The Porters

I really don't know where to begin - the Porters were absolutely bloomin' amazing.

When preparing for this climb I, like many others I'm sure, did everything, trained for everything, bought everything, planned for everything.  Literally everything.

I would get up each morning and put on my expensive hiking boots, branded trekking trousers, a top designed specifically for walking, trekking socks (not normal socks).  And then pick up my bag, specifically designed for mountain climbing with handy pockets just where you need them.

We would leave the camp at 7.30 each day - and before too long be complaining a bit about the heat, how tired we were, how the altitude was getting to us.  Panicking about getting blisters, about whether our shoulders would be sore from carrying the bag all day.  Wondering what height setting we needed our walking poles on for this particular part of the climb.

Our team unloading the bus at the starting point

Porters waiting to get the kit weighed

Then someone would shout one word that everyone knew, and knew what to do when they heard it - "PORTERS!".

This word was the best word you could hear as it meant porters were coming past and you needed to stop and move to the side to let them past.  They gave you an excuse to stop and catch your breath.  I loved every single porter on the mountain for forcing me to stop walking, even just for one minute.

The porters would walk past - every single one with a massive smile on their face and acknowledging you with "jambo"meaning hello.  They would walk past in flip flops with 3 tents on their head and a bag on their back.  Smiling despite us in all of our kit complaining!

There was a clear hierarchy among the porters, the team were all managed by our Chief Guide Deo, who in turn was supported by Jacob.  The other 'senior' member of the team was Barak the Chef.  Each morning either Deo or Jacob would stay behind at camp help the porters pack everything up and move on to the next camp.  They would then catch us up on the climb.

I know I've said it before but I genuinely could not have completed the climb without Deo and Jacob. Jacob for his infectious smile and Deo just for his quiet, unflappable ability to manage everything and everyone around him.

Deo (left) and Jacob (right) the summit in the background looming

Jacobs infectious smile

Deo overseeing the porters

Barak the chef

After packing the camp up, the porters overtook us on the walk only to get to the next camp and set everything up for us.  While we were still just an hour in to the days walk.  Once everything was set up some of them would even come back to meet us and carry our bags.

Joseph navigating the rocks with my bag on his front and Davids bag on his back

Joseph giving David a supportive 'man hug' on the summit climb

We met the team on the bus and couldn't help but giggle when they just kept getting on.  It was like there was a back door and they were all getting off the bus and walking around to get back on again as they just kept coming!  It was a massive comfort to know there were so many of them, all very experienced and all very relaxed - if they weren't worried I wasn't worried.  Deo alone leads 18 climbs a year, thats more than once a month he gets to the summit - I was clearly in good hands.

The whole team on the bus.

You may have read a blog post I did a few months before the climb about the Kilimanjaro Song.  The Kilimanjaro song is traditionally sung by the porters to the climbers after reaching the summit.  Well our boys didn't disappoint.  Watch this space as the videos will be available shortly!

Huge thanks to each and every one of the team for their support!  I really will never forget it.