JANUARY 5-Leaving Momella Gate
"Africa Time" is real. We were ready to start our ascent of Mt. Meru at 10:00 a.m. as we were told the day before. We actually started at 12:30 p.m.. Anyone who knows Staci, knows how punctual she is. This didn't sit well.
We had a short walk (4km) from the lodge the Arusha NP gate. We saw five giraffes along the way.
The hikes are organized so one Ranger accompanies up to 15 climbers. Our group of 15 includes six Germans, who stick together, six French, five of who stick together, one guy from Switzerland (Andy-F-18 pilot with Air Force) who sticks with the two goofy Americans in the misfit group. The one extra Frenchman (Martin-musician) joined in with the three of us.
It's quite a hodgepodge group attempting to hike up Mt. Meru. All the other 13 have porters carrying most, if not all, their gear. Even so, Staci is in the lead and constantly having to stop, and be reminded to slow down.
The hike up. Mt Meru is good preparation for the Kilimanjaro climb ahead. It's over a 10,000 elevation gain in less than 48 hours. The actual climb is more than that because the trail goes downhill in places and then climbs again. Today's afternoon gain was about 3500 feet.
These fig trees provide the Africa version of the drive-through tree.
Moia Falls along the trail.
The porters and guides were fascinated with the Ranger's rifle. We are the only two without a guide, just the Ranger, who's there for the entire group.
It is more expensive to camp than to stay in the predetermined huts. We changed plans and went with the huts. Camping would have been foolish.
The huts were way more than expected. Beds, solar powered lights, running water, and toilets. We joked that all that was missing was WiFi.
Everyone else had fancy place settings on their tablecloth. Fancy meals were served in courses, on nice plates. Different courses were served.
Staci and I cooked our Knorr Pasta Sides on our backpack stove along with the workers or in our room.
We carried our food into the dining hall, with the privledged class, and ate our typical hiking meal. We didn't have a tablecloth. I joined Andy after a bit, and Martin joined in. Staci went to bed early. They gave me their extra food.
We knew we were oddballs when everyone else had their lunches brought to them at a break along the trail. They had fried chicken, fruit, and all kinds of goodies. You might say Staci and I did not eat so well.
Staci and I have not been around so many wazungu since our adventure began. Andy and Martin speak the best English, and they are fascinating. This was such a different experience than the rest of the adventure.
JANUARY 6-Elevation Gain
We hiked with our Ranger, Joseph, and picked up quite a bit of elevation.
When we arrived at Saddle Hut we were again stunned at the different place settings, and the different fancy meals everyone else was getting. Of the twenty-eight climbers of the mountain, twenty-six (all Europeans) had guided trips, with meals etc. Staci and I were the only ones without porters, a guide, a cook, waiters, and the treatment. It was funny. The waiters would allow me to have coffee with the others who were with the tour groups.
Our friend, Andy, realized that just for him, he had quite the entourage. He had three porters, a cook, a waiter, and then the same Ranger/guide (Joseph) that Staci and I had. He was waited on so much he felt odd.
Each company has it's own set of folks. Martin went through a different company than the rest of the French folks. He had a separate table set up, and an entourage too. Martin and Andy tried sitting at the same table, and weren't allowed. The companies differentiate each other by tablecloths.
When Staci and I didn't eat in our room, this was where we belonged. :)
We made it to Saddle Hut in plenty of time to hike up Little Meru. That's big Meru in the background. This little hike was just to get us a little more used to the elevation for the next day's climb.
St. John's wort growing along the trail up to Little Meru.
The view down on the Saddle Hut facilities from the Little Meru Trail. It's quite the set up.
We saw some new animals along the way. One looked like a dik-dik, only bigger. Imagine a deer the size of a small German Shepherd. Another was called something like a red forest antelope. Finally, there were plenty of colobus monkeys. We saw these at Diani Beach at the beginning of the hike, but have just started seeing them again.
JANUARY 7-Summit Day-Mt. Meru
We started hiking at 1:45 a.m., and arrived at the summit just before 6:00 a.m. in time to watch the sunrise. The early start was also necessary because we would need the entire day to descend.
There were clouds obscuring views, but we were able to see the sun rising by Mt. Kilimanjaro.
This is the gang for the Mt Meru portion of the trip, Martin, Andy, Joseph, me, and Staci.
The trail back down. We didn't get to see anything on the way up.
A herd of African buffalo at the end of the day.
The descent was tough, especially on my feet. We finished around 5:00 p.m., then had to walk four more kilometers to the Momella Lodge. Sleep deprivation day.
