September 22nd 2011 - Little Luxuries

Kibo 4700m – Horombo 3700m

5 hours

Following the gruelling night and morning we have had it is difficult to summon up the energy to pack our sleeping kit away and get everything ready to leave for Horombo.  Oxygen is still at a lower level and it’s still hard to catch your breath, even simple things like tying your laces leaves you breathless.

After a very quick rest we are called to the mess tent for lunch before we have to walk down to Horombo Camp which is thankfully at a much lower and safer altitude. 

As we leave Kibo we pass lots of trekkers coming into Kibo to start their summit night.  We pass a group of Japanese men and they ask if we made it, when we reply yes they all want to “fist bump” and they say “you give me power”; there was no power being passed on, there’s none left.

Thankfully the walk to Horombo isn't too bad - flat and downhill most of the way. Hurrah!  However the dreaded dust is back.  The further we descend its obvious that oxygen is increasing; we all start to feel slightly more normal and the vegetation is gradually becoming greener.

As we move down to Horombo we find Nick at the side of the path with a nose bleed.  Jenny was trying to help but it wasn’t stopping – déjà vu!  He was adamant it had stopped but we could all see it hadn’t.  Not wanting the same tampon treatment that Jonathan had previously received he soldiered on with a tissue.

We pass the Last Water Point, which is a small muddy green puddle.  That will explain the brown water we were given this afternoon for our camelbaks.

Last Water Point - a muddy puddle

As we approach Horombo we are greeted by Jackie and Peter, who unfortunately had to descend early and Kelvin, Emma, Susan, Alice and Gemma who arrived earlier on that morning.  They have walked back up the path to cheer us in and we are greeted by smiling faces and hugs, Peter even takes our bags; what a team!

A late afternoon arrival at Horombo greets us with tents pitched on rocks, on a slope – bed sliding with hurdles tonight.  However we are used to this now and we are far too tired to care.  We are also distracted by the fact that the camp reception sells cans of coke, beer and Mars bars. Heaven.  

We are far too tired for dinner, and it appears a lot of the team are too, although we do feel better having the luxury of a bit more oxygen.  Instead we get our sleeping bags ready, have a dinner of Mars bars and coke (very un-nutritious but coke and chocolate are now considered a luxury item and we deserve it) and with another delivery of hot water bottles from Steve we head to bed.  We are asleep as soon as our heads hit our rolled up clothes.