Page 27 - 2016 AMA Spring

the altitude. Once clear of the trees we trudged through some bog and were able glean a quick view of our inspiring surroundings. The strange tropical like plants that you can read about were everywhere in this bizarre terrain. Kind of a cross between being in Scotland then open heath/grassland then some hot boulder field. Needless to say it took us just shy of 4 hours to reach Mackinder’s Camp at 4,300 meters and we only walked 11km there abouts.
At Mackinder’s Camp there was the distinctive chill in the air with the altitude. Strangely enough a vast amount of rubbish as well. The Park rules state that everything you carry in you carry out. To Tony and I that goes without saying. Remember though we were in Kenya. The locals have no regard for their habitat. They live for today and not for tomorrow. This means to them drop what you don’t need there and then. Everything from plastic bottles to old socks. Trying to educate the local warden just ended with shrugged shoulders and a waste of 15 mins of my life. Sadly this also means the area is crawling with Hyrax. The rudimental toilets (hole in the ground) are also sighted above the main water source. It was here I could understand why Tom made clear not to drink the water below any huts as you stand a high chance of catching gardier.
That night after enjoying watching others staying in the hut eat yet another extravagant three course meal Tony and I said our fare wells to Rick, Tam and a few others. They were starting an uber
early ascent for the final push up Point Lenana where as we had another day of plodding ahead of us. Due to having a slight niggling headache it only seemed like minutes
after turning into our gonk bags that others seemed to be creeping noisily around with head torches dimmed getting ready to set off. For once having spent 20 years in the Infantry it was great to be
the one still wrapped up in the warm secluded security
of my gonk bag.
Polepole again on day three. This time we were gaining more height quicker in mountainous terrain towards Austrian Hut. Then at the
Tarn we veered left
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