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6:30 am Made it to Gillmans Point and said that was enough....at the time I thought I could go ahead and go on and try to make it to Uhuru (the peak behind my head). But I knew I probably would not be able to enjoy the rest of the climb back down if I did keep pushing myself. I was there to take pictures after all. Ryan had set a goal to get to the top, the climb was just a little cherry on top for me. I was glad I didn't the next day because it took me 3 hours just to get back down to our tent at Kibo campsite because my knees and my whole legs were shot. It felt like trying to walk with both legs half asleep. Actually it was mostly sliding due to the thick snow and the scree. For the next 3 days I felt like I was 99 years old and someone had beaten my legs with a pillowcase full of hammers. The best part was we didn't get to stay the night at Kibo once we got back from the summit we had to start the descent that day....so yea....another 6-8 hours of tortuous walking on battered appendages! We slept very well that night after we finally got back to our hotel. I think I will do a little more training next time!
I was able to get up and spend the next day with our Guide Abraham visiting some of the local shops, bars and artists around town. It was cool to spend time with some locals. Whenever I tried to kneel down to take a photo my legs would start shaking and give out on me, but I managed 8). Ryan didn't leave the hotel that day.
