Bush Updates

From a sunny 22 degrees winter day in Arusha with all bugs removed by Super Niels we are back on form to tie things up and let the world know (well the bushupdate followers and those who are tuned into the B2B face book page where we have reached in light of sponsorship that has finally been collected and the survey we have just completed with local expert on Geology and Water catchment areas.

Team leader ‘Clare’ seems to be the only one who had any time on her hands and has presented me with her last accounts on the Twin Peak challenge climb which commenced back in February 2010.  Her male team member’s have not come up with the goods so I feel that it is only fare to close this chapter and move on with fresher more recent stories from the bush, s0me of which you have seen posted prior to this overdue update.

It starts off as did many of Clare’s days with waiting for the boys to get it together, from my time I spent with Stu and Brad they were two oceans apart in packing technique!! Stu was the type that rolls it into a ball and shoves it down into the darkness of his pack, god only knows what else lived in there but I saw a pair of his soaks refuse his feet and walked out the hut door on one occasion!! . On the other hand there was Brad who liked to fold everything and empty everything on to the floor/bed or any-other surface available to him. The process of re-packing became a bit of a silent meditation for Brad as he could actually zone out even Paul’s calls of ‘Breakfast’ and Clare silent stare that for sure if it was a laser would have burnt a hole in the back of his head after the two weeks together.

Paul had assessed the morning carefully and there was simple no hurry to charge off up the daunting Baranco wall, breakfast was enjoyed outside the mess and in full sunshine the challengers watch as the zig zag of colours, being porters and climbers alike slowly gained height and disappeared out of view. Brad was still carrying his Bali belly with him and was not too great when he crawled into Karanga camp sometime after Clare and Stu. It’s amazing how food can taste so good on the mountain as hours later everyone hooked into Mash and Tuna bake, that night all were reminded as to how high they were with the birds-eye view over the twinkling lights of Moshi town some 3800metres below!!

The following day was an eerie one by Clare’s accounts as they headed off at a brisk speed into low hanging cloud, sounds and thoughts are magnified as one sense is shut down the others become more acute, sounds bounce off the towering walls and although you are aware of other climber’s presence you cannot see them. Barafu camp is not the most attractive camp in the world and in the low cloud looked fairly depressing, Clare banged some thoughts about in her head as she wandered in a day dream amongst the rocky strewn boulders that pretty much make up Baranco camps profile as to where tents have been and will no doubt be again. She realised now for the first time as to the altitude as breathing became laboured as the slightest physical effort!! I often worn climbers you will remember where you are when you go to pack your sleeping bag away or tie your boots up!! Trust me both simple tasks will have you coming up for air. The rest of the day was spent chilling, selecting a few prime songs for the i-pod, changing batteries, checking out the layers, appropriate soaks and so on in anticipation for the midnight summit attempt. At the altitude of Barafu the mess tent was a haven of warmth with all bodies crammed in from the dropping temperatures outside, Chelsea were playing against Man -City but Clare for once in her life could not fully focus on the game as her mind headed up the mountain by itself, and to add full special effects to the challengers quest, the heavens opened and giant snowflakes helicoptered to the ground around them.  A forced sleep was suggested by Paul at 18.00, mind games and the experiences of the two prior week’s danced in and out of the minds of all, Clare finally felt the weight of the days catching up to her and she started to drift into a light sleep, when the rustle of Brad sleeping bag with his thick Northern accent – request for Imodium brought her back out of it at lightning speed. Next thing to be heard was a shaking of the tents and Pauls voice calling to come and grab a tea!!