Friday, February 15, 2008

Mountain 1, Shawna 2


Mt. Killimanjaro reminded everyone that this climb is not a walk in the park. There's a reason why it takes a special person to attain the summit. After two successful summits, the mountain bested Shawna this year.
It seems the guides are quite strict with their rule that climbers with unrelenting vomiting spasms must go down. It is the cardinal sign of severe altitude sickness. Despite Shawna's protestations that it was just the result of listening to Sara's snoring all night long, that she was fine and up to the task, she was sent down from the Kibo camp with a guide and three porters before the team made their summit push. Unfortunately, her sister Nicole was forced to join her exit by a worsening respiratory infection. Nicole wanted Josh to know that she was certainly not faking. A course of antibiotics for Nicole and a night not at altitude for Shawna seems to have healed their problems. They are planning to rejoin the team as they come off the hill today.
Initial summit reports were that everyone else made the lower summit and the team was doing well on its way to Uhuru Peak despite some fairly nasty and snowy weather. Full summit report coming soon.
While we are waiting to hear more from Mr. Me Talk Pretty One Day, I'll leave with this note from my friend HDT "If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected. "

No comments: