 Kilimanjaro journal entry:
June 7 1993
“We were close, so close, with maybe a hundred feet to go. Dad
looked at me and said, “I don’t think I can make it.” I said that I
didn’t think I could either. We struggled through the ice and snow,
hooked arms and slowly dragged each other to the top. The sign read,
‘You Have Reached Uhuru Peak The Highest Point In Africa’. We sat
down in the snow. Our assistant guide who took over when our head
guide turned back, stopped to light up a cigarette. It was a
triumphant day. Happy Birthday Dad! He turned 61 today. My hero. I
had a tiny birthday cake in my pack for him. It was frozen, as was
our water. Dad was too nauseous to eat it anyway. In all, we
gained 13,500 ft. in elevation, and walked 30 miles each way.” |
