Day Four… Today we began to realize that the walls between us are paper thin and they are fast coming down. We look each other in the eye now and revel in each other’s love of life. We’ve stepped out of the shadows of our distant routine lives and united for one simple cause. To spread the word that, LOVE HOPE STRENGTH is a force that will and has already has sent ripples around this mortal coil. Today we aligned with Lance Armstrong’s, LIVESTRONG campaign in which we all stood holding yellow prayer flags to add to the power of his global message. As we held up “yellow” prayer flags on Kilimanjaro, we are simultaneously hosting a joint bone marrow drive at Austin City Limits Music Festival in Texas – kismet!

Today’s trek was tough for a few who were feeling the first effects of altitude sickness. To see someone who is under par finally arrive at camp is a truly moving moment. Each person is carrying a personal prayer to the top and nothing, but disaster, will stop us.

Some of us took an afternoon stroll to the Lava Tower from which the views were indescribable mainly because I was following Karen’s sweet behind though various nooks and crannies

Altitude has reset our attitudes. Humanity has replaced vanity. We are now up to speed and can achieve almost anything.

March on Bothers and sisters!
Oh yes and by the way isn’t it great to be on farting terms with so many people!

Cy Curnin, The Fixx
14,600 feet
Sheffield Camp
Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Notes from camp: All who succumbed to vomiting and nausea last night from altitude have carried on like troopers today. The 25 shall carry on yet another day as 1! We are all watching each other carefully to be sure that we are all healthy and strong before we make the next push.

Request from camp – love to have some updates on US baseball. Any and all news from the “real” world is wonderful so please feel free to drop it all in the daily messages which we read nightly. Paul Cooney would like to let his wife know that he is still alive and sorry that he has been unable to contact you direct! He loves you! We all miss our loved ones, warm beds and margaritas. We are still being stalked by massive ravens but have all agreed that after reading Cy’s journal, we will feed him off to them first. Thanks to all who have donated thus far to the cause while we hike, we are compiling many “gifts” which will be given away after the trek to all that have donated over $20, including Smith sunglasses, Marmot jackets, an ENO camping hammock – and the very guitar that the boys have been playing nightly up the mountain!! More to come on all of this as we carry on!. We are uploading via satellite early this evening in order to get a good nights rest, plus once the sun goes down we scatter like dyslexic vampires to our tents to get under our sleeping bags. We will include any footage from this evening, including the music that is currently booming outside the mess tent as Owen and I rush to get the pics and journal completed to we can join in on the fun.

Quote of the day:
Porter says to Slim Jim “you are the master of the drum!”
Slim Jim: “Thank you”
Porter: “Is that REALLY a profession?”

 

Click on the yellow flags to see where the team is today!