On Friday morning Laurel and I were picked up by a very comfortable 25 passenger van/bus and we headed to Hamomi excited to meet the standard 8 students, Edwin, and Musumba. When we arrived at school all of the students were crowded around with a number of teachers, all with big grins on their faces, excited for the luxury ride we were about take. I collected some first aid supplies, and after making sure everyone had packed the warm clothes they needed and the hats, gloves and socks we had given them, we all boarded the bus and were off. The students were bouncing off the walls with excitement, or maybe it was just the terrible Kenyan roads. After a stop at the Equator and a lunch break at a nyama choma (grilled meat) place, our long drive finally came to a close. The last hour of the trip was spent gazing at the at the mountain we were about to climb. Mt. Kenya, like all of the Rift Valley has a very interesting geological history. It was once a strata-volcano and is shaped like a gargantuan dome with huge peaks shooting out of the center from its eruption ages ago. At 17,058 feet, the peaks are the only place in the country that sees snow and it covers them year round.
We finally arrived at our destination, Sirimon Gate, and were immediately greeted by a troupe of baboons. It was getting to be later in the afternoon, so Laurel and I were getting a bit anxious at the prospect of getting to camp after dark. So, we immediately headed out for our 9km hike to Old Moses Camp, which is at an elevation of just under 11,000ft. I explained to the students a number of times that the air is less dense at this altitude and that hiking slowly and drinking plenty of water was the best way to cope with the elevation. However, they preferred to run up the trail until exhaustion set in, then wait for Laurel and I to catch up before repeating the process again.
We finally made it to our camp just before sundown where it was a bit chilly. The students and teachers promptly put on all of the clothes they brought. When advised them to take off any under layers that were damp from sweat then to bundle up, one of the students asked me how and why I was only wearing a t-shirt. Laurel and I laughed and told them the temperature was similar to an average fall day for us and that I was quite used to it. As it got darker outside the temperature continued to drop and settled in the mid-30s. When it was apparent the students and teachers were uncomfortably chilled, we decided it was definitely time for some of my NOLS games and some of Laurel’s STLF games. We taught the kids a dancing game, human knot, a game where you stand front to back in a circle and all try to sit on each others laps at the same time, but the absolute favorite was Big Booty (a chanting rhythm game). I’m not sure if the movement warmed up the students and teachers or if their minds were just taken off the cold, but the hour before dinner was an absolute blast and even though these were the coldest temperature the students and teachers had ever experienced nobody seemed chilled at all.
After enjoying a delicious and plentiful dinner, I began telling everyone about yetis. I started out the story telling them about the size of these creatures, a few of their commonly know traits and told them that these creatures are reported to live at high elevations, similar to where we were camped. I then explained that these beasts were known to help stranded hikers who respected the mountains they hiked. It was at this time I decided to stray a bit from the myths I’ve heard and make my own. At one point in that days hike I scolded a few of the boys for throwing stones at some birds. So, I added that although these creatures are usually good to hikers, those who disrespect wildlife and the mountains they climb have been know to be taken by yetis in the night and never seen again. The boys immediately decided that it was too cold to sleep alone and they would be sleeping 3 to a bed.
After the story and a cup of tea, everyone was ready for bed. The only problem was no one was quite sure what to think of sleeping bags. After demonstrating how to get into one, Musumba asked "so its like a giant sock?" "Yeah, pretty much." we responded. Laurel and I zipped up the sleeping bags for everyone, including the teachers and everyone, bundled from head to toe in anticipation for a cold night, soon fell asleep.
Day Two tomorrow!
- Eric
Just amazing! What a great experience for all of you!! I know everyone who helped make this trip possible by the donations will love reading about it. Thanks for sharing it with us!Can't wait to hear about the next day!
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