Kilimanjaro Climb

In February of 2012, I joined five other folks on a trip to Tanzania to climb Mt Kilimanjaro and to raise money for the Global Alliance for Africa Library

Program, specifically to support the GAA Library in Kibosho, Tanzania at the foot of the mountain.

Global Alliance for Africa, Library Program

• Global Alliance for Africa works with schools, students, teachers and volunteers to raise funds to build libraries, collect books and provide educational materials for community libraries/resource centers throughout East Africa. Global Alliance’s libraries primary focus is on providing educational resources to orphans and other vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS as a foundation for them to rise out of poverty.

• In 2009, Park Ridge Cares raised money to build a library in Kibosho, Tanzania.

• Our climb was dedicated to raising more money to support the Kibosho Library.

• If you would like to donate to the Kibosho Library go to www.globalallianceafrica.org. Click on “view existing campaigns” find “Kibosho Library” and click “view” then follow the prompts to donate.

• Or send a check to Global Alliance for Africa, 703 W. Monroe, Chicago, IL 60661. Be sure to put Kibosho Library in the memo line.

GAA Library in Kibera, Nairobi, KenyaAfter arriving in Nairobi, Kenya we visited the GAA Library in Kibera slum (home to close to 1 million). The Library

also houses a GAA microloan cooperative.

Kibera Library

Two High School boys studying in the Library on Sunday!

Visit to Kitengela GlassLocated west of Nairobi in the bush, Kitengela Glass uses all recycled glass to make stained

glass, mosaics, and blown glass

Library in Kibosho

The bus that took us to the mountainWe were met at the Kilimanjaro Mountain Lodge by our guides and porters. (2 guides, 4 Asst guides, 2

cooks, 1 waiter/porter, 9 porters)

A glimpse of the mountain We drove through farm country on the way to

the gate where our trek would begin.

Informed Consent

Is it too late to change our minds?

The Fearless TeamAt the entrance gate, also known as the Rongai Route.

From L to R: Jennifer Sterling, Judy Warner, Chris Parson, John Prueitt, Bill Baty, and Deb Hill.

Starting off on the trailHaving driven thru the rain forest to get to the

trailhead, we started out hiking thru the forest zone, which is farmed by the caretakers of the trail.

We woke to this view on Day 2

Starting off on Day 2

Walking through the Moorland climate zone.

Ten days after a wildfireYou can already see the grasses coming back.

Most of the shrubs seem to be too heavily burned to recover.

GuidesFrom L to R. Issa Ishaku, Guide; Kalidi Mkumbwa,

Asst Guide; Iddi Njaritta, Chief Guide

On the Trail, Day 3

With Mt Mawenzi in the background.

Acclimatization Climb, Day 3From our camp in the Mawenzi Tarn (14,206’), we hiked up over 15,000’ and then back down to camp to help us get used to the

altitude. This is Bill Baty, my tent mate/roommate.

Getting a bit chilly! Day 3

Morning of Day 4

That’s frost on the trekking pole handles!

Kili view, morning of Day 4We’ve been hiking for 3 days and it still looks

so far away and SO tall! Yikes!

Into the Arctic desert zone, Day 4

Rock hopping anyone?

Across the saddleHeading for Kibo Base Camp. Hey, this isn’t

so hard.! Air getting a bit thin though.

Kibo Base Camp above the cloudsThis is where climbers from all four of the

trails meet to prepare for their final ascent.

Looking up to the summitEarly dinner, to bed around 6PM to rest to get

up at midnight for the final ascent.

Mawenzi from Base CampJust before turning in for a few hours of rest we

were treated to this spectacular view of Mt Mawenzi.

Final AscentBegan our final ascent in the dark at midnight. No pictures, totally focused on breathing and putting

one foot in front of the other.

View of the trailThat’s right, that light line straight up in the

center of the picture.

The morning after! Day 5I turned around with only 300 meters (vertical) or 1 hour to go to

make Gillmans Peak. (438 meters short of Uhuru Peak). That’s Judy and John in the background. They both made it to Gillmans Peak.

Descending on the Marangue RouteAfter coming down from the summit, we rested for

a few hours and then got up and hiked seven miles down to Horombo Camp.

FarewellAt the end of Day 5 we gathered with all the guides

and porters to say our farewells. The guides and porters are singing to us in this picture.

Our farewell songCall and response. Jambo, Jambo, Pole, Pole,

Mambo Poa, Mambo Poa, Poa, Poa. (with a few pathetic dance moves!)

Guides and AssistantsL to R. Kalidi, Iddi, Alli, Anwari, Issa, Nassoro.

Jen looking on.

Day 6Hiking back into the moorland zone.

At the Marangue Gate

What an amazing journey. Still able to smile.