Monday, Day 2
So we woke refreshed from our first night of rest, gorged ourselves on breakfast and entertained ourselves with what was to become the daily routine of washing in a pint of tepid water. We can see the summit hulking above us in the crystalline morning light.
We hit the trail.
The trail is steep and relentless, we are passing through a variety of environments from montane forest to heath and moorland further up. We jockey for position with our friends the Belgians (who we conquered at Machame Gate). It seems that we’re faster than them, but any time we take a break, they leapfrog us. A congenial rivalry begins to develop. If you look click on the picture above, you can just about make out a lady with a furled umbrella-hat and brown pants at the bottom left. She becomes known as Umbrella Lady. More of her later. Detail below.
You may also notice the huge burdens the porters are toting on their heads to the top of the picture. The porters are all amazing athletes, carry a supposed maximum of 20kg and run up the mountain at at least twice our pace. The porters aren’t very big, so that load is probably about 33% of their body weight, and they’re doing this at altitude. I’m amazed – I find it bad enough hauling myself and my tiny pack up the mountain.
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