Summit Sistas

26 Dec, Sat – Jill’s travel starts!  PDX – FRA, 13:30 – 8:55

27 Dec, Sun – Jaimi’s travel starts!!  STR – FRA 11:35-12:30. After meeting up at frankfurt airport, Summit Sistas continue on together FRA – CAIRO, 15:10 – 20:15 and then Cairo – Nairobi, 21:45 – 3:45

28 Dec, Mon – Switch to Precision Air for NBO-JRO, 7:50-8:50; pick up at JRO and transfer to Springlands Hotel, Moshi

29 Dec, Tues – Relax at the pool or visit Moshi (this is the day we’ll be remembering and longing for during the next 7 days)

30 Dec, Wed – Kili 1: to Rongai Cave 1950m to 2600m (6400ft to 8500ft – about 4 hrs)

31 Dec, Thurs – Kili 2: to Kikelewa (2nd) cave 2600m to 3600m (8500ft to 11800ft – about 7 hrs)  Woo hoo – new years’ eve in the cave! 

1 Jan, Fri – Kili 3: to Mawenzi tarn 3600m to 4330m (11800ft to 14200ft – about 4 hrs)

2 Jan, Sat – Kili 4: acclimitization day – hike in Mawenzi area  (Jill might just stay in her sleeping bag)

3 Jan, Sun – Kili 5: to School Camp 4330m to 4750m (14200ft to 15600ft – about 5 hrs)

4 Jan, Mon – SUMMIT DAY!!! Kili 6: to summit and Horombo Hut 4750m 5895m (and down to 3720m) 
15600ft to 19300 ft (and down to 12200ft – about 11 hrs)

5 Jan, Sun – Kili 7: to Moshi 3720 to 1700m (12200ft to 5500ft – about 6 hrs)  Return to Park Gate and Moshi, enjoy a Kilimanjaro beer!!!

6 Jan, Mon – something fun is sure to come up. assuming we can still move.

7 Jan, Tues – hmmm.  same as 6 Jan?

8 Jan, Wed – last Tanzania day, travel home commences at 20:10 from JRO

and travel home concludes on the 9th for Jaimi, we think on the 10th for Jill but this is still very much in flux as flight changes seem to be a bi-weekly occurence…

Well, tickets are purchased.  And the planning and preparing has begun for a new adventure!!  My name is Jill, and my last travel blog was from a few years ago when my sister, Jaimi, and I traveled together to South Africa.  We had a wonderful time as safari sistas, and before the end of our trip, we vowed that our next adventure would be to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.  And now, the date is set.  This December, we will be flying to Kenya, where we will embark on a 6 or 7 day climbing expedition to reach the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro.  We hope to end our trip with a little safari or beach time.  In the meantime, we are ironing out the details (Jaimi), getting in shape (Jill), and making lots of lists on what to bring.

So far, I personally have been preparing by checking out outdoor gear sites on the internet, and watching scary climbing movies.  This is what I like to call the mental prep phase.  Soon I will start the physical prep phase (the mental prep helps scare me into the physical prep, so you know.)

Jaimi, of course, has a slightly different tact.  She has been creating excel spreadsheets as her mental prep.   I am excited to get copies so I can post them here.