Who

I know that there are 2 more of you hiding in the shadows who have booked to climb Kili in Dec. Where are you? This may well turn into my personal blog if no one else replies...

Today's update: 

I am continuing to break in my boots, today's hike was 11km around the reservoir. Sadly there are no big hills here in Singapore so I'm having to make the most of what's available.

Hopefully the others booked onto this trip (you know who you are!) will show themselves and I won't have to keep talking to myself...

Ali 

Hey

I'm on the verge of booking that very trip!!! (if thats the one leaving Fri 16th December arriving back at Heathrow 25th?) So up for the chatting, sharing and of course panicing!!! ha ha

I already postponed this trip twice this yr so really want to hit the mountain before 2012! :-)

Claire  

Hi Claire,

Don't delay - come and join us on the walk up the mountain :-)

This week's update:

I  have managed to buy everything on the packing list. It has cost me almost as much as the flights from Singapore to Nairobi! I want to be warm and dry on summit night, and the nights before, so I didn't mind paying for quality kit. I have received my Exodus kit bag and now the challenge lies in getting everything in to the bag. Hhhmmm! I'll have to work on that one...next week's task. I did my walk around the reservoir again yesterday (with 3 litres of water and other stuff in my day pack). Surprising how heavy water can be. Tomorrow I'm going again but I'm going to extend the walk a bit to get used to walking for a longer time.

I hope you decide to come Claire and I'm looking forward to chatting to the others who have booked on this trip.

Ali 

Hiya Ali

 I'm booked!!!! :-)  

I guess ill see you at Nairobi airport or Kilimanjaro!!

Hows your walking going? ive been doing loads and gym sessions, i guess its all about time on our legs! This weekend im also doing a long walk around the surrey hills which is a marathon distance route!

 I totally agree with you on paying for quality kit and being warm and dry! especially boots andcoats/jackets etc

When i booked they said there is a couple also booked and another female provisionally booked...............So where are they?? no sign on here eh

 Chat again soon

Claire x 

Hi Claire,

Yay for you.  Yes be on the lookout at either Nairobi or Kilimanjaro. If it's at Nairobi then look for me running frantically from one gate to the other. If it's at Kilimanjaro then hopefully you'll find me there with my Exodus bag. I'm a little scared that I won't make the transfer from one flight to the other. 

My walking is going well (I think). Last week I did 22km. My boots are comfy and I'm working on where in my backpack to put everything. I know that I'm supposed to be increasing the hours I walk but if I walk too far I may fall off the island! Singapore isn't that big.  I'm also going to the gym 2 - 3 times per week. I hope this all helps. How did your marathon route go?

At the moment the entire contents of the packing list is laid out all over my spare bed. I'm not sure it will all fit in the kit bag! I still haven't summoned the courage to try packing it. I'll have to write that on my 'to do' list... again! 

I wonder where the rest of our group are...  

Im on the trip on 5th dec and so thought i would say hi.

No one has connected on my trip so maybe im out on my own lol

I get back on 15th so keep an eye out for my return blog!

terry

Hi Ali

Hows things at your end of the world?? 

Good luck with your transfers!!!

I'm sure you'll be fine. THe walk went well, we were going for 6 hours all over the North Downs....very hilly! I'm not exactly sure of the distance but that felt enough on that particular day. Also been going to the gym on most days. There are lists everywhere at the moment!!!

Mmmmmm the rest of our groupseem to be hiding!! ha ha

Hi Terry

Good luck with your trip, it seems you'll be all done as we 're getting ready to leave. It'll be good to try and catch your blog if we can before we go! Best wishes to you

Claire x 

 I'm off shopping on Saturday to get the last things i still need from the list! 

The one thing that has suprised me is just how much I have spent on the kit to take!! they dont quite tell you that in the brochure, but I guess it can all be used afterwoods. All my shopping done now, just a couple of trial packs.

I am thinking of packing the exodus bag in a case so I can leave a change of decent cloths etc at te hotel.  anyone thinking the same?

 

terry

Oh glad you said that Terry as was thinking of ringing exodus to see if thats what people do?? It kind of makes sense doesnt it

 Totally agree about the kit..........lets just hope we have a really cold winter to make use of some of it!

Claire  

Hi guys, So Terry you must be packed and ready to go now. It's the end of the day here in Singapore so you must be heading to the airport soon. I'm so looking forward to hearing all about it when you return. Claire, I'm glad to hear that your day of hill walking was good. my training has gone off course a lie as I was running a 10km run yesterday so no walking around the reservoir this weekend. The run went better than I thought it would so maybe my training is going better than I thought. I am still putting off an attempt at packing my stuff I to the kit bag. Maybe I'll shove it all in a suitcase and pack the kitbag in to sort out at the hotel. We'll see how brave I get this weekend. Well it's getting late here so time for bed. Good luck Terry! Chat soon Claire. Ali

Hi everyone,

Just found this through one of the other forums:

http://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/Mount-Kilimanjaro-climbing-routes/forecasts/5895 

Lots of layers and warm stuff I think!

 Ali 

Well done on your 10K.

I have stuff in my kitbag, but not really packed in kinda needs sorting! lol Still think ill use a suitcase and then transfer what i need on the mountain into kit bag when there. That way the stuff we dont need like clothes to travel home in etc can stay at the hotel. How have you been getting on woth packing etc?? I wonder how Terry is getting on?? 

