Tanzania, January 2002

I spent 6 days climbing the Machame route (aka "the whiskey route") up Mt. Kilimanjaro to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. 

Here's the first view of the goal, seen through the clouds at the end of day 1:

We had a nice view of neighboring Mt Meru poking through the clouds on day 2:

On day 3 we climbed to the base of Lava Tower (~4500 meters) to acclimatize.  Here I am with my guide, Amani:

After reaching Lava Tower, we descended through the Lobelias:

Barafu campsite provides a nice comfy base of lava rocks to sleep on during night 4 (~4600 meters). 

We passed glaciers en route to the summit on day 5:

Gasping for air and ready to collapse, but I made it:

After descending the mountain, I spent a couple days on the beach and then went on safari.