Photo: Travel: Tanzania: Kili Day 3

Day 3 of Kili Trek

This day includes the first serious acclimatization ascent - the detour to the Lava Tower at 4650m. We start out in good spirits (this is the last of the easy days) and retrace the steps of our short afternoon hike from the day before. The Lava Tower detour will be optional---only for those who feel they can make it---but I hope we all do. Since the elevation gain from Shira II is only about 700m, most of the day is spent traversing through the moorland and then the highland desert. The weather is very nice and it often gets quite warm while walking; warm enough to break into sweat which turns out to be quite unpleasant when we stop or when the fog comes back in (which it periodically does). We whittle away time by playing alphabet games that have the added virtue of ensuring we're alert enough and not succumbing to altitude sickness. Everyone holds up just fine and soon we're having lunch at the Lava Tower. The site is packed and some people dine in style (huge mess tent). We leave the maddening crowds and descend into the spectacular Barranco valley studded with giant lobelia and senecia plants. Occasionally the awesome Kibo peeks through the fog on our left and the forbidding Barranco Wall looms in front. The camp is situated on an outcrop beneath the wall and is absolutely stunning. I manage a few shots before the weather turns and we get rained in. I finally get through to Tini on the cell: the wonders of civilization! I do stay away from e-mails though. We try not to look too closely at the steep ascent up the wall---that's for tomorrow!

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