Summit Day!

Day 12

Summit day! It was a cold clear night when Ewald our head guide showed the way up the increasingly steep path on loose scree. Assistant guides Joseph and HappyGod followed behind.  Godfrey, a porter, was a cheerful deputy guide for the day. Time went quickly in the moonlight, pace was pole pole, very slow but steady. We had 1200m to climb from our camp at 4700m.

We reached Gilman’s Point on the crater rim at 6am. A rocky and snowy ridge led along to Stellar Point where all the other popular routes converged. We sidled along to reach Stella Point just after sunrise, still 300m to go.

Stella Point was like a circus, dozens of people coming and going. One guy with obvious serious head issues was being led down by two guides. A young girl crying loudly with distress being comforted by her mates.

Clare found she had left her sunglasses behind.  It was too bright to continue without them – she would have had snow-blindness within a couple of hours. Dara got the attention of the crowd and asked if anyone had spare glasses; we would pay. An enterprising porter sold us his $5 glasses for US$20. Disaster was averted.

With microspikes fitted to boots, we negotiated the icy but easy ridge to the summit. Our entire team were on top of Africa at 9.30am; photos, elation, hugs and tears.  The weather had been so kind, clear and calm, and the views outstanding.

Ahead of us was a 2200m descent to Millennium Camp, down the easy and popular route to Barango Camp. We passed a guy in full batman outfit complete with cape. And a guy carrying nothing but a shopping bag. An older man in his seventies slowly ascending but steady and focussed.

Our arrival in camp, after 17 hours on the go, was honoured with a congratulatory song and dance by the happy camp staff and porters. It was an emotional time, with hugging, handshaking, and high fives. Willium had produced another amazing iced cake. The only thing lacking was some bubbly. Alcohol is forbidden in the National Park.