Kili Trek Day 5: Horombo to Marangu Gate (And Back to the Hotel)

Yesterday we completed our trek with a 19 km hike down from Horombo to the Marangu gate; it was a lot easier headed down than it was going up. We were all exhausted and focused on getting back to the hotel, so there was very little chit chat and hardly any stopping to take pictures. Just hiking.

Me right before we began the trek back toward the gate. I quickly shed the fleece once we started hiking.

When we made it to the bottom, we had all sorts of people trying to sell us things; when we were out of money, they turned to bartering and asking for our hiking stuff. I ended up trading my headlamp for a Mt. Kilimanjaro tee-shirt (not a fair trade, I know, but whatever), but I drew the line at trading my sunglasses. Jen ended up giving up her water bottles, camelback, and head lamp for a tee-shirt, two wooden animals, and some artwork. I don't know what the guys bartering at the bottom do with hiking gear; I'm sure they sell it to the guides and porters.

After a ride back to the hotel, we got our certificates saying that we made it to the top (yay!) and then we finally got to shower and get dressed in clothes that hand't been up and down a mountain. We also got to deal with whole issue of tipping, which was actually much more complicated than it should have been. The website for our tour group suggested $200-$250 per hiker, but then when they broke it down by how much each person got, it didn't add up. After trying to finagle it for a while, we just gave up and gave our guide the whole bit and asked him to split it up amongst himself, the assistant guides, the cook, waiter, and porters. He seems honest; hopefully he is and will split it up properly.

With our certificates saying that we made it up to Uhuru Peak.

Jen and Angie took off this morning for Nairobi to meet up with the Romanians and go on safari; Kevin and I are currently sitting in the courtyard of the hotel watching the groups about to take off for the trek and judging them. One couple showed up with none of the right stuff; fortunately, the gear rental place in the hotel will square them away for that, but can't really do anything about how out of shape the woman appears to be. Another woman is wearing denim shorts and a daypack without any structure to it. The only group we're confident about is two Indian guys who live in Kenya and have climbed Mt. Kenya. They'll make it to the top.

In all, it was a good experience to have, but I wish I had prepared more, especially for summit day. But I made it, and I'll always be able to say I made it, so that's something.

Random picture of Jen and me