I thought that some might be interested in the itinerary details of our trip, so here you go!
I depart on July 2nd from Atlanta. It is a three-legged flight to our destination in Africa. First we fly to Detroit, then to Amsterdam, and finally to Arusha in Tanzania. I have calculated about 20 hours in the air between these flights. Luckily, on the long flights I was able to get something called "economy comfort seating", which supposedly allows a little more leg room. It's not first-class, but it's a step up from coach. I hope. And evidently they can give those seats away without warning.
I will be arriving in Arusha, Tanzania on the 3rd at about 7:30 pm. My thought is that I'll probably go to bed shortly after arriving in the hotel (nothing fancy there...hoping for electricity and warm water) to help get adjusted to the time change. I have all day on the 4th and 5th to laze around the hotel and just generally rest up before we start climbing on the 6th.
We depart on our big trek adventure on Sunday, July 6th, early morning. We will be climbing anywhere from 5 - 8 miles per day, from what I gather. They insist that you walk SLOWLY to help acclimatize to the altitude change each day. Therefore, it seems we have 6-8 hour hikes each day. As I think I mentioned earlier, I only will be carrying my daypack. Porters carry tents, etc, and set it all up for us. I just have to make sure I'm carrying what I need for that day. Around midnight of day 7 (July 12), we are scheduled to start our attack on the summit. If all goes well, we should arrive there after sunrise, around 6:00 or so in the morning. We turn around and immediately head down, where we take a short rest at the camp we left, and then hike further on down more than halfway down the mountain! We hike for around 16 hours that day, less breaks. This is the day prayers will be most fervently needed, assuming altitude hasn't taken me out of the game by that point.
The next day, the 13th, it's just a couple more hours of hiking, and we are done. We will get our certificates for climbing (again... assuming...) and then we are delivered back to our hotel, which probably will look a LOT nicer now than it did at the beginning of the trip as it will offer running water (hot or not) with which to shower for the first time in more than a week.
We have the 14th, all day, to rest again, and then on the 15th we will begin our Safari. We will be heading to the Ngorongoro crater and three other areas of savannah. This is (for all you natural science lovers) where australopithicus africanus early humans were discovered. If I spelled that even close to right, it's thanks to Dr. Wangeman back at Lakeland College in the early 90s! ;-) This safari is three days long, and then we leave Africa on the 18th, arriving home to the US on the 19th.
I'll post this info again, but we are traveling under the direction of an outfit called Team Kilimanjaro. If you go to their website, www.teamkilimanjaro.com, there is a link for "interactive" options, and from there you can click on the map to see where we are on the mountain. We will be identified with the code HS-SAMO or HS-NIBE. Our lead guide will send updates back to headquarters any day that he can with our progress. I encourage you to follow us, and PRAY for our success and good health! Please??!!!?? One week from tomorrow it all begins!
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
All (medical) systems GO!
Over the last several days I've had a series of doctor appointments to make sure that I am "all systems go" for this trip. First, I had to be sure that my anemia was still under control, since I haven't had a follow-up on that since February. That report: EXCELLENT. My hematologist told me that I had plenty of iron in the blood, my blood cells were fat and healthy, and - I quote - "Go climb a mountain!" That was very good news, indeed. When I first went to see him, my iron was extremely low and my blood cells were thin. According to my lab report, a "low limit" is 36 for iron, and mine was 12 last year. Yesterday I saw the new report, a year later, and it was 114! I'm solidly in the normal range for now.
Next, I had my regular doctor visit yesterday for one last check-up before I go and to get all of the prescription meds I need for the trip. He gave me a good, clean bill of health, and a long - LONG - list of meds to take. I will be taking meds to prevent malaria for several weeks, even after I return. I chose to use doxycycline for this purpose rather than a specific anti-malarial. The reason I made this decision is because the doxycycline is an effective and approved option, and the added bonus of using it is that it will provide some coverage against other possible bacterial infections. I am bringing along a medicine called Diamox, which will be used to alleviate altitude sickness problems. According to my dr., I don't need to take this preventatively, but rather will start it if I feel symptoms such as headache, nausea, etc. I'm also bringing along a few other preventative-type meds. All totaled it is six prescriptions, plus my OTC pain killer of choice (Excedrin) and, of course, Imodium - just in case!
