The Adventure- Final Ascent Part 1, Kibo Hut to Williams Point

The lights of Kibo Hut with the
moonlight

The guides wake us up at 11:00 PM, and we dress in our warmest clothes. After a quick snack of hot tea and biscuits, we're off. The cold at 15500 feet during the night is unbelievable, although we warm up quickly. Looking up, we can see the stars. Looking forward, we can see the dark outline of the mountain and the tiny white lights marking the positions of the other climber's headlights, zigzagging their way towards Gilman's Point. Looking behind us, we can see the lights of Kibo Hut getting further and further away as we go up, and the dark outline of Mawenzi. We all seem to be feeling fine, but I am developing a headache. We are hiking as slowly as we can, because of restricted oxygen at this altitude. John Skoda, Yohannes Skoda, and Troy are a bit behind us with two other guides. The scree slope is supposed to frozen, but this is not true. The trail doesn't have switchbacks, but it does snake its way up. My headache is constantly getting worse. I take a headache pill, but it doesn't help. I am also feeling nauseous. Finally, I have to stop and heave a few times before we can keep marching. We stop at the bottom of a huge overhang rock, and the guide tells us that it is the 5000 meter mark. He also tells us to keep going, but I feel so exhausted. We go around the rock and get to the top. I feel as if I can collapse and go to sleep. The guide tells me that the Hans Meyer Caves aren't far away, but I can't take it. I step to the side and heave several times, throwing up all the water I had drank. Everyone agrees that it is time for me to turn around. David, one of the guides, is the one to accompany me back. Just as we are about to leave, John and his crew catch up. I am called a "soldier" by Yohannes, and am told that I did better than any other kid my age would have done. Then, we set off back down the scree, almost running, to Kibo Hut.