Epic Hikes of the World ( PDFDrive )

packing and repacking, a big breakfast. We soon trekked out of the forest zone,
advancing into the moon-like upper slopes, oxygen becoming rarer with every
stride. We walked amid phallic lobelia, tough everlastings, crumbled boulders and
putrid long-drop loos. We rose higher, gaining views down on to the clouds and up
to Kili’s ever-nearing crest. By the time we reached 15,000ft (4600m) Barafu Camp,
our final base before our attempt on the top, I felt stinky, sunburnt and bunged up,
but overjoyed.
Ian Lenehan | 500px
if nature calls at 15,000ft (4600m) Barafu Camp.
Then came our final briefing. ‘Tonight is not a good night,’ Samuel told us
frankly. The summit climb is a steep, relentless schlep of almost a vertical mile. It’s
about digging in; giving everything to cross the finish line. We would all likely find
ourselves in dark places. ‘But self-confidence,’ he concluded, ‘all you need is selfconfidence.’
In bed by 6.30pm, I lay wide awake, trying to believe in me.
“After what seemed like an age, I looked at my watch. I’d only been
going for an hour. There were still five or six to go”