On December 3rd, 2008 I started my climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro with  a group of eight. Six of us were from the Toronto area, while the remaining two joined us from Helsinki, Finland .  

The first day we hiked 7 km to the Mandara  huts, a group of very simple A frame huts and a dining hut. On day two we climbed 11 km through the Moorland to arrive at the Horombo huts (elevation of approximately 12,000 feet ). The third day was a 9 km climb through the alpine desert. During this part of the trek we all began to experience some level of altitude sickness. Two of our members turned back (one by foot and one on a stretcher). Six of us made it the Kibo huts (15,500 feet), our final resting spot before the attempt at the summit.

That night we had an opportunity for a short rest short. I hoped to get two hours sleep, but one of the effects of altitude sickness is insomnia. At midnight we began our climb to the summit. The steepness of the final assent dictates that you climb at night while the loose rock is still frozen. A few hours into this climb I began to feel short of breath and nauseous. I continued climbing for another ninety minutes or so.  I was just shy of 18,000 feet, about and hour from Gilmans Point (the crater rim) and less than 1,500 feet from the summit of 19,340 Feet. I was loosing my balance and having trouble breathing. I sat for a while and tried again. It took me a while to realize that I was not going to finish this climb, at least not this time. Disappointed and with my guides help I returned to the Kibo huts. This was still an incredible adventure and I would definitely do it again.  Next time I may talk Roger into joining me.

Thank you to everyone who sponsored me and encouraged me along the way. Every penny of the over $8,000 raised will go directly to the Refuge!

Please click on the button above to view pictures of the climb, the safari I enjoyed after and a few photos I took on the island of Zanzibar

Mike Bouma