The Trek: Day 6

It was like the final day of the tour de france on the route from Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate. There was no difficult paths or strenuous effort needed it was just a simple case of getting to the finish in tact. The weather treated us well on the entire trek with few adverse conditions, but then rain started to fall through the canopy of trees that hung overhead. It didn’t dampen our spirits though as we continued chatting and laughing all the way.

The most challenging experience of my 30 years on this planet was about to come to a welcomed end. The gate was visible at the end of the path and 5 minutes later we’d arrived. There were different expressions on peoples face to what there’d been on summit night, all around were faces of relief and elation that it was finally all over.

There is one group of people that were essential and we wouldn’t have made it if they had not have been with us every step of the way. The porters did everything for us. They carried our main rucksacks with what looked great ease to each and every camp, they cooked and cleaned for us, they set up and dismantled our tents, and they were all really great. To see them climb up the mountain, with a huge weight on their heads, with what appeared such ease is quite unbelievable. Abel and Leonce were also a vital part of the group as they set the pace and always made us feel as though we would achieve the impossible.