Issue 2 Winter 2008 (6.3 MB) - Blundell's School

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O N THE TOP OFA FRICADawn shadow of Kilimanjaro from the summit, Uhuru Peak 5896m❮❮As the first rays of sunlight began to creep over the horizon, weapproached the top of the mountain. The view was spectacular,as the African sun slowly rose over the horizon to reveal thebreathtaking mountainous scenery from the highest pointaround. After a three-hour descent we were finally rewardedwith a cooked breakfast. It was only nine in the morning and wehad walked for seven hours, yet we faced at least the sameagain before we could camp for the night.Having navigated vertical bogs we reached our huts ten hourslater. We were thrilled at what we had accomplished, andexcited by the promises of African animals on our last day. Wewere not disappointed. Woken up by monkeys with long bushytails climbing on the roof of our hut, no one wanted to leave ournew furry friends when the final descent was to begin. As soonas we started the trail though, we were filled with renewedenthusiasm when Isaac, our lead guide, showed us where anelephant had collapsed the dirt walls of the track and wasdescending a few hours ahead of us. Despite increasing our pacewe never caught up, however before disappointment hadmanaged to set in, we came across a wild buffalo. This wasapparently a bad sign, as it meant he would be aggressivehaving become separated from the herd. Our two guides told usto climb a bank and move slowly alongside the track. Convincingus that the utmost caution was required around these colossalbeasts, they preceded to hurl rocks and stones at the creature!It was an incredible surprise, however he plodded off into theundergrowth where he came from, marking a dramatic end toour time on Mount Kenya.Two nights in hotels separated one journey from the next. Anight in the Sarova Stanley in Nairobi was bliss. The luxury hotelgave us the chance to wash off one mountain in preparation forthe application of another, but also to swim, eat and watch T.V!Left: Ed Jones with a porterBelow: Kenyan transport8Approaching Mt KenyaHead to Head - Head Boy, TomMahon on duty at Kilaremo <strong>School</strong>
“The gratitude shown to our group made all the charity work soworthwhile. The trip ended on a massive high, playing the localprimary school in an epic 3-2 extra time victory (not so impressivewhen you consider they were all barefooted ten year olds!).”With clean clothes and a content appetite, we set of withrenewed vigour on the Marangu trail, to try to achieve ourultimate goal, summiting Mt Kilimanjaro.Mt Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, contrasted drastically with Mt Kenya,adding an extra 1,000m to our climb. Whilst the temperaturewould be much lower, the air would contain only half of theoxygen present at sea level. There was much less wildlifepresent on Mt Kilimanjaro, which is actually threeextinct volcanoes, Kibo, Mawenzi and Meru, withopen landscapes and breathtaking scenery theprinciple focus of our attention. The ascent wasslow to aid acclimatisation but thankfully due to ourhike up Mt Kenya we were prepared. Reaching Kibohut via the Rongai Route by lunchtime on the fourthday, we rested early as our summit attempt would beginat midnight. The slow journey to the crater edge was completedby 6.00am, and it was exhausting. The freezing cold, thin air andthe pitch black scenery combined meant that the decision tocontinue upwards around the crater rim to the summit was adifficult one for some. Leaving a few of the group behind asvictims of acute mountain sickness, only willpower drove thelast of us to the summit. Reaching Uhuru peak 5685m was oneof the greatest feelings that I haveexperienced in my life so far and gave usall an immense sense of achievement.When we finally descended to Horombocampsite 3720m, we had been walkingfor fifteen hours and the porters saidthey rarely got so many fromone group to the top.Having reached the top of bothof the Mountains, our thoughtsRichard Longstreet coaching cricketturned to Kilaremo <strong>School</strong> that we would soon be visiting. Thefirst day was spent painting the classrooms that had recentlybeen built, and the second day distributing second-handclothes, cricket kit and gifts that we had collected beforeour journey out there. The gratitude shown to our groupmade all the charity work so worthwhile. The tripended on a massive high, playing the local primaryschool in an epic 3-2 extra time victory (not soimpressive when you consider they were all barefootedten year olds!). They were so excited by our gift of fifteennew footballs.The trip surpassed my expectations by far and has inspired meto plan a gap year involving trekking in Africa. It is an incrediblecontinent with fantastic people and I would urge anyone who isconsidering making the trip to just go for it. I will only live once,but if I had my time over again this is one decision that wouldremain the same. The childrenI met, the friends I made andthe sense of achievement thatI had completed all my goals,go together to make a trulyunforgettable trip.Right: Painting crewBelow: Sophie Foan playing catch with 5009
Page 1 and 2: D IARYBlundell’swww.blundells.org
Page 3 and 4: H EAD M ASTER’ S I NTRODUCTIONI a
Page 5 and 6: N EWS IN BRIEFP IANO MASTERCLASSTwo
Page 7 and 8: RANDALL THANESecond MasterT HE D IA
Page 9: Mt Kenya is thought to have been na
Page 13 and 14: The lighting and sound aspects of t
Page 15 and 16: THE ‘GUT’AKA T HE C HRISTMAS D
Page 17 and 18: In more modern days, The ‘Gut’-
Page 19 and 20: F OUNDATION NEWSO LD B LUNDELLIANS
Page 21 and 22: Edward Robert Crowe was born on 18t
Page 23 and 24: Lake TanaI felt my body swelling up
Page 25 and 26: ell“I guess the one thingI really
Page 27 and 28: T EAM FOCUSThe girl’s under 14 B
Page 29 and 30: B LUNDELL’ S L ECTURESHenrietta M
Page 31 and 32: B LUNDELL’ SGirls HockeySTILL REI
Page 33 and 34: leading edgeSam Smith Yr 11Multimed
Page 35 and 36: B EHIND THE SCENESBehind the scenes

Issue 2 Winter 2008 (6.3 MB) - Blundell's School

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