Fuckadoodleday

A bad start as we get up at 2am. We have our coffee and toast but Dan isn't well. After four or five trips to the toilet tent to empty one end, he vomits a few times to empty the other then declares himself fit for the summit climb. We're not sure and, if it had been one of us, think the sleeping bag would be a more appealing option. But after a chat with Surya, he thinks he's all emptied and is determined to give it a go. He's done Kilamanjaro so does have some experience and knows what he's in for. We head off for the first couple of hours steep climb before it levels off, just leaving the very last hour or hour and a half which is really hard apparently.

The first part is steep but we go slowly stopping for vomit breaks for Dan who is struggling to catch his breath at times but he's determined and it makes a nice easy pace for us so we are finding it fine. We really feel for him as he's running on empty but he keeps on. We give him one of our sticks and Andy takes his bag and continue. We reach the plateau and take it steadily for a while. Then the next climb begins. It's not too steep to begin with but it's all volcanic scree so is hard work, like walking uphill in sand ... one step forward and half a step back. It's already coming light as we reach the really tricky bit and Dan is still hanging on in there but it's sheer determination on his part. It's pretty horrendous as you climb up the steep scree for about an hour but eventually we make the summit of 3726m ... what an achievement. Well done us and particularly well done Dan. It's freezing so a few pics and we're heading back down. Surya stays with Dan and we go ahead sliding our way down the scree ... it's fun but hard on the legs and we both fall a few times.

Back at camp we have breakfast and wait for Dan and Surya. The plan had been to hike down to the lake and hot pools (3 hours steep downhill) then to the second view point and campsite (2 hours steep uphill) for the night. Dan is spent though and can't keep anything down so needs to rest. Instead we head to the lake with one of the porters with a plan to come back to our original camp. Our round trip to the summit and back was six hours and this will be the same so it's tough but off we go. It's a really hot steep clamber down but we have a dip in the cool lake before heading to the hot pools which are lovely. We had talked about camping at the lake if Dan could make it but it would have left us with a horrendous trek tomorrow so we decided against it. It's a bit dirty down here so we're actually quite pleased ... until we begin the walk back up to our campsite on already sore legs. It's horrendously steep and really difficult. Parts of it feel like proper climbing and Andy reassures Fred by warning her to be careful of her step as if she puts a foot wrong it may be her last!!

Finally we are back at camp. It's been a mentally and physically exhausting day. We are fed well again and treated to another amazing.sunset then disappear into the tent to try and get some sleep. Thank f*** that's over ... only five hours back to our starting point tomorrow ... if we can walk that is!