The Climb: The End of the Trail

it's hard to believe that its been over a month and a half since the last post. how times flies! and the holidays make it go even faster. enough excuses. today we're getting the rest of the way off the mountain!
for me, the last day was bitter-sweet. although getting off the mountain would complete a journey that had started over 6 months earlier (with the idea bouncing around in our heads for over a year), i had loved my time on the mountain, in africa in general, and i wasn't ready to leave. the bonds between people had grown strong. each day brought new experiences. getting off the mountain would bring to light the end of something that had engulfed my life for a long time, and i would have a difficult time putting it all behind me.

before our departure that final day, we asked our head guide if we could get a group picture of our guides and all our porters. not only was it ok, but after the pictures they all sang a cappella kilimanjaro mountain songs. the singing lasted almost 5 minutes and was over way too soon. after all the relationships we made on the mountain, this singing was one of the coolest things we experienced the whole trip. they were a good bunch of guys who worked unbelievably hard, and enjoyed life, even though they "had nothing" compared to our american standards. i'm fairly certain that all the others on the climb were as impressed with these young men as i was.

the hike out was to take between 4 and 5 hours, so we figured maybe 6 or 7 for our pace. the day was dreary and wet, as we were now in a rain forest for the remaining leg of the trip. this made travel difficult for brad, limiting his vision and allowing for little or no constrast in his nearly non'exsistant field of view. and as if that wasn't bad enough, the trail was muddy and slick (which kind of makes sense in a rain forest). and to finish off the difficulties, almost every step was down hill (once again making sense since we're traveling off a mountain), which put brad at his most vulnerable position. regardless of these difficulties, brad could "smell the barn" and we made good time. brad negotiated the terraine very well, and many of the other members of our climb for sight team helped out by securing brad's pack from the uphill postition. this aided greatly to help brad maintain balance on this very slick and steep section of trail. also, it was just a very rewarding thing to see these guys freely choose to lend a hand, even though the responsability was not theirs. they, also, were a good bunch of guys. when we finally reached the trail head, in about 5 1/2 to 6 hours, there were smiles all around. though a bit chaotic, with climbers and porters from many different climbs bouncing around, rangers to check you back off the mountain, and "venders" following you around trying one last time to sell you their trinkettes, the feel around the gate was one of success...one of accomplishment. we ended up buying a few more gifts, had our boots and gaiters (which were covered in mud) washed by some kids for 2 bucks, and refreshed ourselves with a tall, glass bottled coke product. finally, along with the 4 other climb for sight climbers, we posed for a final picture. that was it. we had done it.

after months of training, preparations and the climb itself, what we now hold is the mere memory of the experience. something in the past. BUT, that memory is something to hang on to forever! something that can never be taken away. something that has changed all 3 of our lives. and something that will continue to influence the way we live everyday. through the holiday season, brian brad and i spoke various times, each time drifting toward a conversation about the mountain, about our journey... i hope that never ends.