Dawn, day 3

Spending a night in a tent at 13,000 ft was a new experience for me.

Being so cold and also being on the Equator took some thinking about.

I learned fast. You get dressed in the sleeping bag, for example. You put the new day's clothes into the sleeping bag for a few minutes before you put them on. That way they've warmed up (or at least de-frosted) before you put them on.

You go to bed after dinner - about 8pm. It's too cold to sit about, even with all the layers on.

Day 3. And 3 more long treks before the climb to the summit on Day 6.

It is possible to get there faster. However, the "climb high - sleep low" approach which our organiser uses helps avoid altitude sickness by allowing more time for the body to adjust. It adds a day to the expedition, but it's worth it.