GLOBE Scientists' Blog

Monday, 1 October was the final day of The Xpedition. After an exciting summit day, the team continues on their descent and is picked up to head back to Arusha, where they will enjoy a well-deserved meal.

Unloading the equipment after a successful trip

Throughout the entire journey, the team relied on the use of porters, who are local Tanzanians who carry equipment up the mountain. These porters are essential to a successful summit, and the bloggers were asked: What has your relationship been like with the local Tanzanians? Porters?

Porters carry equipment to the Lava Tower on Day Five of The Xpedition

Tanzanians greet the team on their return

Maddy

If you asked me the main reason I want to stay in Tanzania, it would be for the people. Porters are the hidden heroes of the mountain—nobody would be able to climb were it not for them. But they also go far beyond just transporting gear: they came to our tent each morning with hot chocolate and cookies to wake us up. They helped me put my gators on when my fingers were too cold. They sang and danced for us (with us once we got the hang of it!) at least twice a day as we left one camp in the morning and arrived at the next camp in the evening. They carried my daypack when I was not feeling well enough to climb with it. They monitored how well I was taking care of myself, was hydrating and staying energized. They said “Jambo!” or “Mambo vipi!” every time they passed us on the trail. They indulged our “how do you say ____ in Swahili?” questions with enthusiasm each time… sure sounds like a hero to me. I tried to take the time to get to know as many guides and porters as I could, and it sure paid off. They’re genuinely terrific people– so warm and caring. I know I’ll miss them every day, and carry their values and demeanor with me for the rest of my life.

John

I cannot say enough about the porters and all of the support from our Tanzanian crew. In the beginning of the hike it was clear that these people knew their business and enjoyed what they do. They have a very good understanding of what the mountain is and about each biome along the way. We began to learn from them on day one, and the learning never stopped.

As the trip continued, it was clear how much the entire team cared about their country and about making sure that we experienced the positive energy the Mt. Kilimanjaro and Tanzania have to offer. I am very happy to say that I have made some very close friends in Africa. I have the deepest respect for these people and the work that they have chosen. I also look forward to keeping lasting relationships with my new African friends. I will always remember and think about the lessons I have been taught about myself and the world.

On Sunday, 30 September, the team made it to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. The summit sits at 5,895 m (19,340 ft) above sea level. What a fantastic accomplishment for the team!

Team at the summit

Hiking on a glacier near the summit

After the team spendt time celebrating their success, they began their descent, stopping at 3,200 m (10,498 ft) at Mweka Camp. To celebrate the summit, the bloggers were asked: What is it like on the summit? Describe what you see, what you’re feeling what has this taught you about yourself?

Maddy

No matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to come up with a description of the summit that will do it justice. After spending the night at Crater Camp, we ate breakfast and explored the closest glacier before beginning our short, hour-long hike to Uhuru Peak. None of us felt great… trying to sleep at over 18,000 feet is almost guaranteed to leave you with a headache. We trudged up to the summit, struggling with the high altitude. And when we finally arrived, every challenging moment of the last 8 days was made worth it. The sky was so pure and blue… untouched by clouds. Instead, the clouds billowed for miles beneath us, looking like pink, purple and white cotton candy (maybe the altitude was getting to me). The glaciers around us shimmered like I never thought they could. And we were all so excited to be there: dancing, singing, and even crying (ok, maybe that was just me). Oh, and of course taking photo after photo after photo.

I could easily list a million things I’ve learned about myself and life in general on this trip: but what was most prominent at the summit was that I can accomplish anything I put my mind to. Determination is a powerful force, and with a supportive crew behind you, so much becomes possible.

John

Reaching the summit was amazing! The hike from the camp to the top was pretty challenging for the entire group, so it felt just that much better when we finally did get to our goal. The day was sunny and blue because all of the clouds were well below us. We could see all of the summit area including several of the glaciers on the top. The blue of the ice and the features of each glacier were beautiful as the sunlight shined on their faces.

I felt a great deal of pride for the entire group having finally reached the top and feeling that we had all helped each other along the way. It really does go to show that any goal can be met when you set your mind to it. It also shows the power of team work and cooperation. I am so proud of our team and the porters, guides, and cooks who brought us here!

As you may have noticed, the Scientist Blog was quiet for the past two days.  As is to be expected, things can change rapidly on the mountain and the ability for the team to send us their daily blogs was interrupted.  The team safely continued on their journey, and have sent us their blogs.

Day Eight was Saturday, 29 September.  The team journeyed from 4,877 m (16,000 ft) to 5,608 m (18,399 ft).  This portion of the trip is very difficult, as it take the team to very high altitudes.  This change also signifies another biome change: from alpine desert to summit.  The summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro is an arctic zone that experiences freezing cold nights and extremely fierce sun during the day.  At this altitude, the oxygen level is nearly half of that found at sea level.  As one student said on the webinar this morning – even putting socks on results in shortness of breath.

