Shira I to Shira II - Blog

By:  BW Admin  (9/4/2018)

Date:  10/17/2016

This blog is part of the trip: Kowtowing to Kilimanjaro - The nine day western approach

We awoke this morning to the news that the hiker who had taken ill was not going to be able to continue on the trek, and another hiker who had come with him had volunteered to accompany him off the mountain to assist getting him medical care once in the city. He was later diagnosed with pneumonia so in hindsight this was the pertinent decision at the time. We all had breakfast together one last time and then they did a short hike to an access road where they were taken out by van.

The somber mood in the group from the night before was downright funereal now. The three remaining hikers walked most of the morning without saying a word. As the group size was cut down they also sent a lot of the porters and guides out as they were no longer needed with less people. This is one of the easier stretches of the hike, the trail is mostly level ground with some mild peaks and valleys to traverse.