All worth it in the end......

So about 20-30 min. later or so we finally made it down to the falls and as you can see, it was all worth it in the end. Over 50 feet high and properly fixed at the end of a massive canyon plastered with every shade of green imaginable, I found myself suspended inbetween space and time.......... It was truly an amazing sight!

Uru Falls from a distance.......

An incredible sight - worth every bit of the hike. Isn't she a beaut?!?

Uru Falls - Tanzania.... a little more than I had originally planned....

(hiking down to the falls.........normally an easy day hike just about killed me after the "full" Kilimanjaro experience)

There were too many sights to see and so little time while I was in Moshi, Tanznia. I am a total fanatic when it comes taking pics of the area - especially sunsets, waterfalls, mountians, and stuff like that; so the day after I got back from climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro I had this crazy idea that I could just drive 10-20 min. away and catch a glimpse of the falls. I really don't know what I was thinking.... Maybe it was a blissfull fantasy I had on the flight over, or maybe I just thought that with a little effort we could drive just about anywhere that we wanted......either way - it was all worth it and an incredibly beautiful sight to see. Tanzania really was a "breath of fresh air" in more ways than I could ever begin to describe. Hope you enjoy the pics.

My Mt. Kilimanjaro journal!

Originally, I set out to "conquer" the highest mountian in Africa. Maybe it was all the initial excitment in me or just pure adreneline; but I will admit up front that I had NO IDEA what I was getting myself into. What follows is my audio journal transcribed for you to enjoy. Sit back and browse the pics, laugh a little, and seriously think twice if you ever had the urge to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Mon. June 18^th 8:32am

“I feel a lot better . Had a great sleep. It’s been a very interesting weekend…… I’m excited and nervous as heck. I really wanna do this climb, but I feel a little under prepared, under the weather, and slightly out of shape; but that’s not going to stop me from giving 110% till my body (caugh) beyond! till my body won’t allow me to go any further; so this is something that’s deffinately on my “life to do list.” I’m looking forward to standing at 19,000 feet, looking at a new perspective of the world. Till later……

Mon. June 18^th 11:30am

[at the gate] A lot of paper work, a lot of waiting…. Base elevation is 6,400 feet…….Lot’s of anticipation. I’m ready to get moving.

Mon. June 18^th 1:21pm

Just saw some Blue Monkeys. Got some pictures. Just about halfway to camp. This first trek is so far just like a gradual day hike through the woods, and uh just about anyone could do it. So far so good…..

First stop - Base Camp #1 - Mandara Hut!!!

Mon. June 18^th 3:28pm

[just arrived at first base camp] So far so good. I’m just….setting in. Nice long hike. Really kind of a walk through the park – crud, there’s ant everywhere – and uh, we got up here and there’s these Kalabask black and white monkeys, really cool. Camp, is kind of a open clearing. Quite the hustling bustling place. This things like right out of a movie.

Mon. June 18^th 5:46pm

It’s a good 60 degrees out, although it feels chillier! Sitting in the mess hall, we hiked up to the crater and for the first time in my life I could actually feel exhaustion from altitude. Just climbing up a little bit – 100 ft./200 ft. feel completely drained – feels great! Umm, really enjoying the camp here. Looking forward to tomorrow morning……..Hoping to get some good shots of the mountain tomorrow too soo, we’ll see. So far so good.

Tues. June 19^th 8:17am

First night on Mt. Kilimanjaro: quite the interesting experience. I had the blessed company of two ‘love birds’ that were uh not satisfied with making out for the entire night. That was interesting. I think that was enough to bring the food back up to the surface. At 9pm I was off to the bathrooms to uh puke chunks of spinach and whatever I ate for dinner. It was quite the glorious experience, so I had to walk that off. Woke up around 6/6:30, finally got out of bed around ¼ to 7am. It was a long long night. Didn’t have much for breakfast cause I couldn’t eat much. The temp. out here is probably just above freezing……looking forward to a good hike today and hopefully a better dinner; cause uh….that was pretty bad.

Off to Base Camp number 2!!!! Nothign can stop me now!!!

Tues. June 19^th 9:23am

We are looking at Kibo Peak on the left and Mowen’s Peak on the right. Beautiful blue sky sunny day……this place almost looks like Arizona or something.

Tues. June 19^th 10:18am

We’re walkng through what we call the “moonland zone.” Everything looks just like uh rolling hill prarie…… I look off to my left and I see a mass of clouds….We’re already above 10,000 feet. Feels great! Warm temperature. Already had to shed a few layers. I look off to my right and I just see rolling hills. Straight ahead are two peaks, and we’re heading towards the snoooow. It’s gonna be a good afternoon!