In this last three weeks before departure I am just focusing on training as much as I can, working on plans for my mom to follow (who'll be helping out at home in my absence), purchasing last-minute items, and just generally getting excited! I'm not sure there is anything else very specific for me to blog about before I leave, so check back around the first of July for my pending departure comments! Also, if you have any questions about this, feel free to ask!
Next, I had my regular doctor visit yesterday for one last check-up before I go and to get all of the prescription meds I need for the trip. He gave me a good, clean bill of health, and a long - LONG - list of meds to take. I will be taking meds to prevent malaria for several weeks, even after I return. I chose to use doxycycline for this purpose rather than a specific anti-malarial. The reason I made this decision is because the doxycycline is an effective and approved option, and the added bonus of using it is that it will provide some coverage against other possible bacterial infections. I am bringing along a medicine called Diamox, which will be used to alleviate altitude sickness problems. According to my dr., I don't need to take this preventatively, but rather will start it if I feel symptoms such as headache, nausea, etc. I'm also bringing along a few other preventative-type meds. All totaled it is six prescriptions, plus my OTC pain killer of choice (Excedrin) and, of course, Imodium - just in case!
In this last three weeks before departure I am just focusing on training as much as I can, working on plans for my mom to follow (who'll be helping out at home in my absence), purchasing last-minute items, and just generally getting excited! I'm not sure there is anything else very specific for me to blog about before I leave, so check back around the first of July for my pending departure comments! Also, if you have any questions about this, feel free to ask!
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Gearing up... or, having a really good excuse to shop!
Obviously there is no undertaking a trip like this without some serious outfitting of gear. I started last summer to build up my travel kit, and now, a mere 28 days out, all I need are a few last minute items. So, what will I bring?
First and foremost, I knew that (A) I hate to be cold and (B) it's going to be VERY cold on that mountain. Therefore, I immediately decided that there would be no skimping on the gear to keep me warm. I started with a sleeping bag. It was recommended that trekkers bring a sleeping bag rated to zero or below. If the average person could be warm enough in a zero degree-rated bag, I wanted more, so I researched and found the North Face Dark Star sleeping bag rated to -20 degrees F. Yep, that's 20 below zero. Now, I am sure it won't be THAT cold on the mountain, but I'm ready for it just in case! It's a mummy bag, and as soon as it came in and I crawled inside, I discovered that there just miiiiiggghhht be a small issue with claustrophobia. I'm working on that!
The next most important item to keep warm would be my coat. Again, internet research proved invaluable here, and allowed me to find a product line that was highly recommended with glowing reviews. This line is the First Ascent line by Eddie Bauer. I figured if people wear this line of gear to summit Mt. Everest, then I should be golden. From this line I ordered my base layers (long underwear, if you will), a warm down-like jacket, and an outer shell, plus ski-type pants. I had the opportunity to test all of this out during the winter when I had some hikes in the single digit temps, and it all worked as advertised. I was never cold for a minute! In fact, there was never a time when I needed ALL of my layers, so that is encouraging. The only outer layer that I had some issues with was the gloves. I tried several different kinds, ranging from $12 gloves to $49 down-filled gloves, and none of them seemed to really keep my fingers from feeling cold. It wasn't something that I would consider really bad, but neither did I feel very confident. My research and testing unfortunately extended into the warmer weather season, so the system I have settled on hasn't been cold tested. I ended up buying a pair of mountaineering mittens from North Face and a pair of glove liners to go under them. I also have some of those little chemical heat pack hand and foot warmers that I'll be bringing along. I will probably bring a pair of the gloves that I tested, just in case I need them too.
I suppose the hiking boots should have been first on my list, but like I said, the warmth issue was a big one for me. However, having shoes that will do the job is a very high priority. I knew that this issue wasn't really an internet trial-and-error issue, so I went to Alabama Outdoors, and very luckily met with a hiking expert who helped me find the perfect hiking boot for me. I ended up with a pair of Salomon boots that fit my feet just right. I've had them for a year now, and they've been on my feet for a large percentage of the 700-plus miles I've trained. At first I did have some issues with the boots breaking in, mostly just some aches from stiff shoes, but as of yet (KNOCK WOOD!) I've not had a single blister or any real problem. These Cinderella slippers will be taking me happily up the hill!
