Is Not Chicago

“And there, ahead, all he could see, as wide as all the world, great, high, and unbelievably white in the sun, was the square top of Kilimanjaro. And then he knew that there was where he was going.” - Ernest Hemmingway

I’ve been doing quite a bit of traveling lately, mainly for fun, but preparation and training has been my rationalization. In a little over two weeks time, the next adventure shall come to pass. A journey to Africa and an epic ascent through jungle and snow to over 19,000 feet above sea level. Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest peak in Africa, will be my next destination.

I will be departing Chicago on June 26 for a couple short layovers in Florida, London, and Paris to visit friends (plus I somehow have never made it to Paris before), and then arriving in Tanzania on the 4th of July. (I do confess, I feel slightly unpatriotic being out of the country for Independence Day, but c’est la vie.) I will be meeting my friend Julienne in Moshi, Tanzania. She left just last week to begin volunteer work there. Her blog Julienne Wanders she started for this trip is so far wonderful. I’ll have a full day in Moshi to acclimate and prepare, then begin our 7 day trek up the Machame Route, aka the “Whiskey Route.” After one day to recover, it’ll be time to board the plane for the long journey back to Chicago.

If Douglas Adams can make it to the top in a rhino suit, I figure I should be fine. And don’t worry, this is not my trek company: