Cafe Latte?

Tanzanian law requires that you need an official "outfitter" (mountain guides, porters, etc) to get onto the mountain. Not only does it protect we the trekkers, but also, it gives jobs to Tanzanians. The porters carry the tents and cooking supplies (truly, the heaviest stuff). We carry everything we need between camps. Other than the food we carry during the day, the outfitter provides the food at camp. Typically this means high liquid and carbohydrate content meals. They try to offer fresh seasonal foods when possible (mango, banana, watermelon), and we always have our trusty freeze dried meals (just add water) if needed. Water is treated by boiling. I will also carry iodine and chlorine tablets... just in case. (a case of traveler's diarrhea could be expedition-ending).

In altitude, it is recommended that we drink 4-5 Liters of water per day, and eat lots of food for energy. However, a common symptom of altitude sickness is loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. ...and if you don't eat and drink, the altitude sickness gets worse, etc, etc...

Sadly, stimulants are not recommended at high altitude. So currently, I am in caffeine withdraw (better to deal with fatigue and headaches now than on the mountain). My beloved colleagues at work don't hesitate to tease and temp me with their aromatic mugs of caffeinated paradise... Yup, they're real special.

Unity in the 'Burgh

Today was our Pittsburgh Support Group Meeting. The Unity Walk consisted of a tour of our basic science PH Research facilities. Everyone loved to see the "laboratory side" of research.-- to meet the scientists who first develop new treatments-- to see the type of work we are supporting in this fundraiser.

Today celebrated the adventure...just see the picture above (Kilimanjaro a la cupcake).

Today, we raised over $3000 for Path to a Cure, which translates to 6K with the match. Woo-hoo!

Many hospital staff generously created extravagant gift baskets and donated them to our Path To a Cure Gift Basket Raffle. People volunteered to staff the Raffle table, selling tickets all week. The Support Group drew the winners today. I am humbled by the benevolence and enthusiasum of my friends and colleagues.

Here's a crazy group of loony-tunes

The Support Group had many questions about the climb. I also got a few critical suggestions that I plan to use on the mountain. One gentleman's wife with PH recently passed. He is donating her miniature (lightweight) pulse ox to our cause--so that at the summit we can document the severity of our oxygen desaturation (we anticipate our O2 sats to be in the low 80s, and heart rates to be 120-140). There was enough generosity and inspiration in that room to move a mountain... or at least, to climb one.

My 2 year-old son and his friends at daycare made these adorable African safari artwork for the Unity Walk! (the lion's mane are paper cutouts of all their little hands!)

Steepest Street

During my urban night hike a few days ago, we hit Canton Ave, a street with a 37 percent grade, it is debated as one of the steepest streets in the world, and it is paved with cobblestone. It is one of the Pittsburgh "Dirty Dozen," a bicycle race of the 12 steepest hills in Pittsburgh. There are neat Utube videos a cyclists attempting and just falling over. The photo on the left was in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette in Jan 2005.

Here is a recent Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article about Kilimanjaro climb:

www.post-gazette.com/pg/10020/1029420-114.stm

A Glimpse of the Journey

This video clip is a trailer for a documentary called Kilimanjaro: The Roof of Africa. It is very short, but gives you just a glimpse of some of the extraordinary sights, wilderness isolation, and varying terrains that we will encounter on the mountain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVhCf1xAE2k

"While seeking the freedom of the hills, we come face to face with ourselves." (Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills)

Jack Frost

Fog this past week with colder temperatures at night have dipped the entire Minnesota landscape in frost. It is incredibly beautiful, and reminds me that the simple beauty surrounding us can be our sustainer through thick and thin. I took this picture on the way to work this morning. Savoring - the active process of acknowledging and relishing whatever moments of beauty and joy come our way - is one way to achieve inner peace.

Road Closed

During a big snow and ice storm 2 weeks ago, I went with the local Venture Outdoors club on a 7 mile hike up some ridiculously steep Pittsburgh hills. This hill is Rialto Street, one of the steepest in the 'Burgh. Despite doing a great job treating most hills, the city actually closed this street... but that didn't stop these crazy hikers...

Let's Talk Gear

Some people have asked me, "What kind of gear do you need?" My favorite purchase, clearly, is the boots. (In the picture, my Asolo boots are in the front, and Dr. Benza's are the solid leather boots).

I had to research and purchase a variety of things. Here are some examples: sleeping bag that can keep me warm (and alive) in below 0 degrees F, trekking poles, a pack and hydration system (so you can constantly sip water), water purifier system, many pairs of smartwool socks and liners, a breathable windproof waterproof hard shell jacket with performance fleece insulating layers, hats, a balaclava (picture: "ski mask"), hiking pants (superduper stretchy for climbing), waterproof cold weather pants (also stretchy), gaiters (not the lizard, picture: 1980's leg warmers that are waterproof to keep snow and rocks out of your boots), goggles, supergood gloves with liners, insect repellent with DEET (say no to malaria), blister kits, medical kits, rope, environmentally safe toiletries, spf 45 sunblock (not much air to shield you from equatorial sunrays), and much much more.

Layering. I now am the proud owner of multiple layers of performance long underwear (wicks moisture away from your skin). Apparently, "cotton kills." Cotton absorbs moisture and holds on to it (think: bathtowel). I wore a cotton sweater on one 6 hour hike; it was soaked and I was really cold. ...Lesson learned. Since we will hike from jungle to artic, and it can be 15 degrees at night yet 60 in the day, we must use layers to temperature control ourselves. Goal is: stay dry.

This weekend I researched some geeksquad-headlamp websites before buying my own. I'm pretty excited about it and will test it out during my 7mile night hike on Thursday.

Tomorrow..... well tomorrow is the official Vaccine-day. There are many infectious risks in Tanzania... Call me pincushion.