[PHYSICAL CHALLENGE- Mt Kilimanjaro, 5895m]

It had to be attempted; I couldnt walk away without 'having a go'.

The first 3 days were reasonable 4 hour walking days, reaching the last hut at 4703m. As luck would have it I met an Aussie girl who was on the way down and she offered me some of her unused anti-altitude sickness tablets. These came in handy! I was getting headaches and feeling nauseous at the last hut, the tablets helped to minimize the effects and I could get some much needed sleep.

On the Wednesday 2.4.03 at 12am we ascended for the summit. God was smiling on us as it was a crystal clear night, the Southern Cross beaming down us and the shooting stars offering a good omen. I could keep a good pace, thanks to my conditioning of 'walking Africa' for the last 3 months. So much so that we had to stop in a cave for 20 minutes, otherwise we would reach the summit before sunrise.

We reached the first peak of 5685m around 5am, the weather turned colder and my breathing was a lot harder, the going was tough. Pushing on, the sun was rising, I could see the summit post, my steps quickened, I passed my guide, I glided over the soft snow for the last metres and around 6:20am I grabbed the summit sign post, sobbing with elation, relief, overwhelmed by the beauty and gasping for breath. Within minutes the sun rose to reveal spectacular orange and pink hues on the surrounding glaciers; I was on the top of Africa @5895m!

For some quick facts:
* In the last 36.5 hours I was on the mountain I
- traversed 5117m
- walked 18 hours
- was in 4 climate zones
* Only 42% make the summit, I feel so lucky to have reached it!

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