Thats website for the weather is great thanks for that............yes definately lots of layers!!!

Claire x 

I am excited for you all! I am waiting to leave for he same trip on 8th Jan! Cant wait now!! hope to hear all about it when you get back... any tips on what to bring, what not to bring etc :) Ben

Hi All, I've only just checked this forum the night before we leave ! Sounds like you are all going through the same issues I was having. My bags all packed now and I just need to find my trusty snowboarding mittens or buy a new pair before heading to heathrow. My only advise from my friend who did this trip last year was to wear warm clothes at night. Judging by the snow report and -7 temperature that is no joke. I may put an extra fleece in! See you Saturday at the hotel. Andy

Hi everyone,

Well, I'm all packed and ready to go. I'll be leaving home in an hour and setting off on this amazing adventure. I'm super excited and very nervous. My case is heavy (I went with Claire's idea of packing a suitcase and trying to sort out my kit bag once I'm there) but it's still within weight limits (on my scales).

Looking forward to seeing you all when we arrive.

Ali 

Hey

Feel exactly the same Excited and nervous all at once!!

Also a bit concerned about the weight of my case and then the kit bag!!!! More tips for the porters i guess. They do such a great job anyway.

I called Exodus yesterday and there's only 5 of us so a nice little group. I'll be leaving early afternoon to get to Heathrow, may see Andy there? Ali see you tomorrow.

Looking forward to our big adventure together!!

Claire x 

Sorry I did not log in yesterday but had no Internet. If its not too late, our groups top tips from last week are 1.Don't underestimate sun. Take factor 30 and 50 for extremities 2. Use walking poles 3. You need "camp" footware, trainers, flips or similar 4 have very good gloves and socks for summit day 5. Take all tip money, they deserve it and you'll see why 6. Don't take too much clothing, there's no fashion police on the hill 7. Take ear plugs, the camps are noisy and you need your sleep when others are up Enjoy it. It was great really and our whole group made it. The African walking guys are great Regards Terry

Hey Terry

Your tips are great!! and i have them all covered although i wonder do i have too many layers!!??? can you have too many layers??? lol

Glad you enjoyed the experience, we could compare when back.

I'll be leaving for the airport just after 2 so although very excited getting a little nervous now too. 

Claire 

Hey Terry

Your tips are great!! and i have them all covered although i wonder do i have too many layers!!??? can you have too many layers??? lol

Glad you enjoyed the experience, we could compare when back.

I'll be leaving for the airport just after 2 so although very excited getting a little nervous now too. 

Claire 

Have a great time The scenery is breathtaking. You can't have too many layers, but perhaps just 1 or 2 sets, not 3 or 4 ( no one notices if you smell a but lol) Have a great time and a good journey TerrY

Hi Claire and Andy, Am now sitting in Doha airport waiting for my next flight as I missed my connection due to my first flight leaving late. Not the best way to begin a trip but I'm now due to arrive in Nairobi at about 1pm. So hopefully I can catch a later flight to Kilimanjaro (there's one at 6pm and one at 10pm). Hopefully I'll see you at the hotel later. Cross your fingers for me :-/ Ali

Hi Ben,

Well, we all survived!  Top tips are pretty much the same as Terry's.

Warm clothing (but not too much as it was only about -4 degrees at Gilman's)

Something else to wear other than walking boots around camp at the end of each day

Ear plugs - the porters and crew can be noisey

Snacks (both savoury and sweet) for in between meals - the food was really good but make yourself eat every meal - lots of calories burnt each day (day 2 I burned +4000 calories and summit night/day I burned +6000!)

I hired the down jacket, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, and walking poles through Exodus - all great quality kit, especially the down jacket. Walking poles were really useful for the days when the walking was long/tiring and also for the downhill stretches. 

Follow all the advice of the guides - they were great! Drink the recommended amounts each day.  

Change your socks on summit night - a clean pair stops the sweat from the day from freezing during the night and rubbing on your skin.

Walk slowly!! I didn't realise how slow 'African slow walking' was!! It is about a step per second - seriously!! Day 1 it is quite commical but by summit night it is necessary and welcome.

Only one in our group took Diamox but this was only when the headaches set in. The guides said for us to take ibuprofen for headaches and if they didn't go away then to take the Diamox. They carry a supply as well as anti nausea tablets.  

Most of all enjoy the experience! I really enjoyed the first few days and the last few. Summit night is an experience that I found hard and now I can tick it off of my list.  

If you have any other questions don't hesitate to ask.

Ali 

Hi!

Its great to hear from someone who has just done it! Sounds like it was a good trip- well done!  Very useful info thanks! I am so excited now, just over a week to go :)

I do have a few questions... I am sitting hear with a front room full of gear trying to work out how and what to pack where... I have kit lists etc and have had a bit of advice from others too, but from someone who has just been on the trip are there anythings "not to bother taking" or "must haves".

I am not sure about luggage for flying either.  Did you use a suitacse in the end and put everything in that? Was it ok leaving stuff at the hotel during the climb? Did it seem secure?

Ben

Congratulations to everyone for getting there and I am sure you all enjoyed it as much as I did.

Everst next eh! ;-)

 

best regards and a happy New Year

Terry