After a long 5 days on the Rongai route we finally conquered Mt Kilimanjaro.

At 4500 metres I began to feel the affects of the altitude with a headace and feeling nauseas. I then began to vomit and from lunchtime onwards on day 3 couldn't eat anything. I was having a lot of hydrate drinks to keep the fluids up and was able to manage not to throw up again on day 4.

Tony managed really well and apart from a few headaches coped a lot better than me.

Final ascent of the mountain began with our wake up call at 11 pm. We then had breakfast provided in the mess tent which was porridge and hot milo. Neither Tony or I could eat but we both managed to drink a hot mug of milo.

Weather was freezing cold. Our camp that night was at 4800 metres approx and we were dressed in two layers of icebreaker on the bottom with waterproof pants and 2 layers of icebreaker on top with a puffer jacket and then a waterproof jacket. Ski gloves and thick socks with our meindl boots completed the outfit.

We had to carry at least 3 litres of water as the altitude dehydrates you quickly, and due to the altitude sickness we were both taking diamox as this helped me with the nausea (although didn't bring my apetite back) and this is a diaretic is also added to the problem of dehydration.

We started climbing at midnight, and straight away one of the group started throwing up and so couldn't climb any further.

We were walking very slowly and had walked an hour before a member of the group had to stop for a break. From there Tony, myself and another guy formed our own smaller group and with an assistant guide headed to the top. Pace was a little faster and we could avoid stopping too much. Our guide said don't stop for more than 5 minutes or you will freeze which was very true. Even with all the layers I was still very cold.

At Williams point (half way to Gilman's point) I was beginning to feel nauses again, and threw up again.

We continued slowly on and as we got higher in altitude had to stop more often to catch our breath and rest. It was steep going as we were walking at times across loose scree and we would walk 2 steps and slide back a bit.

My guide took my backpack off me and even stop pulled out the water bottle for me to drink. The bladders (sipper bottles with tube) had frozen so we were unable to drink without stopping anymore)

We finally made it to Gilman's point (6.15am) which is 5600 metres approx. Our guide offered us a hot drink of water from a flask. It was nice to warm up, but then I threw up again.

We pushed on to the top which we knew was another 3 hour round trip to Uhuru peak (top of Kilimanjaro). That final trip was extremely hard slog. Tony began to show the affects more and was sitting down to rest of rocks.

We finally made it to Uhuru and my only thought was lets take some photos so we can get off.

Trip back was a lot faster to Gilmans. Our pace was greater improved (going downhill), and from Gilmans point once we scrambled down over the rocks at the top we were able to run straight down the scree.

My guide grabbed my arm for stability and Tony followed along behind a bit as the scree threw up a lot of dust.

Reaching base camp all I felt like was a good sleep which I had before lunch. Still couldn't eat but ate a little Watermelon and drank some more water.

We then had another 3 hour walk to our final camp for the night (3500 metres). It was amazing how going down in altitude made it so much easier, I was able to eat again that night and had a great sleep.

Climbing Kili was a real experience, and at the time I was thinking we were made for doing it but now I look back and think I'd like to do it again on another route. Amazing and highly recommended.