Day #4 of the Climb!

Posted at 1:30 pm EST, 9:30 pm on Mount Kilimanjaro
by Sarah Bradfield and Celia Shortt

“…This is hands down the hardest thing I’ve EVER done! It’s teaching me to trust God for every single step and breath…”  -Cheryl Weber,

Itinerary for Today:

After beginning their trek for today at 8:00 am Kilimanjaro time and trekking for 5 hours, the climbers are currently camped at 15420′ and have a short night (2-3 hours) in their tent before rising at midnight to push for the summit! Altitude is now becoming a problem for several climbers, and many are feeling sick. Two of the climbers, Mom Som and Gail Berber, have had to come back down the mountain early due to the cold weather and other issues.  Others are struggling with headaches and nausea.  However, most of the climbers are pushing through and doing very well for such a difficult task!!!

(Photo credit: John Gash)

(Photo credit: John Gash)  At the Mawenzi Tarn Camp

(Photo credit: John Gash)

Uhuru Peak is the climber’s final destination and the highest point.  The climbers will begin the summit in the dark, at midnight on Kilimanjaro, with flashlights on their heads.  They will climb far above the sunrise.  After they summit, they will hike many miles back down to about 7,200 ft.  This will help them breathe easier and start feeling better, but it is about a 12 hour hike tomorrow.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)   This is the sunrise from the summit.  This is what our brave climbers will be experiencing in several hours.

The oldest climber, Shannon Perry, age 73, is doing exceptionally well physically.  She hasn’t experienced much altitude sickness at all, and is ready to summit.  However, she is a little worried about being unsteady on her feet as she climbs down.  Sometimes climbing down can be even more difficult, as it wears harder on the feet.  One of the porters has graciously offered to personally walk her down from the summit.  The women have praised the porters and guides for how kind they have been along the journey.

Quotes from our Climbers:

“My body is hurting. But doing extraordinarily well compared to how I thought I’d be…” – Madison, 6:01 am EST,  2:01 pm on Mount Kilimanjaro

“At the huts now. Very happy about that”. – Madison, 7:39am EST, 3:39pm on Mount Kilimanjaro

“We’re excited, but a bit scared. We’re not dwelling on that. We will make it. We’ve seen God meet us every single day. He is going to pick up our feet. We’ll be hinds feet on high places. We will proclaim freedom from the top of this mountain!  It feels like our feet are being picked up as we are climbing.  Each step is a step of faith.” – Nancy Byrne,  11:06 am EST, 7:06 pm on Mount Kilimanjaro

“We’ve completed our hiking across the saddle today to Kibo Hut base camp. It was only an elevation gain of about 1200 ft, but because of the slow and steady steps…and thin air, it took us about 7 hrs to walk from camp to camp.  [We are now at] Summit base camp!! – Kibo Hut – had a short nap this afternoon…now dinner…then sleep till 11pm and break camp and get ready. Summit day 12-15 hrs (up to summit and back down to 7700ft for camp and “easy breathing”) starting up at night with lights on our foreheads, for a sunrise summit. Feeling nauseous and weak but I think it’s normal ‘n God healed me of how sick I was on Day 3. Praise The Lord! Please pray for restorative sleep at these high altitudes and a good safe climb for everyone.” – Cheryl Weber, 11:20 am EST, 7:20 pm on Mount Kilimanjaro

“We are each carrying a rock to the summit with something written on it that we are believing God for in relation to freedom. Uhuru Peak means FREEDOM in Swahili. At the summit we are going to build an alter to God on the summit with our rocks.
I love the women on my pink team…we are the first to get up and leave for the summit. (4pm EST, Midnight in Africa) Right now we are having dinner – WAY above the clouds!”  – Cheryl Weber, – 12:06 pm EST, 8:06 pm on Mount Kilimanjaro

Prayer Requests:

1. That God will be glorified and millions of lives will be changed through this effort
2. That the sick climbers will begin to acclimate to the altitude and begin feeling better.
3. That the women will be warm enough to sleep and get enough sleep for the night.
4. That God will give the women a supernatural burst of energy to summit tomorrow!!!

Scripture for today:
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”  – 2 Corinthians 12:9-10