Previous
Mount Kenya Trek: A Porter's Diary on Sirimon - Chogoria Traverse (Day 3)
by stanley gichohi
Earlier articles in this series:
- Mount Kenya Trek: A Porter's Diary on Sirimon - Chogoria Traverse (Day 1)
- Mount Kenya Trek: A Porter's Diary on Sirimon - Chogoria Traverse (Day 2)
DAY 3: FULL DAY AT THE SHIPTON'S CAMP
I open my eyes to the bright rays of sun rise and notice that I'm alone in the bunkhouse. Before I jump down I suddenly recall that today is our lazy day as the whole day will be spent here at camp while Evans takes the trekkers for a day hike to acclimatize properly.
I head to the kitchen where I get the other porters seated around the burning stove. It's only seven A.M and Breakfast is to be served in an hour's time. The climbers are still in bed and we are all hoping that they wake up in good form.
Within the next half hour, I'm playing busy with breakfast. Eventually everything is ready and kept safely as we wait for the climbers to wake up. Meantime we prepare ours too. Before long, Evans tells us that they're already at the table and we quickly deliver their breakfast.
At around ten in the morning, Evans takes the climbers for a day hike as we remain behind to prepare lunch as it's the time that they normally get back to camp. As they leave for the hike, most of us rush back to the bunkhouse for more dreams.
Time for preparing lunch gets me deep in sleep as the cook pulls away at my sleeping bag. After a big click I nevertheless follow him to the kitchen... within no time lunch is ready. We quickly serve lunch and rush outside in search of rays. From the rocks we watch other groups literally limp to the camp.
We lazy around till the sun go down, after which we get back to the kitchen to organize dinner.
I light the charcoal burner and carry it to the kitchen.
When everyone is done with serving dinner, I have a huge gathering around the charcoal burner where stories are shared, some quite wicked! But that's another story…
Today, we serve Dinner early since the climbers will leave for the summit attempt at three A.M. We too sleep early as we expect to leave by the crack of dawn.
Tonight I'm very keen on overloading my guts as the first steps in the morning will be quite an ascent. I do my final round in the kitchen and head to the bunker! It's a very chilly night and I curl myself in the sleeping bag, but with the help of my full stomach it doesn't take long to doze off.
Have a lazy day too!
Join me at the crack dawn as I see the climbers off to the summit. Will they make it?
Let's hear it tommorow from Evans the guide.
Read more articles in this series:
