27 climbers still eager to reach the summit

This blog is not written by Martina since she had to abandon the climb and was flown to the Nairobi Hospital. We still want to keep Martina’s fans as well as friends and family of the 27 climbers who are still on the mountain informed about the last days of the climb. Here are today’s events:

Obviously all awoke this morning gutted to hear the sad news that Martina had had to abandon the climb.

She was assisted down the mountain by porters and driven to the nearby Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre for assessment, then, as a precaution, she was flown to the Nairobi Hospital for further tests which showed she was suffering from high altitude pulmonary oedema – an accumulation of fluid in the lungs.

Dr David Silverstein, consultant in cardiology and internal medicine at the Nairobi Hospital, said: “Basically this is fluid in the lungs related to high altitude. It is potentially dangerous when someone is at high altitude, but once brought down, recovery is quick. Martina is doing well and will continue to do well.
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DAY FOUR: Thursday December 9, 2010

Crossing the Saddle to Horombo (Altitude: 3,700m)

Enjoying the view from 4.500 metres above sea level

Hi All,

Today we have headed south towards Horombo, crossing the dramatic and windswept Saddle, a barren plain of alpine desert between Mawenzi and Kibo, Kilimanjaro’s two peaks.

The weather is a little better, but the going is getting tougher and tougher. It seems to be constantly steep and as we started to approach the highest point yet, 4,500 metres above sea level, sheer exhaustion sets in for much of the group, and with heavy legs and chests pounding due to a lack of oxygen, every step becomes an effort.

It is also a team effort to climb the Kilimanjaro

We followed a path stretching out ahead of us where we were supposed to enjoy breathtaking views of the mountain, but the swirling cloud is limiting that.

After reaching 4,500 metres, we were thankful to start heading down towards the Horombo campsite, at 3,700 metres, providing the opportunity for much needed rest and a chance to acclimatise.

The brave group celebrates

We have two days to go before we reach the summit and the group’s mood is fluctuating between exhaustion and exhilaration. It has been tougher than I imagined, but that is when everyone has come together to support each other.

Martina

The team need all the help they can get to reach their fundraising target, so show your support and sponsor them at www.laureus.com/get-involved/kili

The camp for the night

DAY THREE: Wednesday December 8, 2010
Mawenzi Tarn (4,330 metres)

Mount Kilimanjaro behind clouds

Hi All,

Well, no one prepared me for this. As we headed for Mawenzi Tarn, we have had to fight our way through blizzards and cope with unexpected bitter cold.  The snow is not settling on the ground, thank goodness, but still the conditions are very difficult and unpleasant.

Martina and the brave Laureus fundraisers are climbing at over 4000m

The guides tell me this is most unusual, but that is not much consolation. I brought my sun-block with me, but clearly that’s not going to be needed. We have sent a message down to out base camp to bring up thicker gloves, hand warmers and more heavy clothing.

I was expecting it to be cold and snowy, but not so soon. One thing is clear – it’s going to add to the difficulty of the climb, but we are all in good spirits and the difficult conditions have brought us even more together as a group.

Martina's still having fun

We should have been walking above the cloudline at increasingly high altitude, but we really have no idea what is around us. There are no views, we are walking through thick mist unable to see more than a couple of metres ahead.

After four hours of trekking, we reached Mawenzi Tarn campsite, situated right underneath the dramatic and jagged spires of Mawenzi, in a protected hollow and next to a tiny lake. There were supposed to be superb views across the saddle to Kibo, but sadly we have not been able to enjoy that.

After our lunch we were supposed to be going on an acclimatization walk where we went up and down the mountain to get a taste of an even higher altitutde, but we have had to cancel that. It would just be too difficult and too dangerous.

Lunch in the tent

Climbing high and then returning lower to sleep is an important part of allowing our bodies to get used to the altitude, but we are not going to be able to do that now. We have been playing charades to keep our spirits up. It’s not what I expected, but you have to get on and cope with whatever you find.

Dont forget to sponsor the team and help us reach our fundraising target, at www.laureus.com/get-involved/kili

Thanks
Martina

Martina Navratilova on Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania

Latest update from Martina as the team makes their way towards the summit via the Rongai Route:

DAY TWO: Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Kikelewa Caves (3,600 metres)

Martina and the group on the way to the summit

Hi All,

Day two of the Mount Kilimanjaro climb, and the team and I are enjoying a well deserved rest at camp after an intense day of trekking.

We were woken this morning at 6.30am for breakfast, before departing camp at 8am. Today’s route was quite steep from the outset, but as we crossed the heather moorland, we had the chance to take in breathtaking views of the summit, and with it the realisation of how far we have got to climb!

We can also see that there is LOADS of snow on the summit. We were warned about this, but now we can see the reality. It means it’s going to be very, very cold at the top.

Mount Kilimanjaro

After a break for lunch, the walk became increasingly difficult, as we trekked towards the jagged peaks of Mawezi, Kilimanjaro’s second peak. We were warned that we may start feeling the effects of altitude at this point, as we climb beyond 3,000 metres. The porters are right, most of us are beginning to get out of breath and finding the walking more difficult.

The porters are keeping us going by singing lots. We’re trying to pick up the words to join in, but we don’t have the lung capacity that they do. They are used to the altitude.

Paralympic cyclist Michael Teuber is amazing, he keeps walking past me at a great pace, and he doesn’t stop smiling.

Michael Teuber

After what feels like a long afternoon of walking, eventually the tents at Kikewela caves are spotted in the distance, a relief for all of us after a hard day of trekking!

Martina

The team need all the help they can get to reach their fundraising target, so show your support and sponsor them at www.laureus.com/get-involved/kili

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