It is finally time for us to summit and we start the climb at midnight! Sleeping from 6 to11 PM proved fruitless for many of us. The anticipation had us jittery and on edge. I admit, I was not immune to the nerves. Three members of my troop were battling pretty bad altitude sickness. One person was vomiting while another struggled with debilitating diarrhea – serious complications when bundled up in freezing temperatures where bathroom breaks become a monumental challenge.
Journey To Extraordinary ~ Summit Night
Ellie McKenzie • November 18, 2024
Day 7: September 3rd, 2024 – 12:00 AM
We all met in the mess tent around 11 PM for a light meal and tea. By this point I was acutely aware of how the altitude affected my stomach so I was being very careful what I ate. Tiny portions paired with lots of water with some electrolytes helped keep me in balance. We packed our gear, bundled up and headed out around 12:45am. We were already 45 minutes behind schedule.
Our climb began, but progress was slow. Every 20 minutes we had to stop to give people time to rest and go to the bathroom. At one point, one member’s stomach troubles became so severe that she stayed behind with two of our guides. They were going to have to determine if she could make it up the mountain. The rest of us marched on through the darkness.
As we climbed, you could look up to see a line of headlamps weaving back and forth up the side of the mountain like a glowing serpent. They appeared tantalizingly close, maybe 30 minutes away – it gave up hope. However, as we moved closer, the lights seemed to retreat… like an unreachable dangling carrot on a stick. I had to remind myself to stop looking or I would go crazy.
The biting cold was constant, but our body heat generated by our exercise kept us warm. However, early in the night I got a leak in my camelback water spout. This was problematic because in order to keep the water from freezing in your pack, you had to store the mouthpiece inside your jacket, close to your body. I didn’t realize I had a leak until my clothing was soaked on the inside of my jacket. This could have been bad if we stopped for too long and my clothes began to freeze. However, as long as I kept moving my body heat kept it and me from freezing. But every stop reminded me how quickly I could become dangerously cold.
The other challenge was the overwhelming exhaustion and sleepiness. After hiking much of the previous day, sleeping possibly four or five hours, and eating sparingly, our bodies were running on fumes. Our guides warned us not to close our eyes as we climbed the mountain because the combination of fatigue and cold could make us fall asleep very easily. At one point in the middle of the night I closed my eyes for just a second and realized the danger – I could have dozed off so easily!
After what felt like about two hours we noticed a light on the horizon. It was the first hint of dawn and it was beautiful and we realized we had been climbing for 6 hours! That new light gave us a renewed determination. As I watched the sun emerge over the curve of the earth, I thought of my dad. It was his birthday. He would have been 78 on this day. I imagined him watching me from heaven and wondered if he was proud or if he thought I had lost my mind for taking on this adventure. Either way, I felt him with me.
The final stretch was grueling. Every 10 steps required a pause to rest and catch our breath. The thin air plus freezing temperatures made each movement an uphill battle. The pavilion at the summit was visible in the distance and always seemed within reach, but progress was amazingly slow.
At last, at 7 AM on the dot, we arrived at the peak – or so we thought. Relief and excitement turned to frustration when we realized it was the false summit. The true summit was further along the crest of the mountain, demanding one last push before we could begin the descent.
Next… the True Summitt – Uhuru Peak.
