SUMMIT PUSH!

Despite the already triumphant ascent to Uhuru's Peak, we decided to spend a bit of time exploring the Reusche Crater at the top, something rarely attempted by most climbers (they simply take a few hasty photos before making the long descent down to base camp). 

If the scenery on the way up the mountain was breathtaking, the sights within Reusche Crater can only be described as magical. Within it are glaciers, more stunning views of clouds from above, the enchanting Ash Pit and many many more. 

Once again our basic digital cameras could do no justice to the majestic geographical formations on display and we could only marvel in silence as nature's great works of art stood resolutely before us. Every sight seems worthy of a frontpage on National Geographic.

However one fact of reality remained as we were stricken by the lack of oxygen at such high altitude. Every step felt like we've run a marathon and at times the trek around the crater, despite the stunning views on offer, seem like an impossible task. It was literally and metaphorically breathtaking.

Getting ready for our summit push at midnight, headlamps ready and every piece of cloth we could find to protect us from the -20 degrees that awaits us...

It was a full moon. We could almost do without our headlamps because it was so bright. Jacob failed to turn into a werewolf unfortunately, because duh, Jacob is not a real werewolf, Edward isn’t a vampire and Twilight isn’t a love story.

Giant piece of blue ice!

A giant piece of glacier in the crater, amazing sight. Can you see the icicles hanging by the side?

Sulfur patches at the side releasing sulfur which was supposed to be very smelly, though we could hardly tell    

QW and I sharing a piece of icicle

Everything was frozen by this point. Our water tubes were useless. Marcus had a piece of frozen mucus dangling down his nose. Unfortunately I could not take a photo before he wiped it off! :(

As the photographer, I couldn’t wear gloves. My hands felt ok, but what I did not realize is that they had turned purple in colour. I swear they felt fine, looked scary only!

Snow snow everywhere!

We are on our way to the crater. The guide himself who has scaled kili 130 plus times has only been to the crater 2 or 3 times. We needed to get down this slope. In the end, we realized the easiest way was to simply sit on our butt and slide down, while using our feet as brakes to jam into the ground should we get too fast and slam into the rocks. One of the most awesome experiences of the climb!

The only foot prints were ours.

This is the ash pit. The crater! Getting here took almost everything out of me, but it was worth every bit!

This one is for the team, RAFFLESROW ALL THE WAY!!!

You know why we are kneeling? Because we could not stand. Air was so thin I had to stop to catch a breath every 10 steps I took. But  WE MADE IT!!