Climb4Freedom Expedition Update

18 FEBRUARY 2011

Our first day of hiking through the jungle brought us torrential rains.  The conditions were extreme as we slogged through slippery mud. Each step was taken with care as none of us wanted to go down and wind up full of muck.

After 5.5 hours of hiking through these wet conditions and climbing more than 4,000 feet  (1,300 meters) we have arrived at our campsite.  We are currently at 10,000 feet (3,300 meters).  The air is definitely thinner than the London smog we are used to but it feels great to get getter closer and closer to our long awaited goal.

The flora of the day = Impatience Flower that only blooms at the foot of Kilimanjaro.  So very beautiful and special to see something so rare in the world.

Our  Chagga porters have been amazing.  These men are the Tanzanian equivalent of Nepalese Sherpas.  They are strong and fit and go about their business admirably.  Because our group is so large, we have 57 Chagga porters.  That’s right – 57!!   These experienced porters were able to transform a bare campsite into a village in about an hour.  Simply awesome!!

Too bad we couldn’t have hired a couple more Chaggas to bring a proper loo along because our porta-loo leaves so much to be desired.  No need for the details, but suffice to say we won’t be lounging around near the loo!

We are all in great spirits and thanks to our local cooks who make the most wonderful vegetable stew ever, our bellies are doing fine as well.

Tomorrow we are up early for a day where we will be peaking the temperate zone and heading above the canopy.  The views and the weather should start to change dramatically.  More adventure – YEAH!

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FEBRUARY 17, 2011 – MOSHI, TANZANIA

We woke up this am and the team is all here

We met our amazing guides and went for an easy hike.  We were priviledged to see  the incredible and rare blue monkey.   We had an opportunity to see how the locals live (mostly in mud huts) and we had our first sight of THE  MOUNTAIN without the typical cloud covering.  A picture perfect day!

The mountain is much more imposing than we had imagined.  To compound matters, locals told us there is more snow on it than they have seen it in the last 5 yrs!  We met one team which just returned after their 12 hr summit.  It typically takes 7 hours but a 1/2 metre of snow slowed them down dramatically.  Nonetheless, we’re excited – there is a challenge ahead but we  are  ’girl power’ led by an incredible guide and we are pumped!!! Bring on Kili !!!

God listen, our chief African guide, invited us to his house where his wife cooked us a delicious lunch. The local delicacy banana soup!!!

Tonight we packed and it took hours.  We had to  place each item in zip lock bags after the excruciatingly painful decisions of what to leave behind (sorry hair!) - only taking essentials!! – we have to carry it all!

Up at 6am tomorrow – to kick start our incredible adventure!!!

We are expecting and are prepared for muddy terrain and  rain.  However we know the sun is going to shine!

All of us are in high spirits! A few bumps! A lost bag! – a little jet lag! – but we have rallied around and we are all set!!

Its an exciting start to our adventure!!

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FEBRUARY 16 – ARRIVAL DAY!

Well, we all made it into Tanzania and are spending the night in our hotel in Moshi.  Tais and Stephanie had the longest to travel (from Denver, Colorado, USA).  The rest of us made it from London  either via Amsterdam – Nairobi or direct Nairobi to Kilimanjaro.

15 women walking through Moshi, Tanzania with heels, hair, nails and make-up aren’t exactly inconspicuous.  Things will probably be a little different after 8 days of hygeine deprivation.  But we’re expecting the glow of accomplishment to make up for the lack spa services.

Tomorrow we take it easy, get used to our surroundings and organise our gear for Day 1 of climbing.  We have a hard journey ahead but know that our faith will carry us through and that the victims of human trafficking need us to succeed to bring awareness to their plight!

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Empower – For the Climb4Freedom Mission

Most of us have heard the saying: “Information is Power”. It is shocking to many when they learn about the facts of Human Trafficking.

‘Climb 4 Freedom’ aims to educate individuals about the lives of men, women and children who are brought into the cruel reality which Human Trafficking has become.

For Human Trafficking to prevail all it needs are people who aren’t informed, choose not to become educated in the subject and do nothing to change that. All it needs is for you to read this and move on with your day as if nothing happened. Are you going to let that happen?

Our so-called “free” society is at risk once we choose to be ignorant in this matter.

Climb 4 Freedom calls upon everyone to educate themselves and raise awareness on this difficult matter so that we can join forces and put an end to Human Slavery. We aim to create a World Against Human Trafficking so that we can be a World Free of Human Trafficking. This is not an impossible dream! It is a very specific and realistic goal which we are determined to pursue.

‘It is heartbreaking to watch these videos and realise such horrific things happen right under our noses. For many of us here, reading this, watching this video, it is very difficult to truly grasp the idea of what the life of a victim of Human Trafficking is like. Unfortunately, these are facts. No one should have to go through this, no one should have a price tag. The thought of how vulnerable these individuals are in such a tragic situation is deeply saddening.  It is up to every single one of us whether we will let this continue throughout the world we live in’.