Our living room is full of piles of gear, waiting for a final sort and packing. Yesterday we were making decisions on expedition weight parkas and sleeping bags - Dave has a selection from previous climbs and trips. Since it was humid and 85 degrees in Minneapolis, the trying on sessions were brief! We have decided to use the outfitter's tent, but take our own parkas and bags, to ensure that we are truly warm the night before the summit climb. Since we will be traveling in East Africa for seven weeks, we have to carefully plan where we will store the gear after the climb, and what else we will need for a budget trip where we may be camping or doing our own cooking at times. I am the detail person, while Dave is the big picture dreamer, so he is keeping in mind the weather conditions that we need to be prepared for, while I am figuring out our cash flow and reservations. We compliment each other!
One of our sons is joining us for two weeks midway through our travels, so these final days also include planning sessions with him, along with phone calls to family members who are wishing us well.
The ultimate test - packing - resulted in two large suitcases that were well below the airline weight limit of 50 lbs, but full nonetheless. The parka and sleeping bag and sleeping mats do not compress a lot. It is hard to travel light when you plan to do both mountaineering and snorkeling!
The record of a middle aged US woman, only moderately fit, who will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in July 2010. The intent of the blog is both to share details of the climb, and to provide some inspiration to others who are contemplating a life challenge.
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