It has been a few weeks now since I got back for this years challenge, thank you for your support and here are a few pictures of Kilimanjaro…

Simply put Kilimanjaro is the largest thing I have ever seen, huge and dominating,,and it could be said a little intimidating…we took six days to climb this the worlds biggest free standing mountain.

We encountered such a mix of terrain and vegetation, the likes of such a variety can be found no where else on earth…A place where sitting just below the equator is very warm in the foot hills, however the temp on the slopes and summit can plummet to minus 35 degrees.

Some of our group made it to the top,,some with the aid of a porter, some did not manage the summit and fell foul to mountain sickness (high altitude mountain sickness),,what ever each persons scenario, the effort put in buy every one was immense. Not making to the top is not a measure of fitness, but more of a lottery as mountain sickness is not fussy about who it claims. Our lead Brit guide has climbed Kili 9 times this year to the summit,,he did not make it this time!,,,

I did make it to the top unaided and feel a very deep and satisfying contentment that not only was I lucky enough to witness the top of this fantastic mountain but was part of a team that raised a staggering £165,00.00 for Scope. That team consisted of two sub teams, each  24 persons strong, of both men and women.

So have a look at the pics, and I would like to thank you all again for your support.

Next year we (Jacs and I) are going to Cambodia to do some work with land mine victims in the way of helping to build stilt huts for them to live in,, hope you can help again.

Phil Cook

11.55am our time

We are now down from the mountain. I made it to the summit, we are ready for a wash, just having some food before heading off to the hotel which is awesome. Looking forward to a shower.

9.45am our time

Tonight we will set off at midnight for the summit, really looking forward to it. Today we have scalled the barranco wall, deffo the best day so far, another 3 hours of treking till camp tonight. It is now 11.49 Wed 20th and we are having spag bol for dinner.

9.36am our time

Morning, woke to a heavy frost this morning, both myself and Jacs suffering from swollen eyes, glad to say that has settled down. A few people being sick with altitude sickness. No one dropped out yet. Been above cloud level now for a few days. Think we are at about 4200 metres.

3.34pm our time

Day one of climbing over and now at 3300m above sea level. Can feel it on the breathing, air getting thinner. Awesome views of the surrounding area. Locals are very friendly. Jungle is amazing. Shrouded in mist so views this evening are a little limited. Time for tea and then an early night as we are starting at 6am.

10.24am our time

We are in Kilimanjaro, really sunny, can not see Kili though for cloud. 12.24pm here, 2 hours ahead. Ready for a sleep now cause thats a long journey. By the time we get to the hotel we will have been travelling for 24 hours.

Phil and Jacs

Thank you all for your kind donations…

Day 1: 15^th October, Departure Day

We depart the UK for an over night flight to Nairobi.

Day 2: Moshi

We fly from Nairobi to Kilimanjaro International where we transfer tour hotel near the town of Moshi, and located only 15 minutes from the Macheme Gate. In the afternoon there is a chance to relax by the pool and prepare our kit bags for the climb. In the evening we enjoy an evening meal and have a final briefing on the challenge ahead.

Day 3: Machame Camp 5-6 hours trekking

After a good breakfast we transfer by road to the Machame Gate. On arrival we meet the rest of our team, including our gides, cooks and porters. Finally it is here – the moment we have all been eaiting for! We begin our treck through lush vegetation of the humid rainforest with its fascinating range of bird life, wild flowers, endemic trees and insects. If we’re lucky we might even spot a blue monkey or hear the shy Colobus monkey leaping through the trees above us! We have some short breaks on route before reaching our camp in the afternoon. There is some time to relax before we settle for our first night under canvas.

START HEIGHT: 1773M
HEIGHT GAIN: 1207M
END HEIGHT: 2980M
DAY DISTANCE: 11.6KM

Day 4: Shira Camp, 7-9 hours trekking

This morning our route takes us through the ever changing scenery as we make the steep ascent through heather and moorland to the Shira Plateau. We continue across the plateau to our camp and this evening we can relax and enjoy the fabulous views.

