My Favorite Travel Memory – Summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro
My Favorite Travel Memory
Today’s travel memory comes from Jillian and Danny from the site I Should Log Off.
Jillian and her husband Danny traveled around the world for 20 months, traversing famous overland routes like Capetown to Cairo and the old silk road. They conquered mini-buses on four continents and enjoyed street food in fifty countries, all without a single broken bone or parasite! Jillian and Danny blog about adventure filled travel and the world beyond the computer on their website I Should Log Off. You can catch up with them on facebook or follow them on twitter.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
We had climbed for four days before reaching the snow. We began our approach at midnight and for the next several hours it looked like a long, twinkling snake crawled towards the summit. As the sunlight begins crept across the horizon, my head began to throb. I could hardly think 30 minutes later as we approached the summit and without a doubt I am starting to suffer from mild Acute Mountain Sickness.
Danny and Jillian at the crater’s rim
“The pain in my head is splitting and I’m gasping for air. I’ve suffered from migraines before but I can hardly believe how bad this hurts. I just want to close my eyes and lay down. ‘What am I doing here?’ I think.”
At that moment my husband turns around and I see the reflection of the growing light in his eyes. He says something encouraging, that I’ll never remember, and we keep on. I get strength from his example and one foot in front of the other I press on. It’s a challenge and each step I take I’m suffering.
Reaching the summit with the guides
We arrive just in time for the break of dawn. It is gorgeous seeing sunrise from the roof of Africa. The glaciers glisten in the yellow and orange light and for a moment my headache goes away. It’s literally breathtaking to watch the sunrise. It’s near silent at the top, we hardly have the strength to speak, and despite being surrounded by other people I feel alone at the top of the world. We snap a few photos and in less than five minutes we begin our descent.
Dawn breaks on Kilimanjaro
The summit of Kilimanjaro, my favorite travel memory.
Be sure to check out Jillian and Danny’s site, I Should Log Off, and follow them on these social media sites: