Slight scare last night when one of our party suffered AMS, but woke up feeling fresh as the flowers outside our tents! Prepared for up to 10 hours of putting one foot in front of the other. But you just need momentum and some good memory games! The mountain is towering above us. Looks so close, like it’s toying with us! Cold has attacked us but we are well prepared and already layering. Feel like the Michelin man! Ha ha..

Chemmy with Jules

[added by Stephan]

Here is Wikipedia’s definition of AMS:

Altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness (AMS), altitude illness, or soroche, is a pathological condition that is caused by acute exposure to low air pressure (usually outdoors at high altitudes). It commonly occurs above 2,400 metres (approximately 8,000 feet).[1] Acute mountain sickness can progress to high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) or high altitude cerebral edema (HACE).[2]

Altitude sickness is caused by reduced partial pressure of oxygen. The percentage of oxygen in air remains essentially constant with altitude at 21 percent, but the air pressure (and therefore the number of oxygen molecules) drops with altitude.[3] Altitude sickness usually does not affect persons traveling in aircraft because modern aircraft passenger compartments are pressurized.

A related condition,[citation needed] occurring only after prolonged exposure to high altitude, is chronic mountain sickness, also known as Monge’s disease.

I feels like an eternity of planning has gone into this moment, and now I finally strap on my worn-in hiking boots, tie them tight and head on out. It’s a bit overcast and we’re likely to get some rain. GoreTex to the rescue! More later… Chemmy with Jules

We are just about ready for departure from Arusha Hotel. Had my last shower for the rest of the week just now. Surprisingly, I didn’t even really dwell on the fact that I was going to go without hot water for 7 days. I’m just too excited to get this expedition on the way! – Chemmy and Jules