Camp 3: Barranco

What a spectacular day! After another night of nearly no sleep, we were awaken early by the sounds of the Porters yelling in Swahili as they packed and prepared for another long day. After breakfast we donned our packs and set on upwards from Shira Camp at 3857m and we climbed steadily but gradually up to Lava Tower at 4637m.

This was an acclimatization day where we climb high and sleep low, so after lunch at the spectacular Lava Tower, we then descended through +5C temperatures and light snow to the Barranco Valley at 3976m.

The Barranco Valley is so amazing it defies description. We descended from stark alpine where nothing can live, crossed frozen streams and gradually made it back down to the Moorland Zone where we first saw alpine flowers and then stunted plants. Finally my mind was blown when we hiked past 30-40' Giant Lobelias and Giant Serecious Trees pictured above.

In addition to showing these huge plants, you can also just make out our camp for tonight, the Barranco Camp, and you can see the start of our route for tomorrow, the Dreaded and Ominous Barranco Wall, a steep, often straight-up pseudo rock climb that rises 1,000 feet from our camp to the top of the wall. This will be a tough day for Scott, Jamie and me (Terry) due to the steep elevation gain but also, and more importantly, due to the altitude. We are all now climbing higher than we ever have.

So far we are all doing very well, other than some simple sleep deprivation for Jamie and I (2 nights with less than an hour's sleep). Scott and Jamie are absolutely hilarious, as I expected, and my stomach is hurting from laughing so hard. We are all climbing together, and we have adopted a very slow, deliberate pace that is difficult to stick to, but very important to maintain to acclimatize. As several Guides have told us, "The Speed Bunnies are the first to bonk".

Our Guide Orest and our Porters are a really great team and they have taught us so much already. I learned today that Keys Tours is one of the oldest Guiding Services on Kili today.

As our daylight fades in Barranco Camp we are all wiped out but happy and healthy. The weather is socked in but so far each morning seems to dawn clear so we are hoping for that. With three days to go until the Summit Day, we would appreciate all the positive vibes people can send us.