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- Feb 25, 2015
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Experience Kilimanjaro Through the Eyes of 12-Year-Old Grace Gunlogson
Hi! My name is Grace Gunlogson. I’m 12 years old, one of the youngest people to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. That’s a big deal because Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa and one of the tallest mountains in the world! Here is a little about the climb.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F1_IMG_8311_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=9043fc5d0a93b210a5321a7874e67e73 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F1_IMG_8311_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=f977ad38ae6af9cf8c89cbb0ced547c1 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F1_IMG_8311_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=badde876455a83a30a592ad8a892fd00 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F1_IMG_8311_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=c385f6963400f2ef6509c4798fedcc65 768w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F1_IMG_8311_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=e0809f03819a1b5de863e45983dd8ff3 768w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F1_IMG_8311_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=522eb5c6d85e8b98fe348085391008f2 768w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F1_IMG_8311_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=7b5d8fa9fc42521111d8b327c855c953 768w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F1_IMG_8311_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=7a7b4f77576b4e54e360c24ca3d4c1c6 768w)
Grace begins the ascent in the montane forest.
Our expedition begins in the montane forest. We walk through a jungle, avoiding mud and rain. The air is clean and fresh. Insects, monkeys, birds and other animals create a soothing sound. It sounds like the zoo but it’s for real! When you think of Africa you mainly think of hot dry barren dessert, but on the mountain the landscape changes dramatically. This rainforest is green, lush and warm, but in a couple days we will hike to freezing temperatures and ice covered rocks. This day we walked only 3.2 miles, but gained 2000 feet.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F2_IMG_1805_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=96e03c4609a16c3562d306cff40b78af 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F2_IMG_1805_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=e96c61139a09f15cf33578527e5c5acf 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F2_IMG_1805_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=509dc10b0c9eba3ae859e2a587ca22b9 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F2_IMG_1805_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=84004956834bee3a1107b35796ccefa0 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F2_IMG_1805_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=d9d473a86126b82d2eb425c6093e3361 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F2_IMG_1805_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=b17833f19bf0c9bded2135ee7467992e 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F2_IMG_1805_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=76f1f70b7f92ccd56ec7810a4351d6d9 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F2_IMG_1805_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=30518de2f645219055d4271693a4024c 1024w)
The climbing group.
We are joined with a Swedish family, a Hungarian woman, and my family. My dad loves to mountain climb and owns a travel expedition company, so that’s why our family is taking the challenge. However, my little sister and grandpa will only be able to go 1⁄2 of the way. With us are our guides and 55 porters. The guides are like gods of the mountain. They know everything about Kilimanjaro from where to go and to the kind of sicknesses you can get on the climb. They also lead the way make sure we are okay and can help us when something is wrong. There is no medical help except for the guides and porters.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F5_P1020433_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=f9f764f7d6e4ff3f9020f17336f41be3 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F5_P1020433_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=d59a58083d0e46d24f97ca5586d5341f 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F5_P1020433_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=99ba7671562ab33aff1709353b1f46aa 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F5_P1020433_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=6e376ac2aaef96a9bfb9c3e26a4fa656 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F5_P1020433_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=2205e3d08392b7af75e48fb7b0dce3a9 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F5_P1020433_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=8ee5542df4cbfac80b14abff4a3e6424 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F5_P1020433_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=4806937bc51fe62f5057d39826cbf0cd 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F5_P1020433_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=81ce5d43b3f959f602d1ec3c26f43c4b 1024w)
MM Guide Ben Mality leads the way!
The porters carry all our bags and our tents, food, medical stuff, more stuff, their belongings, toilets, the cook tent, oxygen, and so much more. It’s a tough job but they are very strong. They carry massive loads bigger than their body on their backs and heads! We hikers also carry a day pack on our back. It is important to always carry sunscreen (even with snow), drink lots of water and a rain jacket (it always rains in the afternoons). Many of the porters in other groups have scraps of clothes, old causal casual shoes, but we try to take care of our porters to make sure they have good gear for the climb. Many have climbed Kilimanjaro more than 200 times. One of our guides, Ben (my dad’s good friend), has climbed it even more times. He always keeps us energized by telling us riddles and jokes and he is also very good at playing cards and telling stories. He shoots the moon a lot when we play hearts and always tricks my team!
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F7_P1020495_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=7904ebcb993090927e12bf850495f111 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F7_P1020495_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=40dd150b1483a6e942ec152810b5d538 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F7_P1020495_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=f21d5d7c68ffc40253257d4be72c0094 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F7_P1020495_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=31b35b1e4a06353323126df84368f76b 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F7_P1020495_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=6fcceaa65529f4eb0fca6455c2d10e7d 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F7_P1020495_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=d40e6f0affaa4cc856fa70129d3e675b 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F7_P1020495_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=16694f1955a85f3fc882bb25904c8b34 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F7_P1020495_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=6a93d9586679c0cad565b7924f4e2600 1024w)
Warming up and hanging out with the cooks.
