A lie-in this morning meant we weren't woken until 6.30am as it's a shorter day today. We are taking on the Barranca Wall. So after a wash it was breakfast and packing up for the day ahead. Everyone seems to be sleeping better except for Dan, he's still struggling a bit and he was again later in the day. He's a big chap with a bigger appetite so you know things are not right when he doesn't eat much!
I felt a bit dizzy a couple of times getting in and out of the tent or walking up to the toilet, you forget you're at an altitude you're not familiar with and any movement at "normal" speed does take it out of you. Strange sensation to experience. With breakfast done we were G2G (Good to Go) and we set out at a slow pace towards the wall.
We could see from a distance what was ahead of us as there was a long, snaking trail of people in brightly coloured hiking gear!
There was a lot of 'traffic' and people trying to get ahead of the queues, it was once of the few times that we didn't give way to the porters trying to get past - else we would not have moved for hours, it was also one of the few times we witnessed our guides getting a bit heated with others. So the wall required us to scramble up and down quite a small trail against the rock face. There was a drop to the side, so there was an element of danger that made it all the more exciting and enjoyable. (I love challenges like that!). We all managed well and it was an hour or so and then we were scrambling over less challenging rocks.
It was here that Nicole got me to Bluetooth my phone to her speaker, this was a mistake! I played my Choons playlist which was quite loud to be fair and it was enjoyable until a couple of foreign hikers went past. One commented, "that's not very in with nature!" and the other called me "selfish" - I responded diplomatically by telling them both to "Fuck Off and walk faster" if they didn't want to listen to it. I wasn't too proud of that because it showed a side to me that no-one knew existed..and shortly after I turned the music down and eventually off so as to not upset anyone else.
We then stopped for a snack break and we saw a 79 year old woman supported by 3 guys come slowly hiking into view, she was clapped by the people already there and encouraged, some spoke to her - from Texas - well done her, very inspirational woman.
We then started our trek to the next camp as this was our highest point today, it was pretty barren landscape which we trekked through and not a lot to photograph really. A lot of the descent was loose shingle so you slipped a lot which was all a bit dramatic.
We came into sight of the camp and were told it was still an hour away, as we continued on it became apparent why - we had a valley between us!
So down we went which was slow going and then once at the bottom it was back up the other side, and as usual our porters came down to help with bags where needed and sure enough an hour later we finally arrived in the camp.
We all signed in and had our photos at the sign as usual, Dan was some way behind but we all stayed and when he caught up we re-took the team photo with him in it. That was important and showed a good team spirit that has occurred with this group of people. We dumped our bags in our tents and went to the Mess tent for a drink, lunch and a catch up.
We were told the plan for later today and went and crashed out for an hour or so in nice warm tents. The view from this camp was incredible. Warm water arrived about 4.30pm and we had our usual awkward wash hunched over the bowls and using wet wipes, I even managed to have a shave today - sat out on a rock, a mirror perched on another rock overlooking the clouds and landscape - the most impressive location for a shave I've ever had! Once sorted we went up the slope a little as all the porters and guides were waiting for us to do introductions.
As more of us got there they started singing and dancing an it was great fun, if a little surreal but it was also "expected" in a way as it's what they do. You had to get involved and we had a dance and all that. Chediel did a speech and introduced each and every team member, cooks, waiters, toilet guys, porters and guides. We then had to introduce ourselves and say something and it all got a bit emotional with people saying thank yous. Elizabeth, Pauline and Tash all shed a tear and then we all mingled and hugged and shook hands or bumped fists etc and then just like that, it was all over. Although I suspect we will go through the whole thing again on the last day..which is sadly very close now.
So after that we went to the Mess tent for dinner but kept coming outside because the views were spectacular when the clouds parted (or disappeared) and the sun lit up Kili in the background. We didn't have dinner right away and us, Pauline, John and Moya played Uno whilst the others played a dice game that got them very involved.
Dinner came, rice again fried bread so I was happy with that and we then finished our games and said our good nights - another 6.30am lie-in tomorrow so that's nice.
We had our routine checks all was good and tomorrow's itinerary explained. We go 4hrs to base camp tomorrow and then at midnight we set off for the summit. Looking at it and seeing the signs saying it's 11hours away makes it feel so close. I really hope we do it, I am starting to feel mildly positive which is not complacency at all as I think the steep ascent is going to be brutal and take its toll on all of us.
We shall soon see!!
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