On this page you will find my blog posts for this trip in chronological order.
So…you think you want to climb Kili, eh?
At this point I’m not even sure I do. Wracked with self doubt, I don’t know if I can. But I intend to try. I spent two weeks back in January trying to muster up the courage to register for this trip. I’ve been dreaming about climbing Kilimanjaro “someday” and that someday became NOW. Read more…
Ending my first post with, “What will I forget to pack?” totally jinxed it!!!
I spent three days packing and re-packing for what felt like four different trips. First, the twelve days in New Mexico and Colorado to camp and do some training hikes while acclimating to altitude (increasing my chances of summiting Kili without the dreaded altitude sickness). Then, it’s off to Tanzania! Read more…
Some Exciting days…hiking, relaxing, and calling 911?
Yesterday:
I woke up ridiculously early and caught the sunrise while enjoying coffee. Then I hit the trail early and did a 6 mile hike with 1600+ ft. of elevation gain/loss. Read more…
If you read the first post for this trip, then you know how deeply I doubt my ability to do this (hike Kilimanjaro). But I came to New Mexico and Colorado to acclimate to high altitude and do some training hikes…hoping that maybe it would give me a better shot.
On my last full day in Albuquerque, I decided to test myself with a big hike. The La Luz trail to Sandia Peak is 8 miles and 3,500 feet in elevation gain ending at 10,500 ft. It is a BEAST of a hike.
On Sunday night I got a tummy ache, my belly ballooned up and I thought, “Damn, I must have eaten something bad.”I woke up several times with my stomach distended and pain down my right side. By morning, it seemed a little better, but still there. I had some diarrhea and thought, “Yep, I ate something bad. Maybe it’s the trail mix I’ve been eating, maybe it’s the veggie omelet I had earlier.” I decided it was indigestion and trapped gas, and I just needed to work it out.
I am currently admitted to the hospital in Frisco, Colorado.
When I got to the ER yesterday, the wait was short and things moved quickly. CAT scans of my abdomen happened and the surgeon came in to talk to me.
Old Title: Alive, Intact and Free…but Sad. New Title: This sucks big hairy donkey balls!
They released me from the hospital on Thursday, just a handful of hours before I was supposed to board a plane for Africa. The simple task of going into Walmart in Frisco to pick up my medications and grab some food that conforms to my mandated restricted diet, wiped me out. I found myself leaning over the cart handle to rest, using the lattice of metal and plastic to hold me up.As we drove to Denver, a battle waged inside.
know, it’s been a minute since my last post. Boy was I in a funk that day! The past week has been pretty great, time with my husband immersed in timeless scenery is hard to beat. Since a week is alot of ground to cover and WAY too much reading…I’ll give you the highlights.
Hot and Springy and Rosie Gets a BJ
Hot and Springy – that’s how I felt at Bozeman Hot Springs, but not at first. Strangely, rather than hightail it over to the pools after check-in, I procrastinated in the van. I felt some kind of inner reluctance that surprised me, and I’m still not sure where it came from. As usual when I’m avoiding, I found ways to distract and occupy myself.
Havre’in a Great Time in Havre Montana
I pull out onto US Route 2 and try see the road through the Jackson Pollok of bug guts that is Rosie’s windshield. Mostly brown and black with splashes of yellow, green, purple and red…it is a murderous masterpiece. I’m not sure how I feel about spending all my time with a mass murderer, but I love my girl Rosie and I forgive her penchant for insect massacre.
Gettin’ Giddy with some Giddy-Up in Wolf Point, Montana
I went to Wolf Point for two reasons, it was on my way to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota AND because they had a big Rodeo scheduled for just the right days…as if they did it just for me. I’ve never been to a real Pro Rodeo before. I’ve seen rodeo-esque events at fairs, but not the real deal. I wanted to see a Pro Rodeo and I wanted to do it in Rodeo Country. What better place than a small town in Northeast Montana?