Just NB

I somehow forgot to post an entire day's worth of climbing! As a "practice" we were climbing to 4500 m and then back down. By now, you've read enough about climbing, so I'll just post the picture, and what I think I was thinking at the time. "My Camelpack is f*cking dripping all over me. I'm f*cking cold and my long johns smell like zombies." "Right. Remember to take pictures as I go. Here's one of the camp." "I am walking so slow, but can't breathe. How does this work? Why am I winded?!!" "Yes. I totally understand that this is like so easy for you. But you don't have to be so cocky while I sit on the ground trying to breathe. I'd like to see you in a snow storm!" "I will get to the top to protect my baby elephant penguin husband and penguin egg!" "That is the camp!?!??! All the way down there!?!?! I'll never make it down!" "What a good id...

Well, for some incredibly STUPID reason, I had to wake up at 2 AM to climb to the peak of the mountain - which is at 4950 m. I was told not to eat anything except maybe a cookie or two and a mug of tea, because there is a high chance that I might vomit. Now that's a great way to start the day!!! It was like - REALLY COLD. Okay, maybe -10*C...but I was FREEZING. And that's all you'll see. Because I didn't make it up to 4950 m. My guide estimated that we climbed about 300 to 350 m. And I SUFFERED the entire time. After I fell down and wasn't able to properly communicate with him...the hike was called off. You know what? I really, really, really couldn't give a sh*t. I had just nearly climbed Mt Kenya. I thought it was going to be a touristy thing, it ended up being something that the British army sends their troops for training and is like a TREK (as indicated by the tour...but failed to register in my brain) and I got this far. And seriously?? Hiking at...

I'm sitting in the Kenya Air Lounge...waiting for my flight to be announced. I'm starting to give up hope that I'll make it back to Toamasina tonight...I hope at least I make it to Tana. While I wait, I'm downloading pictures on a ridiculously slow wi-fi. But I'm in the Lounge with free wi-fi so I should shut up and quit complaining. I last left off when I was halfway done the climb for the day. Daniel, my guide, said we would walk for about another hour and eat lunch. I was obviously feeling a tiny bit better because I started to remember to take more pictures. I would get excited when I would see something like this - because it's somewhat flat. I later regretted being happy - because anything flat or going down means that there is a going up not too far off. I wasn't yet sore, but my shoulders were killing me. I don't think I had my backpack set up properly. A self portrait with a cheesy smile? I must be feeling SOMEWH...

Well, somehow I woke up and was able to start Day 2 of the Climb (yes, it needs a capital letter). First, I'll show you my lovely accomodations: Although my neighbors were within arm's reach, I didn't get to know them. Oh, well. I wasn't much for socializing this morning anyways. Here is where we would eat our meals. It gets very, very cold. I wore gloves to eat.  Not sure what to think about this sign...but it was worth taking a picture of. As was this. I was suffering from nauseous, and they bring me this "porridge". As you can see it's brown and slimey.I took a picture and the one of the British military guys at next to me says, "Did it smile for you?" I wish I would have laughed, but I was focusing on not tossing my cookies. After I tried to get some of this down, they brought me the rest of my breakfast. WHAT!?! Not going to happen. I realize we burn a lot of energy climbing but I couldn't manage to eat this day. ...