We were alone at the camp, except for our 14 support staff ! Including Gumbo the chef, Damian who is a porter and serves our food, Bryson the deputy guide and Elias our main guide and 10 porters who carry 20 kg packs containing everything we all need from food to mess tent and the food table and chairs.
The tanzanian government insist that all expeditions carry everything they need and leave nothing on the mountain so 14 people are needed to support 5 climbers.
Our guide once worked with over 300 posters supporting 76 climbers from the UK!
We climbed into the alpine zone, which looks a little like moorland in Scotland except for the lizards.
The flora changes from trees with old mans beard lichen hanging from each branch to giant shrubs and heathers dotted with everlasting white, grey and yellow flowers and the odd red hot poker.
This is the transition zone from forest to the next level of alpine desert which is above 4000m.
Managed to stop to make our mark for posterity.
Arrived at camp at lunchtime and then discussed our options for the rest of the climb. We agreed to shorten by 1 day as the guides are happy with our progress and acclimatization.
Expecting another freezing night then off to kibo hut for to rest, sleep and acclimatize our summit attempt.
The next day will be a massive challenge, climbing over 1200 meters on scree at 30% gradient, at minus 20 and with 50% of sea level oxygen ! Like climbing eight Empire State buildings with one lung!
We then hope to descend back to kibo and then onto horompo camp at 3700m.
In all around 17 hours of effort so our largest test yet. Tonight we will dream of our summit photo and try to forget the facts of what we face.
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