Day 4-- 14,940 ft.
Anna called this morning (6:00 a.m. Alabama time, 2:00 p.m. Kilimanjaro time) to report that she and her Dad have made it to Sheffield Camp at 14,940 ft. It has been very cold and windy on the mountain.
Anna and her Dad are excited about their progress, but they have definitely run into some challenges. Anna has developed a good-sized blister on the back of her left heel. She has gotten some help from some of the fellow climbers who happen to be doctors- they have taped up her heel for her. Anna and her Dad are feeling the effects of the altitude- they have both developed some aggravating sinus issues. Also, Anna is still experiencing some side effects of the altitude medication that she took earlier in the week- rapid heartbeat. She is taking some new medication that works on the body in a different way, so hopefully that will do the trick for her. The rapid heartbeat/altitude is keeping her from sleeping. She said she has not had a decent sleep since Saturday. Luckily, tomorrow is a rest day, so maybe she will be able to catch up on some sleep. The good news is, Anna may be tired and sore, but she has been very careful with her stepping, so she has not fallen, twisted an ankle, or broken any bones. Yea!
To all the school kids out there who are following her progress: Anna wants to let you know that she saw some Colobus monkeys in the rain forest! They were as big as her! She also saw some little black monkeys and a zebra. She didn't get to see a live elephant, but she saw evidence of one in the form of a flattened path through the forest and squashed trees. On the mountain, the hiking group found the bones of an elephant who apparently got lost at 14,000 feet.
At Sheffield Camp, where they will be for their rest day, they are near Lava Tower, where some hikers like to climb up. Anna said she is thinking about climbing up about 400ft. so she can acclimate to the altitude better, then climb back down to camp.
Anna and her Dad remain in high spirits. I have passed along to Anna the comments that people are making here on her blog, so keep 'em coming!
Mark
Comments
| 2. | Ty Howell | Thu Oct 01, 2009 @ 12:19PM |
Anna, it sounds like you are doing great, considering the conditions and what you are attempting. As for the blister, after you doctor it up, if you have any duct tape, I would suggest covering it with duct tape. I did this on my blisters in the Grand Canyon when we hiked it in 2006 and it acted like a helmet to protect my toes and worked great! Your mom said you were not getting too many showers, but, as I recall, we did not shower much on our Girl Scout trips, so I bet you will survive. Enjoy your day of rest and the beauty of God's creation around you. Keeping you and your dad in my prayers, ty howell
| 8. | Jan and Perry Stowe | Thu Oct 01, 2009 @ 03:57PM |
Anna & Ashley,
We check your blog every day to see how you are. You know Perry didn't really want you to go, but now that you are there, he wants to know where you are every day and where you are going the next day; so Marga is going to bring me a copy of your itinerary tonight at "Lunch Bunch" dinner. I've learned a lot about wound care in the past two years, so I can give you some good info about taking care of blisters when you get home! We love you! Jan
| 10. | Phyllis Neill | my website | Fri Oct 02, 2009 @ 08:00AM |
Ashley and Anna, I was reminded that the time of your climb is HERE from an article in Birmingham Weekly (web link. I get teary-eyed reading each of the posts thus far describing the actual adventure. I truly hope you are having the time of your lives. Your friend, Phyllis Neill
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