Barranco

Day 4
Barranco Camp (3980m) - Barafu Camp (4673m)

The last day of walking before our summit attempt. This was again a long and tough day.

It began with an climb of Barranco Wall - a 300m sheer ascent. Most people were frightened of doing this part, but it was similar to day 2 - rocky with bits of scrambling so despite the shortness of breath due to altitude, I really enjoyed this part of the day.

There was one part of the Barranco Wall that I didn't like however, and that was a point where there was a gap in the rock, with a steep drop on one side. The guides said you have to 'kiss the rock to pass' - you literally have to cling onto that rock for your life, but it was all over in a second. Even the 'macho' guys with us didn't like that part.

After the Barranco wall, the day was full of ups and downs - literally. We went downhill for a while, then would hike back up to a decent height, then undo it all by descending again. Me and Elly were getting pretty fed up of this cycle, but there was nothing we could do - it was just the way the path went.

When doing the Kili trek, you constantly ask 'how long until camp?' and you learn to add about 2 hours to whatever the guide tells you. They lie to try and make you feel better, when in reality it makes you feel worse.

We got to a point when we could see our camp - but we were all so tired it took us ages to reach it. However, we were treated to one of the most spectacular sunsets I have ever seen - this blip captures it. Mount Meru is seen floating in a sea of cloud - it was magical.

We had 4 hours to get some rest before getting up at 11pm to trek through the night towards the summit. After we'd had tea, I cried because I was so nervous. I got hugs off a couple of people, but nothing could shake those nerves away.

Altitude hadn't affected me at all that day, but it was taking its toll on others in the group - many were vomiting frequently with severe headaches. Some were taking diamox- a drug used to prevent altitude sickness but with possible nasty side effects, others (including myself) were not.