through the roof...

En route to Kibo Hut, 15400 ft, on trail

We got up this morning at 6 am at Horumbo Hut to get ready to make one of the most important jumps of this climb.  So far only minor illness or injuries have occurred but up to 15000 ft, things get more stressful.

Tonite is our last nite in huts before we get into tents tomorrow nite at Barafu Camp.  These huts are the bare minimum though.  The bathroom is a door and a hole in the ground, the rooms are 10 by 10 to fit 4 of us.  It is getting harder and harder to breathe as we climb and the temperatures are dropping.  It is only about 40ish right now as I write this and it is noon.

Everyone is doing ok.  Tara just fixed a blister but says her leg feels fine.  Erica had a small breakdown as she felt surrounded by swahili speaking porters instead of her team, but all is well now.  Phil is having a small issue with a headache and at this altitude could get bad but he says he is feeling better now.  Matt and Chris are doing well as well, and my sickness has subsided for at least a moment.

Things are getting serious.  We can see the summit all day now and it is motivating.  Sorry Zack is doing well too after a quick flu stint yesterday.

Everyone’s swahili is getting better too and our porters do not understand sarcasm.  Tonite should be our first well below freezing evening so everyone is prepared for that.

Thanks for reading, from a rock at about 15,400 ft. - gotta go - I need to catch up.

Talk to you soon.
- Derek

(written during the day on Friday walking between Horombo and Kibo Huts)

PS. Penny is crazy good too, and holding the whole team together.

From Penny:

I’m not sure when these will send as the signal is rather patchy up here, so I’m going to leave the phone on for a while and hopefully they’ll send soon. All is going OK - some people are feeling a bit queasy and most of us have got too much sun on our faces. Heading from Kibo huts to Barufu camp today, staying at about 15000 ft.