Day 2 - Shira Huts campsite. Bobby purifying water. We had to purify 4 - 5 liters of water per person ... the recommended amount of water we were supposed to drink per day. I must admit that I suffered water purifier envy - I had a very highly regarded SweetWater purifier ... but it wasn't nearly as high capacity as I wanted it to be - it took nearly 10 minutes per liter. It did the job though - my stomach was fine throughout the entire trip.
To mask the funky taste of the water, I used Gatorade powder. The Gatorade was also essential in keeping the essential electrolytes and sodium levels up. I did have a constant craving for salt though and during each meal I'd salt just about everything, even making a salt sandwich with the cardboard crisp toast.
Day 2 - Shira Huts campsite. Sue drying things out.
Day 2 - Shira Huts campsite. When the cloud cover finally broke, we got our first glimpse of Uhuru Peak and the Western Breach.
Day 2 - Shira Huts campsite. Eligius and myself.
Day 2 - Shira Huts campsite. Eligius and myself.
Day 2 - Shira Huts campsite. Tom.
Day 2 - Shira Huts campsite. Short expedition from our campsite to a cave.
Day 2 - Shira Huts campsite. Cave.
Day 3 - morning at Shira Huts campsite.
Day 3 - morning at Shira Huts campsite.
Day 3 - along the trail to Lava Tower.
Day 3 - along the trail Lava Tower.
Day 3 - Bob and Cyndi arriving at the Lava Tower campsite, a good 8+ hours after the day's start. Shortly after arriving, Cyndi fell ill and had to be taken down to the Shira Gates. Bob, Honese (assistant guide), Eligius, and 2 porters took Cyndi to Shira Gates, 4 hours away where a rescue vehicle would meet them the next morning. Eligius made it back to Lava Tower around 5AM the next day.
Day 3 - Lava Tower campsite. This was our first dry camp of the trip.
Day 3 - Lava Tower campsite.
Day 3 - Lava Tower campsite. Clouds would roll in and out of the area, blocking and unblocking the sun as if one was playing with the light switch.
Day 3 - Lava Tower campsite. Since Eligius (our guide) and Honese (our assistant guide) left to take Cyndi to Shira Gates, we didn't get a chance to climb Lava Tower.
Day 3 - Lava Tower campsite.
Day 3 - Lava Tower campsite.
Day 3 - Lava Tower campsite.
Day 3 - Lava Tower campsite. Twilight brought the most awesome looking clouds and sky colors.
Day 3 - Lava Tower campsite. Two days before the full moon.
Day 3 - Lava Tower campsite. Awesome sunset.
Day 3 - Lava Tower campsite. Awesome sunset.
Day 4 - along trail, looking back at the Lava Tower.
Day 4 - along the trail. Our party was now minus Bob and Cyndi.
Day 4 - along the trail to Arrow Glacier, looking back at Lava Tower.
Day 4 - along the trail to Arrow Glacier.
Day 4 - along the trail to Arrow Glacier, looking back at Lava Tower. I just couldn't get enough of this view ... it was much more spectacular than the pictures show.
Day 4 - along the trail to Arrow Glacier. Porters carrying our duffle bags, tents, stove, supplies ... up to a maximum weight of 75kg per porter. Whenever we passed each other, we'd exchange the Swahili greeting of "jambo" ... "hi".
Day 4 - along the trail to Arrow Glacier, yet another look at Lava Tower.
Day 4 - along the trail to Arrow Glacier.