Day One Disaster On Kilimanjaro
Day-friends, Day-trip, A Day In Amsterdam
August 30, 2016
Kilimanjaro Day Two: It Only Gets Better
September 27, 2016
Hiking through the Kilimanjaro Rainforest
“I wore a T-shirt the first day.”
Those words echoed in my head as I exited the vehicle at Machame Gate while waiting to begin my ascent up Mt. Kilimanjaro, the world’s tallest freestanding mountain. This “expert advice” from a first-time climber had such a profound impact that I, too, decided to begin my journey in short sleeves…so off I went wearing just a T-shirt.
The Initial Climb
“Pole, Pole (Swahili for slowly, slowly)” was constantly repeated along the way as a reminder to maintain a slow, steady pace during the high altitude climb to ensure success. As the first day up progressed, my local Tanzanian guide, Pallangyo, would also go on to say, “You go slowly and drink a lot of water…I am sure you see the top.” Words that I had heard so often in preparation that they had become cemented in my brain as the keys to achieving my climbing goal.
Machame Camp
The easy day turned out to be more difficult than I expected as the sweaty, five-hour, uphill rainforest walk proved quite exhausting. After finally arriving to Machame Camp, my shirt was soaked and the sun was setting.
Mistake number 1: I allowed my sweat-filled shirt to air dry while still wearing it. During dinner, still sporting my now nearly-dry shirt, Pallangyo came to discuss the itinerary for the next day but he first began by saying, “If wet, you should change clothes right away each day after we arrive.”
“Now he tells me!”
I thought to myself as I continued my meal and promptly changed clothes afterward in preparation for bed. Seeing that I wore a t-shirt during the climb, I somehow thought it would be fitting to also wear one to bed that first night. While seated in darkness, reflecting on the challenge of the first day, I was cold yet confident of the upcoming days. So I curled-up in my sleeping bag, tried to stay warm, and finally drifted off to sleep.
Night One On Kilimanjaro
My Kilimanjaro home
“Drink a lot of water.”
I had taken those words to heart the previous day and they again echoed in my head as I arose from my slumber with a sudden urge to urinate around 3:00 a.m. As my alarm was set to go off less than 3 hours later I faced a difficult decision: A) Stay cocooned in what little sleeping bag warmth I had or; B) Brave the elements, exit my tent, and provide nutrition for the nearby foliage.
Mistake number 2: Option A prevailed and I chose to go with the comfort of my sleeping bag for a few more hours until I absolutely had to wake up for breakfast at 6:00 a.m.
My teeth chattered as I forced myself back to sleep. The bitter cold managed to not only penetrate the lining of my sleeping bag, but also my dreams. Drifting in and out of slumber, awakened by frigid drafts that made their way through my tent walls, less than two hours after deciding to wait until morning to empty my bladder…I suddenly became warmed quite gently.
So much for waiting until morning!
Standing naked, outside of my tent in the cold morning hours with a wet sleeping bag…I had learned a valuable lesson—when the urge to urinate calls while on Kilimanjaro…it is strongly advised to answer.
44 Comments
Great story! You painted such a clear picture of the experience and the photos complemented the story perfect! Cant’ wait to hear about the rest of this journey!
I love reading about your journey! Can’t wait for more.
This is as well what I like about climbing a mountain because you’ll learn along the way, and there’s invariably a personal reflection before and after the climb. I actually learned a lot after reading your blog post the mistake that should be kept off.
Wow, you’re really brave and that’s such a great decision to make. You gotta to be so prepared and I love how you’re describing you’re experience. So concise, precise and I almost will be so ready to go for it! I love camping and trekking so I bet I would enjoy it!
But seriously, it was a hard decision to make! Sleeping in the warmth is just too tempting lol … but I guess you have to do what needs to be done!
Yup, I was underdressed that first night…so it made me desire the warmth even more!
I did trekking and camping several times and loved it! We do learn from our mistakes and thanks for sharing your experience. It will be a great learning for everyone!
Treks are unpredictable most of the time. The trick is to accommodate and adapt to nature! Nice article 🙂
You’re absolutely right. And drink plenty of water.
Always useful to come across such “what went wrong” stories about hiking and trekking. I am about to climb two mountains in Indonesia this year so I will be on the lookout for any mistakes
Best of luck in your climbs. I’m eventually planning to climb Puncak Jaya in Indonesia as well, but I haven’t decided when yet.
You have taught me several lessons already and it’s only Day 1. I would not have thought to wear a t-shirt. Good advice! Of course, the one about answering nature’s call whatever time it is is also excellent 🙂
Thanks. By the time I’m done, you’ll definitely have a clear idea of how to prep for a Kili climb.