Tues. June 19^th 1pm

Walking through the moonscape still. This area looks like Eastern Washington - so familiar. We passed by a little off flow of glacier water and uh nice cool breeze running off the mt. The clouds are starting to roll over the hills, starting to uh get to a little cooler air now. It’s quite nice!

Tues. June 19^th 1:07pm

Get text from Liz in Moshi asking how we’re doing and wishing us the best! Technology always amazes me – climbing a massive, 19,000 ft. mountain and we still have cell signal. But of course.

Tues. June 19^th 2:04pm

We just passed 12,000 ft. above sea level. I’m officially higher than I’ve ever been before on foot and uh yeah, feels great! Feeling really weak in the legs but, looking forward to taking a rest here, we’re almost to camp and uh, I get the rest of the day off soo – whoof! This is something else up here. Probably the most BORING landscape in the world; but uh, that’s okay – it gets better – once I can see the mountain again.

Tues. June 19^th 2:30pm

Roll into base camp number 2 annnnnd find out that I can have a shower!?! COLDEST stinking shower of my LIFE! Glacier water over a toilet?! Quite strange.

Time to acclimatize!

Tues. June 19^th 4pm

We head up for the acclimization hike. We are currently at just around 13,000 ft. (actually 12,300ft.) and we will be shooting up to 14,000ft.

Tues. June 19^th 5:30pm

We reach just over 14,000ft. and it is amazing. The way up is very slow but the view of Uhuru peak or Mt. Kilimanjaro - I should say – is outstanding then we cruise on down. It is cold, as soon as the sun sets, the temperature begins to drop.

Night number 2 on the Mountian!

Tues. June 19^th 6:30pm

We arrive back at base camp. It is now a setting sun.

Tues. June 19^th 7:30pm

I walk out of the “mess hall” or “dinner room” or whatever you want to call it and notice the city lights are just AMAZING! The moon is…..sooo bright. The stars are like I have never seen before. The air is so much thinner up here……This has turned out to be quite the hike!

Wed. June 20^th 6:30am

Getting up is always easier than going to bed. The clouds over Moshi are amazing!

Wed. June 20^th 8:35am

Hit the trail. Head on up to Kibo Hut. It’s a looong 4-5 hour hike. It’s a very barren, what they call “Alpine Desert.” And uh looking forward to some cool air with this thin atmosphere and HOT sun. I can already feel the sunburn on my neck.

Wed. June 20^th 9:52am

It’s pretty spectacular up here. It looks like uh Alpine Desert; but we’re not quite there yet. Still in this Moonland Zone.

Wed. June 20^th 10:10am

I just realized that I sound like a weezing rat on this thing. Breathing up here is sloooooow. Short breaths, and the walking up here is a snail’s pace; so we take a 10-15 min. break, call it good and keep heading on up towards the mountain. At this angle, it almost reminds me of Mt. St. Helens, just a little higher.

Desert death march!

Wed. June 20^th 10:55am

I reach the ridge. Looking down on the alpine desert. Seems like a “highway” to freedom. It’s like a paved road up to the mountain. Uhhh, we’re anticipating a cool breeze, so we layer up, throw on a jacket, face mask, and head on down… yeah!

Wed. June 20^th 11:55am

Working our way through the saddle in the Alpine Desert. The wind is rippin and kickin and I feel like I’m at every bit of 14,000 feet. Moving at a snail’s pace, I’m breathing heavily. It’s the strangest feeling in the world. Tonight is gonna be……more than interesting.

Wed. June 20^th 12:37pm

We stop for lunch. I’m completely wasted. I think the “saddle” leaves absolutely nothing to be desired. I don’t know how to describe it, so I’ll try again later.

Kibo Hut! The "calm before the storm!" Rest up - cause we leave at midnight!

Wed. June 20^th 2:30pm

We roll into the final base camp. Forgot the name. It is windy, cold; and I finally figured out a name for Alpine Desert – it’s what it would feel like if hell froze over; cause my goodness, there’s nothing pleasant about it! So we’re prepping. Getting ready to leave tonight, we’re gonna wake up at 11pm. Probably won’t have much to say other than “ug” and “just get me to the top of this insane mountain! Yeah.

