Posted on 02/23/2009 3:29:45 PM PST by SandRat
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 23, 2009 As a member of the Navy Supply Corps who works for the Defense Logistics Agency, Navy Capt. Jim Patton is especially attuned to the importance of logistical support for missions.
The guides were masters at logistics and moving a large crowd up and down the mountain and feeding all of us, he said. They prepared three-course meals for about 15 of us in the group on a gas tank with a single flame, and they had to carry everything on their backs. It was phenomenal what those guys could do, added Patton, who is director of maritime customer operations at the Defense Supply Center here. I was very impressed with the logistical support on the trip. The Pattons and a friend from San Diego traveled to Tanzania on Jan. 10 and joined a tour group for two weeks in climbing to the 19,340-foot summit of Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. The group traveled the Marangu trail, one of several routes up the mountain that require no technical skills in the art of mountain climbing. Patton, whose only other visits to Africa have been a few brief port calls, described hiking up Kilimanjaro as a once-in-a-lifetime experience that left him with all kinds of memories. The final push to the summit was the most taxing part of the hike; the group left at midnight to be at the summit for sunrise, he said. "The night sky from that altitude is a phenomenal view, he said. Watching the clouds dart about the mountain peaks in the moonlight was unbelievably beautiful. The biggest challenge was getting accustomed to the altitude, since the air pressure at the top of Kilimanjaro is roughly half that at sea level. The guides were trained to watch for altitude sickness, and they had our group take its time, which enabled us to not only get used to working in the thinner air but also enjoy the spectacular scenery along the way, Patton said. The trek up and down the mountain took six days, Patton said, and the groups route took them along well-maintained pathways through rain forest, moorland, alpine desert and, ultimately, the summit at Uhuru Peak. Its just gorgeous up there, Patton said. There are pockets of the glacier all around, and the ice was blue-green in color when the sunlight came through it. Plus, at night, you could see how deep and beautiful the Milky Way galaxy is when youre away from everything. I could see many of the constellations very clearly. (Dan Bender works in the public affairs office for the Defense Logistics Agencys supply center in Columbus, Ohio.) |
Why not take the bus?
This is not a class VI climb by any stretch of the imagination. I can’t figure out why this hike made the news.
Because it was there
Will he build a bridge between the two peaks?
Ironically, I know a very fit Sierra Club member who had to turn back before summitting.
Trouble is stuff like that can ruin your entire trip and leave you disappointed for years. At 19K it’s hard to say who’s gonna make it since it can be tough to train for that height.
“Why not take the bus?”
Please give the Stimulus Bill a chance to work...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.