Short Stories From the Mountain

I’ve been back on US soil for over a week and while I’m grateful to be home sleeping in my own bed, taking a shower each day, and eating cereal for breakfast, I have enjoyed reminiscing over photos that the team has been posting on Facebook and swapping wall posts with a teammate here and there. Kilimanjaro definitely created a bond between those of us who shared the journey. Some of our experiences beg to be shared. I hope you enjoy the following short stories.

We spent the first day and a half of our trip at Mbahe Farm, home to SENE our tour guide company. While at the farm, Felix, one of our guides, took us on a walk around the farm, went with us to the local school, answered our endless questions, and, in general, was our ever-present host. At one point in time we were standing around the outdoor dining room when a lizard scurried along the wall and caught our attention. A few of the women stepped closer to get a better look of the colorful critter. One asked Felix, “Can we touch it?” “Sure,” he answered. And as they reached to touch the lizard, he added, “But it’s poisonous.”

The first night on the mountain the sky is dark but brilliant with a blanket of stars brighter and more populous than I’ve ever seen. Most of us were lying in our tents hoping for sleep to come though jet lag kept most of us awake long into the night, at least long enough to hear, “Oh no! My watch just fell into the toilet!” This was quickly followed by, “Unless it’s a Rolex, leave it there.”

On the descent from the summit, one of our team members fell and dislocated her shoulder. She was in considerable pain especially when another hiker, a trauma surgeon, a nurse from our team and another of our team members attempted to put her shoulder back in the socket. During this time, the injured team member was biting down on a glove as her only means of pain relief. Her teammates prayed she’d faint from the pain. When she didn’t, they began to formulate a plan. “What if we knock her out with a rock?” said one. “That could work. But where do we hit her?” asked the other. “WAIT!” moaned the injured team member. “I don’t need a concussion and gash added to my injuries.” With a smile, her teammates replied, “Get a rock.” NOTE: No rock was used to treat the injured. We are happy to report her shoulder is back in its socket and she did not suffer a concussion or gash. However, she now suffers from hearing a persistent phrase, “Anybody have a rock?”