Other items that have been purchased and practiced with include hiking poles, backpack with water bladder and hose for drinking, good wool socks, bandana 'buff's, and hats. Of course I have all of the other typical items on the checklist to bring, and this post would get too long if I tried to include it all. Yes, we're bringing good DEET repellant for use on the safari. Probably the most amusing item that we're packing is the "Shewee". You're just going to have to Google that one. :-)
I've read that somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 in 10 people's luggage doesn't arrive to Tanzania with them. This worries me quite a bit, so I will be wearing my hiking boots on the plane, and I will carry the items I'd be most worried about replacing on the plane with me, too. Today, after I finish typing this, I am going to go and take the pile of Kilimanjaro stuff that has been building up in my closet and will lay it all out to take an inventory. I will definitely make a list and take pictures of everything I'm bringing so that if the worst happens and I have to replace some of it, at least I will have a good record of what I'm missing and won't have to rely on a panicked brain to remember it.
I really hope that all of my research and reading has paid off and that I have all of the essential gear for the trip that I need. If you read this and think that I might be forgetting something important, please feel free to share!
First and foremost, I knew that (A) I hate to be cold and (B) it's going to be VERY cold on that mountain. Therefore, I immediately decided that there would be no skimping on the gear to keep me warm. I started with a sleeping bag. It was recommended that trekkers bring a sleeping bag rated to zero or below. If the average person could be warm enough in a zero degree-rated bag, I wanted more, so I researched and found the North Face Dark Star sleeping bag rated to -20 degrees F. Yep, that's 20 below zero. Now, I am sure it won't be THAT cold on the mountain, but I'm ready for it just in case! It's a mummy bag, and as soon as it came in and I crawled inside, I discovered that there just miiiiiggghhht be a small issue with claustrophobia. I'm working on that!
The next most important item to keep warm would be my coat. Again, internet research proved invaluable here, and allowed me to find a product line that was highly recommended with glowing reviews. This line is the First Ascent line by Eddie Bauer. I figured if people wear this line of gear to summit Mt. Everest, then I should be golden. From this line I ordered my base layers (long underwear, if you will), a warm down-like jacket, and an outer shell, plus ski-type pants. I had the opportunity to test all of this out during the winter when I had some hikes in the single digit temps, and it all worked as advertised. I was never cold for a minute! In fact, there was never a time when I needed ALL of my layers, so that is encouraging. The only outer layer that I had some issues with was the gloves. I tried several different kinds, ranging from $12 gloves to $49 down-filled gloves, and none of them seemed to really keep my fingers from feeling cold. It wasn't something that I would consider really bad, but neither did I feel very confident. My research and testing unfortunately extended into the warmer weather season, so the system I have settled on hasn't been cold tested. I ended up buying a pair of mountaineering mittens from North Face and a pair of glove liners to go under them. I also have some of those little chemical heat pack hand and foot warmers that I'll be bringing along. I will probably bring a pair of the gloves that I tested, just in case I need them too.
I suppose the hiking boots should have been first on my list, but like I said, the warmth issue was a big one for me. However, having shoes that will do the job is a very high priority. I knew that this issue wasn't really an internet trial-and-error issue, so I went to Alabama Outdoors, and very luckily met with a hiking expert who helped me find the perfect hiking boot for me. I ended up with a pair of Salomon boots that fit my feet just right. I've had them for a year now, and they've been on my feet for a large percentage of the 700-plus miles I've trained. At first I did have some issues with the boots breaking in, mostly just some aches from stiff shoes, but as of yet (KNOCK WOOD!) I've not had a single blister or any real problem. These Cinderella slippers will be taking me happily up the hill!
Other items that have been purchased and practiced with include hiking poles, backpack with water bladder and hose for drinking, good wool socks, bandana 'buff's, and hats. Of course I have all of the other typical items on the checklist to bring, and this post would get too long if I tried to include it all. Yes, we're bringing good DEET repellant for use on the safari. Probably the most amusing item that we're packing is the "Shewee". You're just going to have to Google that one. :-)
I've read that somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 in 10 people's luggage doesn't arrive to Tanzania with them. This worries me quite a bit, so I will be wearing my hiking boots on the plane, and I will carry the items I'd be most worried about replacing on the plane with me, too. Today, after I finish typing this, I am going to go and take the pile of Kilimanjaro stuff that has been building up in my closet and will lay it all out to take an inventory. I will definitely make a list and take pictures of everything I'm bringing so that if the worst happens and I have to replace some of it, at least I will have a good record of what I'm missing and won't have to rely on a panicked brain to remember it.
I really hope that all of my research and reading has paid off and that I have all of the essential gear for the trip that I need. If you read this and think that I might be forgetting something important, please feel free to share!
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