Oh man that is a hard lesson to learn the hard way, but I guess sometimes we all gotta live it to get it. I hope the rest of the journey was a bit smoother and you for everything out of the experience that you were hoping for!
Well, one day’s mistakes lead to another day’s success…after a first day like that there was nowhere else to go but up (literally!)
Glad that you’ve reach Mount Kilimanjaro. Not all travelers can do it! Kudos for you!
Thank you!
Your story reminds me of my hike on the Salkantai trek, in Peru. The first day was sunny and nice, I wore a T’shirt and a jacket and went very slowly, to adjust to the high altitude air. Then, as soon as the sun set, the dark brought with it the freezing cold. I was shivering inside my sleeping bag all night long, thinking it I would make it to morning, wearing all my clothes and having just my nose out. It was such a blessing when the porter opened the zipper of my tent at 5am and snick in a very hot cup of tea. Do I have to say that as soon as the sun risen, the temperatures went up to tshirt weather again?
That is quite adventurous of you and thanks for sharing the lesson learnt. Not sure though if I will embark on such a tour. You are brave! Great pictures.
Oh no! This definitely sounds like a disaster. I’m totally even more curious now how the rest of your trip went.
Kilimanjaro is on our list, we don’t know we will end up going to Nepal first or planning this one. Great guide – advice that we shall go through all over again if we go to either soon!
Thuymi @ http://www.AdventureFaktory.com
This is a good advice on what to be careful about. Climbing and hiking is one of the best things. Here, in India there are a number of places where I experienced the same. It is fun though. Looking forward to more of it.
Glad you finally made it after such a gruelling walk uphill for five hours, and yes, it’s always wise to listen to what your guide and your body says!
Glad you finally made it after such a gruelling walk uphill for five hours, and yes, it’s always wise to listen to what your guide and your body says!
This post left me wanting to read more. Of recently I been reading loads of posts on this climb.We do need to follow the advice.I would not have worn just a tshirt only.Looking forward to reading more about your climb.
Great post on the trials of climbing Kilimanjaro. I have had to completely alter my drinking habits to maintain hydration. It takes a lot of routine building. It shouldn’t but drinking water needs to be a high priority. But I have learned since that it is essential to add coconut water as you will dehydrate yourself with just water, if no electrolytes, potassium or sodium is also there :). Interesting about the dried shirt though! At least you now know what to do to make the climb easier 🙂
Ohh shit Dude…sorry for the language, I just couldn’t help it…First Kuddos to telling that story I know I should pretend I feel bad for you…But gosh this is amazing…and terrifying 😀
Hope that Bag tries soon and just saying, you just earned yourself a new reader..absolutely loving this…you just write how it happens^^
Thanks Sabine. I just published part 2 so you can go ahead and see how the next day progressed 🙂
Well, I guess it’s all about learning on the way hahaha. Hopefully the second day went better and there were not so many difficulties?
Thanks. The second day went much MUCH smoother.
We have hiked and trekked through several easy and difficult hikes through Monsoons but never tried staying back in tents. Your mistakes are our lessons. We would careful enough if we ever had to go on such treks.
Next time throw a tent into your hiking plans…it will add an entirely new element!
Well, i guess we all learn from our lessons and experiences. Since you experienced it , you would be more careful and since you shared it with the readers , they would learn and not make the same mistake again. that apart, I hope you enjoyed your trip cause kilimanjaro is a really famous place and not many people get to see it.
Thank you. I definitely learned many things along the way and I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate my birthday.
This kind of travel is certainly not for the faint-hearted like me 🙂 I like my creature comforts and a cozy bed to retire to at night. But everyone looks forward to thrills of different kinds. So, more power to you.
I understand…After my 6 days out in nature the first thing I craved was a bed!
Kind of short, this teaser story, though I like the way you’re presenting it. Very personal and certainly not holding the gory details back. The “what went wrong” type of story is very often a good read. Just keep going.
Thanks Tom, I’ll be adding a new installation each week.
Well that was a good lesson. We are in Nepal and just completed the climb up to the Everest Base Camp. I guess I did not have quite the wet experience you did but it does rain here every day so I have been wet in another way. I have always dreamed of Mt. Killy but not sure I can do it. I would really like to try but my wife of 66 and I do everything together and I know it is not an option for her at this time. She really struggled with the much easier treks here. Hope the later stories get you to the top.
At age 66, Everest Base Camp is quite an accomplishment in itself so congrats to both you and your wife. I’ve got Everest in my sights as well!
Six more summits waiting for you .. Superman ! But I’m really looking forward to seeing where this is heading. Ü
Proud of you
Good pictorial journal,keep it going!
Thanks, make sure to check out part 2!