Our tents are small, but most of the nights we are finding warmth in our mess tent and have amazing dinners and play so many rounds of hearts. My team (me and Ulrika) always win. Except for when Ben the guide plays and he wins! So at night it’s a lot of fun. We can hear the sounds of thunder and lightning and the wind. The stars are always out whether were sleeping on a cliff or the crater. On the fourth night we were above the clouds and a giant lightning storm lit up the sky every second. It was scary, but amazing. Sometimes if the night is very clear, we can see all the down the mountain where a little village or town is. We know it’s there because all the little lights of the town light up the pitch blackness. It’s so cool!
Each day we gain around 2,000 feet, with the most in a day about 3,500 feet. The last 3 days they are the deadliest. Our route goes straight up and we start when it is below freezing. The summit will be the best reward for all our hard work. From the summit we descend 9000 feet. By then we are almost completely exhausted, and can’t wait to spend the night back at a comfortable lodge. During each night it goes way below freezing and without the right gear, you freeze. Luckily no one has gotten sick, but often we get a headache or stomachache due to gaining elevation. It gets harder to breathe minute by minute.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F13_IMG_1853_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=59fc4d1c563c5575c52e08943a1496f9 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F13_IMG_1853_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=0d3a54687bb34d4bc86ba7d079bd611c 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F13_IMG_1853_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=ceea083e0be91641ab6c684c162a8d29 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F13_IMG_1853_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=a095d207feb8799da3a8c26511201155 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F13_IMG_1853_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=c28f3682513a808d2c8cb5d35ff23583 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F13_IMG_1853_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=fe173aa2aea533d18d42108256d05412 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F13_IMG_1853_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=ec4797ad405beafbd311828ad86f8d52 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F13_IMG_1853_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=9dcff0682b376fb5eec42691a1da5c40 1024w)
Grace, left, with MM Guide Ben Mality, Mom, and Dad.
From the start to the summit we walk through lush jungle, up to giant heather forest, to desert-like landscapes with no vegetation, and finally where there is only snow, ice, and rock. On the long walks between camps we have lots of chocolate and even Nutella! My dad showed me how to use my ice ax as a fork for Nutella that is solid like big chocolate chunks because it’s so cold! We also eat lots of Swedish and Hungarian candy. Super good! I have tried a lot of new foods when I went to Africa. Some good, some very weird!
Even then some days when we get up at 4:00am at night and are just walking straight up in a cloud, I want to stop it hurts too much, even with a lot of chocolate! It is weird too that I am one of the youngest to climb it and I miss people my age. All in all it is quite an adventure though, and I longed to reach the summit.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F4_P1020425_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=a0d31c590d61a7814e3f8c5da8950d5b 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F4_P1020425_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=f43950448aa8f509240bd89ef4248e3a 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F4_P1020425_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=ac274a20d0eaf2a5a32c6961cb55dcd9 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F4_P1020425_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=ea58e424e84d6f8ff1790cb36fa16b2f 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F4_P1020425_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=bed172c1940212193f93280aec41b30a 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F4_P1020425_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=ad004e845c32d4b2062a2ad7ea3ce715 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F4_P1020425_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=dcf417b1080fb05f37f5e1d77a5a7fcf 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F4_P1020425_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=34d2e003db42ce2d99d927c114e977e9 1024w)
Grace climbing in the Western Breach.
The day we went up the Western Breach we gained more than 3,500 feet. The Breach is the hardest day. We gained the most elevation. We started very early morning, when it was still dark, so I could not see where we were. It was a hard day because it seemed like a straight up cliff with a lot of ice and loose rock everywhere. I thought it was impossible to get to the top. You would see a cliff to go to and 2 hours finally get there only to find 6 hours more of climbing. If you looked down, it was terrifying. Straight down, and you’re dead. Many people have died on this route already. We didn’t have ropes or crampons either (like on Mt. Baker) and so I held our head guide’s hand like a baby the whole climb. Sometimes when I was freezing exhausted and sleepy, I would get dizzy and scared of the height and kinda cried and whined.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F6_P1020489_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=1904fb20304bc71d53855dbceb2b5665 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F6_P1020489_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=027f6bc00adf5173d0d6f022e9276a07 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F6_P1020489_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=9d498b9dacd612a15393f29bf21d1f8a 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F6_P1020489_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=d66a77d246a817e26b004828f2c66379 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F6_P1020489_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=6d4fa2682f0d00e62f8ecf174cbfdbd6 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F6_P1020489_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=ca62eb62fe6e6bb26c989321ecce012e 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F6_P1020489_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=0741d20eff83e33f5cf2cffee678924f 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F6_P1020489_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=8588509341d3d329cb308642847c5ad4 1024w)
Grace in a steam vent inside the summit crater.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8_P1020497_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=377b7feb224ad01b2edd7cf84e83ae7a 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8_P1020497_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=9b325bc839bc6b86d0c59c8c2728336e 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8_P1020497_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=58dd00842829cbf058127e06cb079ce5 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8_P1020497_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=0bc36a98ea7c1a769a8ee7d40f290593 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8_P1020497_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=3f719a8df0451e97a1ade57cdf7df13d 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8_P1020497_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=0d6c8d090a45bb9fd62e893b504afecc 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8_P1020497_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=2e2065d78d39f572a0d28ab9b0212648 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8_P1020497_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=e19ab41a4b39e0606efc79b491a76166 1024w)
Final steps to the summit.
