Dad's Kilimanjaro diary, summit day

GREAT NEWS!! Jasmine made it to the summit this morning although I wasn't there to share the moment. She is exhausted and euphoric and I'm thrilled for her. 


My experience was slightly different. I haven't felt well for the last few days (fluid in my lungs) but kept thinking I could get rid of it with Diamox and aclimatization walks. Today at 1 am after about an hour of hiking what seemed to be straight up I felt like I was drowning in midair and I lost the group. Assistant guide Matthew stayed behind with me and we pressed on for two more hours but at 3 am I was disoriented and gasping for air and hadn't reached 5,000 meters (summit is 5,895). On the way down my constant thought, other than trying not to fall off the mountain, was that I was trying to breathe underwater with an arrow through my head. Ugh. Legs felt great too which was where I focused all my training. 

BUT...Jasmine is smiling in her sleep and I am so very happy for her. Not to mention that I've been able to spend eight days on the mountain with her and in two days we leave for the Rift Valley Childrens' Village.


Life is good and we are so very thankful.