Day 4: Posted from the Horombo huts 12,000 ft

Finally out of the rainforest, breakdowns, and Mr. Chow joins us.

Start of the day, the sky cleared and we could see the stars and the rest of the camp. Looked to be a great morning. Gabe snored like an old man all night. I was up early packing and getting ready for the next climb to the Horombo huts at 12,000 ft., and while putting on my shoes my back went out. I can’t believe after one day I was done. I had walking poles, and if we could make it to the next huts the boys can attempt to summit. Everyone’s mood changed. I was a grump, sick, and disappointed, but was able to walk with the sticks to the Horombo huts five hours away. We climbed well, and the next day was a recovery and acclimatization day with a short hike; hoping for a recovery. The boys were having to do everything now, from putting my socks on to picking up what I dropped. The higher I go from this point the harder it will be to rescue me.

Luke and Gabe have come down with altitude sickness early. Luke took migraine meds he brought with him and feels better. Gabe has already lost his appetite, and Amos is making him limewater and making him eat. We have two days until we try to summit and it’s not looking good.

Later that night, things get better. First, Gabe eats. Amos tells him even if he throws up, which he did, he will feel better which he also did. Luke was still having issues and spending time in the only sit down toilet we would see in 6 days. I think they named the stall after him. He used up our last bottled water, and now we drink treated water the rest of the trip. Gabe and I are keeping the last wet wipes for emergencies.

We are finally laughing again. The park ranger comes knocking telling us they need our extra bunk. In walks Mr. Chow, (which Isn't his name but he speaks no English). We introduce ourselves and he just bows, so we name him Mr. Chow from The Hangover movie as he has a slight resemblance. We clear our gear off the top bunk. Already in our sleeping bags for the night trying to stay warm and Mr. Chow drops his pants in the middle of the room releasing a stench worse than me. That night he proves he can snore louder than Gabe and fart louder than Luke. He is a master. There are twenty other Chinese climbers in his party. I think it was no accident he was odd man out and exiled to live with us.

Luke

Gabe

Definitely feeling the altitude. I felt terrible earlier with a headache, shortness of breath, and nausea, but my boy Amos made me some special concoction and I drank it and surprisingly felt better. It is freezing now and I have to sleep in the same gear that I traveled in so needless to say it’s super dirty and dusty in my sleeping bag. Also, we get to share a room with a Chinese guy that dad kept calling Mr. Chow even though that was not his name. He woke everyone up at 5:00 a.m. when he was getting up to take pictures of the sunrise.

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