The morning we are going to the top I got up at 4:00am. I could hear someone in another tent throwing up and crying, but they choose to go up the mountain. I was freezing that night and I shook violently and my lips were purple. When we began the climb, I wanted really bad to go down. It hurt when I took a step and it was extremely hard to breathe. But, FINALLY we reached the top. That was the hardest day of my life. I found out later, when we went down, that even though many say the route we went is the hardest and deadliest, in a way it is better, because as we went down hundreds of exhausted trekkers hiked up a different route and lots of them were crying and some even had to get carried on their porters back! They were not even close to the summit! Many people looked like they were going to die and often didn’t make it. They could be old or young, but it happens more than it should. When we went down through it was easier for us, because it was shorter, downhill, and we were just relieved we made it to the top, and there was more oxygen!
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F9_P1020510_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=eafe37187f468583dfcae079836ab965 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F9_P1020510_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=c5a0bc4579735e3b0a452a9063373997 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F9_P1020510_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=75143a54487b82f68c28ecc14ceb9af4 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F9_P1020510_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=aeaedf0e5a200866f93519fa7e0b5b09 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F9_P1020510_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=29a5d74e81c21a713b36ad2d00b0e6c6 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F9_P1020510_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=b9d0ffbd8a1b729fb3278023dd17a236 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F9_P1020510_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=7a65898e7702a0c53a017c9820159d31 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F9_P1020510_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=f5351a8c96e36c0d2b3e3714154f7630 1024w)
Success!
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F12_P1020526_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=21a4139bfb49399823a5f2488fd71135 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F12_P1020526_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=b402b56a171f3867db3fa9bddbb04ebe 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F12_P1020526_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=0fe70512051b0987abd113cb8b79ad0d 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F12_P1020526_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=1e16b77201246cc2ac08cff81ec132b0 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F12_P1020526_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=e5494de969df124e0bb63ed8956862f4 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F12_P1020526_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=57562b47c0f2cd9aded0f54708512922 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F12_P1020526_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=24079288193c43b8918523ff4027f96c 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F12_P1020526_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=5302bae8ab6aabfc8ce83d60c157ccc2 1024w)
Starting the descent.
On the last night we were pooped. We spent the last night in a ‘rainforest’ and celebrated New Year’s (even though it was on the summit day) and had a HUGE feast with a huge ham and AMAZING food and desserts. I had my first champagne (they made me) — it was so fun and we told stories, laughed and played cards, and had party poppers and decorations. One of the porters accidently carried the ham to the summit! Whoops! On the way down, me and Ella ran last 5 miles, and sang Kilimanjaro! She wrote it down along with other Kiswalle words. I saw a dead gecko on the trail! When we reached the bottom we celebrated, had one last picnic and left to the lodge. Thank goodness that’s over!
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F14_IMG_1855_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=defc7c0176f48632e83dc90fcb5e4da0 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F14_IMG_1855_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=bac9ea3d7c750768610e17221ccffdf4 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F14_IMG_1855_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=cc6a0f0d416b0827c9bebacde1a0f30f 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F14_IMG_1855_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=b651483888f78c890e32ddf267637db5 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F14_IMG_1855_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=6006e37e20fcdd652ce94c4710a0f514 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F14_IMG_1855_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=e76b3cc92bd4cd72a2bc34c3065f9b3a 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F14_IMG_1855_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=6ef06af2e11e3bf64613d54e1beb59ca 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F14_IMG_1855_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=2c9ce3e93714c1c7cf938391fce57714 1024w)
New Year’s feast with giant ham.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F15_P1020557_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=ca2e6f8dc3664d302f46fa97b197cc9c 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F15_P1020557_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=1c09bc0d9240f33f374d15b9472eff74 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F15_P1020557_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=07f7e292e70ad58ed01a7369a02e30c7 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F15_P1020557_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=909f0a751828459e68b2abce1af98d7b 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F15_P1020557_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=f6f91181ca54085e84c41d2c0cf139d6 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F15_P1020557_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=4f0258c534d3eaf52d2dcfdb3f812ae4 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F15_P1020557_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=6629afeea9a44c62812583cbcd40284f 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F15_P1020557_1024px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=09db13eb778c8c3cf5cab9928660f787 1024w)
Final view of the mountain as seen on the hike out.
~Gracie Gunlogson. All photos by Mark Gunlogson.