and general fatigue. What was supposed to be a five hour climb took our group 6.5 hours. But we all made it to the top and were able to see the sun rise from behind Kili! I was a mix of emotions and adrenaline, feeling on the verge of bawling but also so happy. We kept saying that it was the hardest thing we've ever done. I'm so grateful for the encouragement of our group. I don't think we would have all made it solo.
Once at the top, the sun had risen and we descended on the trail that had given us grief in the dark. What had scared us so much was now laughable. We had to book it on the way down to make up for our polepole ascent. The bus ride back was quiet and it's taken me a good three or four days to feel normal again.
Before we left for the trip, I was encouraged by the passage Philipians 2:1-11..specifically 1-4:
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
The more I reflect about this experience, the more I learn. It was amazing to be a part of a group, and to accomplish such an amazing thing. It definitely required us to look beyond our own interests and keep encouraging each other and pressing on as a group. In light of this passage as well, I have a new appreciation for Jesus...he didn't have to come and climb the mountain of life with us, but he humbled himself, and he walks with us and encourages us.
Accomplishing something is sweet. Accomplishing something together is sweeter :)
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| Our group, day one, under a crazy tree |
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| Day three, looming there, from the peak of Little Meru |
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| That's not a path. |
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| The view of Kili, above the couds |
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| At the top! Everyone wanted to take a picture with my Canadian Flag ;) |
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