Climbing Kili: Day 7 - Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate

Elevation (m): 3100m to 1830m
Elevation (ft): 10,200ft to 6000ft
Distance: 15 km
Habitat: Forest

We had an injury on our last day. Kaylan sliced her finger on the bathroom door at Mweka Camp. Break out the first aid kit. We were glad it had finally found its purpose in life and used as many of its contents as we could.

Tip: Tie your boots. Or have someone else do it. After yesterday's agony, I took Matt up on his offer to cut off my circulation. Matt, you see, has played hockey since he was 0, and thus has a lifetime of experience in foot and ankle strangulation.

It worked. My toes stayed put. The smile returned to my face. We ran down singing. She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain. This Land is Your Land. Two Flies. Johnny Trebeck. The entire Lake George repertoire, and then some. You name it, we sang it. Loudly. Badly. Proudly.

We blew by everyone else on the trail, surprising Robert, Gilbert and Samson with our stealth. Picked 'em off, one by one. Didn't even fall in the mud. And there was a heck of a lot of mud.

We crossed the finish line with poles held high.

Then I realized mine were two different lengths.
We headed back to the Bushmen office for our debrief, tips to the team, group photo, certification and dance-off. I won.

After conquering a mountain, there are only two things on any rational person's mind: a shower and a pizza. (This, for the record, is what my hair looks like after 7 days without bathing. Look ma, no hair tie!)

After the former, we took on the latter. If Kili taught us anything, it's that we can do anything we put our minds to. Including eating an entire pizza. Each. Which we did. Hip(s) hip(s)!