Our entire team was in agreement that a night at 10,000 ft was just what the doctor ordered. Sure, there were some tired legs and sore backs at Mweka Camp this morning, but so many other problems had magically disappeared with the dropping of a vertical mile in sleeping elevation. We ate breakfast as the sun started to find its way through the heather and hanging moss. Afterward, our entire staff assembled to serenade and entertain us (and themselves) with singing and dancing. Before long, we were all laughing and clapping at their costumed portrayal of a western tourist, out for a climb. The customary tipping ceremony followed in which we passed out gratuities while shaking hands and personally thanking each of 51 strong and talented men. By 8:30 we were on the trail and losing altitude once again. Quickly, we transitioned back into a thick and lush rain forest. While we’d started out with blue sky and sunshine, inevitably we entered the cloud sea that had been so far below for much of the week. We never got anything worse than the odd sprinkle and a little mist down in the clouds and that kept the dirt trail from getting totally sloppy and slippery. One certainly had to pay close attention though, so as not to slip, trip or tumble in the process of descending 4,000 vertical feet. Porters from our own team, as well as from surrounding teams, came thundering down the track -mud or no mud- with fifty pound loads balanced on their heads. By late morning we’d all reached the national park gate at Mweka. Naturally we got pics of the gang at the final signpost of the journey, then we signed out of the park and walked through a bit of road construction to where the Barking Zebra staff had laid out a fine picnic lunch at a local art gallery and tourist shop. Thus fortified, we took on the two hour bus trip down through Moshi and over to the edge of Arusha. Everyone was ready for showers and comfy furniture back at the Arumeru River Lodge. The afternoon passed quickly as we reconnected to the world, dried and cleaned gear and readied other -less serious and substantial gear- for our safari starting tomorrow morning. We had a relaxed victory dinner together to celebrate the completion of the climb and to bid farewell to Darcy who’ll be boarding jets and getting home for work while we go poke around a few more National Parks to see what we can see. Best Regards, RMI Guide Dave Hahn