Day 3: To Moir Camp (~12,500 feet)

Morning at camp. 

Breakfast in the shadow of Kili. 

Today was a FABULOUS day! After a good night's sleep, we woke to find camp covered in frost. As the sun got high enough to hit the Shira Plateau, it warmed up a bit and the breakfast table was set up outside, with spectacular views of the summit. It stayed clear all day; we watched Uhuru Peak get closer as we walked. We started our day by hiking across the Shira Plateau, a flatter area at the center of a caldera. We climbed the rim before lunch and could look way back at our camp from last night.

Uhuru Peak, growing closer with every step!

This cave looked like the type of place I would have imaged fairies living in when I was little: it was huge, covered with a luscious layer of moss, grasses, and wildflowers, fed by little rivulets of water seeping out of the rock and had smaller "caves" lining the back.

I was feeling really good after lunch (and had a burst of energy from a little too much coffee...) The terrain was rough lava, perfect for scrambling up and with lava tubes, really cool (literally!) caves, and tons of different colored lava. 

About an hour and a half after lunch, we arrived into camp, where the entire crew greeted us with singing and dancing! It was amazing and boosted my already high spirits even higher. The song, Jambo Bwana, has been stuck in my head ever since*. Moir camp is, like so much else on this trek, beautiful! It's nestled into a flat area surrounded by lava cliffs and ridges. Jesse and I took off to explore for a bit before meeting up with Erika, Steve, Ed, Don, Michael, and a bunch of the porters for a walk on the lava flows. We took fun pictures, explored, and chatted some more. It was a LOT of fun. I bounced back into camp with time for a quick baby wipe bath to beat back the dust, which is rapidly becoming ingrained in my skin, and headed to dinner. Everyone was in excellent moods during dinner, and we laughed and joked and goofed around until we all crashed and went to bed.

The Crew welcoming us into camp with songs and dancing 

The mountain feels a lot closer now. Though it's still hard to believe we're really on it, it's easier to envision now, and starting to feel like we're getting closer. I'm definitely feeling the altitude more now--my heartrate and breating both accelerate much more easily than they usually do, but it feels good, like when I get back to full oxygen levels at home, I'll be stronger. As I was brushing my teeth and watching the stars tonight, I noticed a red and white blinking light moving horizontally across my field of vision. It was amazing to realize that it was a plane, flying just below my eye level!

Our hike tomorrow is a short one to Lava Tower. I think my knees, feet, and sunburned neck will appreciate it!

Sunset from Moir Camp. 

*We first heard and learned Jambo Bwana in the Serengeti on our Safari with OAT. Even writing down the song title 3 months later gets the song stuck in my head again.