Wed. June 20^th 6pm

Just above 15,000 feet. We’re officially higher than I could ever get in Washington and on any mountain……it feels every bit it. My legs are sore [due to lack of oxygen]. The sun is setting right now. I hope I can make it to the top tonight.

Wed. June 20^th 6:32pm

I’m gonna try and head to bed and catch some shut eye before we wake up at 11pm. This hasn’t worked to well the past couple nights as the food has most come back up (buuuulaaaw…) We’ll see what happens!

Heading up the final "gauntlet" to Gilman's Point! WALK OR DIE!

Thursday June 21^st 12:25am

We’re moving up the trail to Gilman’s Point. I found my rythem. Inhale – left, exhale – right. It’s a slow, slow pace and as I look up I can see a few of the groups above me and 3 groups below me. Kind of an errie sight with the head lamps. So far so good. No problems breathing. No odd pains yet, and hope to see or feel none!

Thurs. June 21^st (time unknown)

My first interesting experience. Taking a dump at over 15,000 feet. Remember – always poop downhill. Oh yeah – everything here is more work than EVER imagined; but when you look up and see the stars, it’s amazing. Moving at about 10 paces per minute – sloooooooowly. I feel good. I can make it to the top of this thing. Good stuff.

Thurs. June 21^st 1:16am

Round number 2 of “poop on the mountain” come aggressively. Hope I never have to do that again! It’s the MOST fridged experience of my entire life!

Thurs. June 21^st (time unknown)

Don’t have a clue what time it is. Moving slow. From here on out – it’s mind over matter!

Climbing throught the night.......

Thurs. June 21^st 2:10am

We reach the cave….[I was miss-informed at this point. NOT the cave that marks the halfway point. Just a small stopping point] 4,950 meters. I feel like a dead man (laughing to myself). I’m gonna leave this thing now – gonna make it!

Thurs. June 21^st 3am

All I can think about it sleep. “Pole, pole” [meaning slowly, slowly in Swahili]

Thurs. June 21^st (after 6am)

The sun is officially over the horizon. I don’t’ have a clue what time it is; but whatever time the sun rises in Africa. We didn’t quite make our goel, not quite to Gilman’s Point. Just need to get there; or die trying. It’s beautiful up here. Nothing “pleasant” about it.

Not quite to the top! Almost there!

Thurs. June 21^st 7:20am

I reach Gilman’s Point! I’m not dead 5,681 meters – feels every bit that way! All I wanna do is sit here and take pictures and sleep! I feel totally wasted! Wow…..I feel really high…

Thurs. June 21^st

I made it and I’m not dead! Though it sure feels like it! I’m at 5,895 meters above sea level. I can barely feel my legs. My head is pounding, it’s a beautiful view from up here; and I can’t wait to head back down. From here – to Uhuru Peak.

On the ROOF OF AFRICA!

Thurs. June 21^st 9:45am

HA! I made it! I can’t believe I stinking made it! I feel like a dead man walking. This place is covered in glaciers and snow; and oh…..yeah….. I can barely feel my legs, my head is pounding – it’s great – yeah! And why am I doing this again???!!! Oh yeah – so one day when someone asks me the craziest thing that I’ve ever done – Climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro! Yeah – and deffinately - The Hardest! But I’m NOT DEAD!

Thurs. June 21^st 12:05pm

It’s not often you get left by your own guide; but I guess that’s life here in Kilimanjaro. It’s 12:05 and I’m heading down. Everyone else is off the mountain – there’s one left; but I’ve been waiting for an hour now and have yet to see any sign of ‘em coming off the mountain. Thinking they might have taken a different route and dropped below me. So I’m gonna take it slow and get off this thing. Everyone else is back at camp.

Friday June 22^nd

I’m 5 and ½ hrs. to the gate. We leave just a little bit before 8 ‘O clock this morning and hopefully hit the gate by 1 ‘O clock! I’m BEAT, my legs are killing me; and I’m ready for a day off! It’s been fun.

In Summary:
Hiking Kilimanjaro was - by far - the most lonely 5 days of my life! I did not originally plan on hiking it on my own (me and a guide) but that is how things turned out. While hiking for five days, many questions ran through my mind about life and as the hours blurred by, I realized that the mountian had taught me many things. I have NEVER pushed myself so hard in life to accomplish one goel - and so I learned that it is the same in relationships with people - the greatest reward comes when we don't give up on one another.
After much pain and endurance and finally reaching the "roof of Africa" in 4 days, I realized that in all my strivings to do something great, I had forgotten something more important - someone to share the experience with...... a lesson well worth the pain.