Day 3

Date: 2-9-07
Time: 8:01
Temp: 42 F
Alt: 12,816'

When we got to camp yesterday I would have said 85% of the way was easy and 15% very steep and hard.

We took a 3 hour nap. Did a short walk and had dinner, then back to sleep at about 8:00pm (at the latest). I think in retrospect it was harder then I thought and we have a loonnnggg way to go.

I got a splitting headache last night so I started on Diomox this morning.

Many porters are smoking. Amazing considering how much this must effect their lungs.

Gear we wished we had - Mouthwash!

Time to wrap up breakfast and get moving.

Time: 10:40
Temp: 72 F
Alt: 13,712'

We are already at Moya Hut camp. While today was all up, the distance was only 1 and 1/2 miles. After lunch we will go on a multi-hour acclimatization hike up the surrounding ridge and then descend back to camp.

The camp is beautiful. Kilimanjaro is behind us framed by a low box canyon with water flowing down the mountain. The diomox seems to be working as I feel very good. The medicine makes me go to the bathroom all the time, but that is a fair trade-off.




KEN's THOUGHT OF THE MOMENT:
Wow, satisfied that he does not feel as bad as he thought he would, but not overconfident.

The acclimization trek took over 2 hours. We walked almost 2 miles and climbed from our camp elevation of 13,712' to 14,459'. I had a fairly strong headache most of the way up. My heart rate stayed right around 125 bpm and my leg muscles felt fine. It is just this damn headache!



At the top there were dozens of rock sculptures of multiple pieces balanced on each other. It was a cool sight.



As we ascend we crossed several rock fields. No path, just stepping from rock to rock. The sound was like stepping on china plates.

It is 6:30pm and we just finished dinner. Soup and potato pancakes followed by spaghetti with meat sauce and green beans. Dessert was fruit. All in all the food is terrific and more than even four of us could eat.

My stomach feels off and I can only eat very slowly, which I attribute to the altitude. My Garmin 405 watch has worked great so far. I will keep my fingers crossed that it continues to do so.



Being on this climb I have lost all track of days and time, other than morning-cold, afternoon-hot, evening-very cold.

Ken and I will pay a few hands of cards in the fading light then turn in.