Horombo Huts to Kibo Huts

The next morning, we got up early and set off for the high camp, the Kibo Hut at the base of the steep slopes leading to the summit.

As we got higher, the terrain changed from heather and brush to an alpine desert. We reached the Kibo Hut at midday and kicked back to rest up for the midnight summit attempt.

The Kibo Hut is a large building consisting of about a half-dozen rooms, each with eight to fifteen bunks. We wound up bunking with a great group of people. There was a German couple, a Norwegian guy named TJ, an Australian gut named Al, a Swiss guy and an Englishman.

Everyone in our room was successful, however the German couple turned back at Gilman Point, the equivalent turning back at the crater rim on Mt. Rainier instead of going to the true summit.

It seems that only about half of the people staying at the Kibo Hut that night even made it as far as Gilman Point.

We hit the sack early. At around 8 or 9 that night some thunderstorms moved in. It started snowing and we were cursing our luck.

Then at about 10 that night, Mitch and I came down with servere stomach cramps. It seemed that our luck with food had run out as well... it was time for Kibo's Revenge.

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