Wow!

Dawn at 9,300 ft.

By 7.30 we were on the trail. By 5 pm at Kikelewa (camp 2) we were at 11,800 ft. We did get a good lunch break, but it was tough.

I hadn't slept well. My first night under canvas in a sleeping bag for maybe 35 years.

I might have coped with that, but it was also my first night after starting the anti altitude sickness medication. It's also a diuretic. I was out of the tent in a hurry 5 times during the night.

5!

To add insult to injury, part of the regime for keeping the altitude sickness away is drinking 5-6 litres of water every day. OK, the activity uses up a lot of it, but you still have plenty in your system at sundown. In fact, that's the idea!