Tanzania, Africa - (July 22 - Aug 2)
Ernest Hemingway envisioned his heaven as one of utter bliss and incomprehensible beauty, the one he could only find in the snows of Kilimanjaro. His novel may have been a fictitious story, but his vision was far from being just a dream.
19, 344 is certainly a daunting number and 7 days is a long time to "experience the sublime of Mother Nature." But by the time I found myself at the bottom of the mountain a week later, standing before the trailhead, I wanted to do it all over again.
Our team of 15 had awaken at 12 AM two nights before to climb for 8 hours in the dark under the glowing full moon. Armed with our goo and shotblocks, we put one tired foot in front of the other. Nearby, two of our six Tanzanian guides looking out for our safety as they sang beautiful African melodies, lyrical and soothing. They kept me going. As we approached Stella Point at 6 AM, the sun was just peeking over the horizon, its rays spreading warmly across the chilly sky.
Gorgeous, isn't it?
Another hour or so brought us to the highest point in Africa. Glaciers towering nearby, snow crunching below our feet, and the clouds swirling below us. The sun was glistening off the surrounding white. I could feel the presence of something far greater than me and I finally understood what Hemingway had so eloquently put in words.
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