This portion of the trip is beautiful in its own right – there are a few red and grey lichens that have adapted enough to survive at this altitude, as well as massive glaciers.  The team was able to explore the camp as they felt able, and some beautiful photographs have been captured.

Red lichen growing on a rock in Canada – similar to what is found on Kilimanjaro. Credit: NASA’s Earth Science Picture of the Day (link: http://epod.usra.edu/blog/2002/10/red-lichen.html)

A team member stands by a glacier

Today’s question asked the bloggers: Describe a typical day on the mountain and if it has changed since you continue to increase in altitude.

Camp – high atop Mt. Kilimanjaro

Maddy

A typical day on the mountain is almost an oxymoron… we never really know what we’re going to get! All we can say for sure is that it will involve a lot of climbing. Roughly, we wake up around 7 AM to Peter, Ramsaw and Salvatore (our three incredible waiters) bringing us cookies and hot drinks in our tents. We pack up our tents and head to breakfast around 8 AM. We eat for an hour or so (a true feast: eggs, toast, hot drinks, crepes, fruit, and more) and then hit the trail. We hike alongside the guides, while the porters leave behind us after they pack up camp. They speed by us on the trail, and every day I’m increasingly impressed by how much weight they can carry up the mountain. We say “Jambo”, “Mambo vipi”, “Pole sana kaka” and other quick hellos as they pass us. On any given day we hike between 3 and 6 hours, breaking for protocols, snacks, and on long days a hot lunch. We arrive at camp for the night by 5 PM, encouraged by Chedrick and other porters singing until we’re all here. We eat dinner around 6:30PM, which also a feast: soup, potatoes, bread, sometimes pasta, fruit, meat, salad, and dessert. Julius, Safi, or Moody gives us a briefing for the next day, and we hang out in the meal tent answering questions and chatting until 9 PM or so. By then we’re all tired, full and cold so we head off to bed!

John

I think that there are no typical days on the mountain! Every day seems to bring a new biome and a new scene to observe, and they all have been very interesting.

As far as our routine goes we have seen some changes in the way everyone has their own particular needs each day. We have all learned more in dealing with the mountain and it’s various factors. We all get up and then meet in our mess tent for breakfast around 7:30 am. Most days we eat and talk and then prepare our things for the hike. We usually roll out of camp at 9:00 am and hike until we take a snack.  We hike until lunchtime or we may reach our camp around lunch and then we meet in the tent again. Dinner is always around 7:30 pm. We meet in the tent again, eat and talk about the sights and sounds of the day, and then we go over the schedule for the following day.

The altitude is very much of a factor for everyone. As we climb higher different people are affected in different ways. Some folks are taking naps as soon as we get into camp now. I had a nice rest in my tent after lunch today. We are all drinking our fluids, getting as much rest as possible, and trying to eat well. Of course, with the cooks here, that is very easy to do.

A morning at camp

The team is now over halfway done with their trek to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.  The journey began on Sunday 23 September as the team left Basecamp and hiked to Forest Camp.  You can read all about their journey starting here.

A view of Mt. Kilimanjaro from the trail

Today’s part of the trek up Kilimanjaro takes the team back down in elevation, from 4,632 m to 3,962 m.  Additionally, they will see another biome transition: alpine desert to moorland.  A moorland biome is one that is also classified as a low precipitation region.  This high altitude biome also has a high fluctuation in daily temperatures, soaring to high temperatures during the day and dropping to freezing at night.

Lobelia plants, a common site in the Moorland.

Today’s question asks the bloggers: Looking at different biomes thus far, which one was the most interesting to you and why?  How was it similar or different from where you live, please explain.

Maddy

For me, the most interesting biome thus far has been the dry rain forest. The vegetation is so vivid and extremely diverse. Wildlife can always be heard, but not seen. The monkeys especially seem to make a game out of hiding from visitors and peeking out from around trees on occasion. The ground was extremely dusty and the air temperature hot and humid. This biome couldn’t be any more different from where I live in Boulder, Colorado! We have an extremely dry climate, and no monkeys outside of the zoo. We have very cold winters, and moderate summers. What made the rain forest so enjoyable for me was just how different it is from my home.

John

The most interesting biome so far to me has been the alpine desert zone.  It is very striking to see how the plants diminish in numbers and size.  I feel this area has become very harsh, which makes for a much more hostile environment in which organisms try to carve their living.  The temperature range here is more dramatic with freezing occurring year-round in the evenings.  Also, being on the rain shadow side of the mountain, the precipitation is low, leaving some of the plants to depend on the glacial melt that occurs seasonally. This biome reminds me very much of the area that I live in around Southern California.  Not far from the coast, and into the foothills, the high desert begins.  The plants there also experience a wide swing in daily temperatures as well as seasonal variations in precipitation.  It’s a beautiful to be in when the flowers are blooming shortly after the first spring rains.

(Remember that Bob has separated from the main group to go on a different approach to the summit.  You can read about his plans here).