Climb Aftermath

Memories:

• Anna, who had never climbed before and was thus unaware of the existence of the Freshette, She Pee, or Go Girl, went to Home Depot to buy a pee funnel. Would that be the same funnel used to put oil in your car? The vision of beautiful Anna asking for this at Home Depot really made me laugh. Luckily, Susan had an extra new and unused Go Girl that she gifted to Anna.

• Brad's "Strong like bull, smart like dump truck"

• Watching Tom eat ugali and curry with his hands at the Arusha Hotel

• Poor Daryn's "deer in the headlights" stare when he was suffering from GI distress

• Doug's infectious perseverance and enthusiasm

• Pili pili, the excruciatingly hot salsa that often accompanied our meals

• Susan dancing in the morning with the Tanzanians

• The hope that the Tanzanians will one day adopt "Leave No Trace" so that toilet paper will no longer be found behind every large rock

• "Last Card," the game the guides and porters played in camp

• Travis's birthday cake at dinner after summiting

• The unique smell of the porters as they rushed by us on the trail

•  Being presented with a cake shaped like Kili by the kitchen/wait staffs at the first two hotels on safari

•  The $9 sandwich at the Kili airport that contained one tablespoon of tunafish

• The acrobat/flame-twirler/limbo performers at Pepe's

• HAIF (high altitude-induced flatulence) after we were all served cabbage at 13,000 feet

• Steve snoring soundly every night

• Watching Travis practically run to the summit

• Following AJ's rhythmic rest step

• The delicious hot soups, fresh fruits and vegetables served at every lunch and dinner

• Lots and lots of laughs with the Kili Goats!

 See, I told you the jackets weren't pink

Climbs on the bucket list:

Trek to Everest Base Camp and possible climb to Camp II

Mont Blanc

Elbrus

Hood

Shasta

Island Peak

Rainier via the Emmons route