If adventure has a final and all-embracing motive, it is surely this: we go out because it is our nature to go out, to climb mountains, and to paddle rivers, to fly to the planets and plunge into the depths of the oceans… When man ceases to do these things, he is no longer man.
Go!
Well, I’m heading to the airport today for my flights to Tanzania! Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who has donated to LIVESTRONG on my behalf (over $10,000 raised individually, and $200,000 as a team!); offered me kind messages of support; and kept up with my blog.
I hope to share pictures and stories from the climb with all of you soon. I have no idea what internet access may be like, but I do know I want to include everyone in this journey as soon as I’m able.
Please keep my Survivor Summit teammates and I in your thoughts and prayers as we travel and attempt to summit Kilimanjaro, and I’ll do the same for the 28 million people living with cancer.
Thanks again!
My Itinerary
June 23: Depart USA.
June 24: Arrive at JRO.
June 25: Rest day.
June 26: Drive to Machame trailhead. Five hours of hiking through a temperate rain forest to a small clearing, where we will establish camp at 10,000 feet.
June 27: Continue up the ridge with short sections of scrambling. By midday, we will be above tree line and will establish camp at 12,800 feet.
June 28: Today, we will head SE around Kilimanjaro’s main peak. We will be close to the famed Breach Wall and Lava Tower, descending to camp.
June 29: Rest Day.
June 30: Hike to Karanga Valley Camp with lots of short scrambles.
July 1: Hike to Barafu Camp, which will be a short day due to altitude. Early dinner today and a start towards summit before midnight.
July 2: Summit Day! 19,341 feet up to the world’s tallest free standing mountain, Africa’s highest mountain, and one of the “Seven Summits.” After a 12 hour day, we will descend to 10,200 feet and set up camp.
July 3: Five to six hours of hiking will take us through a dense jungle to the trailhead. The reward: hot showers and a celebratory dinner.
July 4: Head to Ngorongoro Conservation Area/Crater for safari.
July 5: Return to JRO to depart back to USA.
July 6: Arrive USA.
Lisa's reflections on summitting Kilimanjaro and raising over $10,000 for cancer programs and services at LIVESTRONG.