START HEIGHT: 2980M
HEIGHT GAIN: 863M
DAY DISTANCE: 6.9KM
TOTAL DISTANCE: 18.5KM

Day 5: Barranco Camp, 7-9 hours trekking

Today we trek east across beautiful barren moon like landscape and around the craters that scar the earth. We trek in the shadow of mighty Kimbo until reaching the Lava Tower where we stop for lunch. This afternoon we descend through the surrounding ravines, with their wonderful micro climates and beautiful birdlife. We eventually reach camp late in the afternoon. This descent aids the acclimatisation process and allows our bodies to adjust to the ever changing altitude.

START HEIGHT: 3843m
MAX HEIGHT: 4526M
DAY DISTANCE: 10.6KM
TOTAL DISTANCE: 29.1KM

Day 6: Barafu Camp, 7-9 hours trekking

We leave camp early and our first challenge today is to climb and scramble over the volcanic rock of the Barranco Wall. On reaching the top we have a well earned snack break and enjoy the fantastic views over to Barafu. For the rest of the day we make a steady climb to our camp positioned on a ridge overlooking the south east valley. We reach camp early afternoon and after a good meal, we put on some extra layers to keep warm and try to relax and get some sleep in preparation for our early morning summit bid.

START HEIGHT: 3965M
HEIGHT GAIN: 665M
END HEIGHT: 4630M
DAY DISTANCE: 9.1KM
TOTAL DISTANCE:  38.2KM

Day 7: Summit Day, 12-15 hours trekking

And so to the summit day and out toughest challenge yet. We awake just after midnight and after a hot drink and snack we begin our climb. For the next 6 hours we trek the steepest and most demanding part of the route by torch light. This is a long and gruelling trek through scree to reach Stella Point at the crater rim. After a short rest we make our final traverse to Uhuru Peak, the highest point on the African continent at 5896m. The rising morning sunlight gives us a spectacular views across the plains below and of Mount Meru in the distance and we feel on top of the world! After some photos we have a tough descent to Barfu camp where we stop for a rest and some breakfast before continuing on to Millennium camp. After a long an exhilarating day we can finally rest our tired legs.

START HEIGHT: 4530M
MAX HEIGHT: 5896M
END HEIGHT: 3091M
DAY DISTANCE: 20KM
TOTAL DISTANCE: 58.2M

Day 8: Moshi, 5-6 hours trekking

After breakfast we continue our descent back through the rainforest to Mweka Gate where we enjoy lunch. A transfer by bus takes us to Moshi and our  hotel. Here we can finally take off our walking boots and enjoy our first hot shower in almost a week! We have an afternoon to relax by the pool with a well earned drink and the evening we enjoy a celebratory dinner to celebrate our remarkable achievements and for those with the energy we can party into the night!

START HEIGHT: 3091M
END HEIGHT: 17000M
DAY DISTANCE: 8.8KM
TOTAL DISTANCE: 67KM

Day 9: Moshi

We enjoy a free morning either by the pool or exploring the local area before transferring to the airport for our overnight flight back to the UK

Day 10: Arrive Home

Mount Kilimanjaro

This year following on from my adventures of 2009, which as many of you will know is when I drove a Lada Niva from Suffolk UK to Bamako in Mali Africa, crossing the great Sahara Desert. So here we are another year another adventure. This time myself and my partner, Jacs, will find ourselves on top of Africa’s highest mountain, standing in at four miles high is Mount Kilimanjaro. The Schedule is for 12 days in total to conquer this massive awesome summit in Tanzania.

In preparation for this climb we are going to attempt the Yorkshire Three Peaks, which is a timed challenge. Its a two day walk and we aim to complete it in Twelve hours, proof of which is stamped on a time card. When we have completed this challenge we aim to climb the National Three Peaks, which are Ben Nevis, Mount Snowdon and Scarfell in the peak district, in under 24 hours. Training, running and long walks have become part of our every day lives.

“Why” i hear you saying, well we are doing this on behalf of Scope. Every six hours a child is born with cerebral palsy and it is the most commonly diagnosed physical condition in the UK and occurs around the time of birth when part of the brain fails to develop properly. It can happen to any child. Scope is the largest charity in the UK working with people with cerebral palsy, their families and their carers. The money raised from our Kilimanjaro trip will allow Scope to continue running their vital services which are designed to support disabled people in ever aspect of their lives from birth through to adulthood. Scopes aim is that disabled people achieve equality in every day life.

I have pledged to raise a total of £3250.00 and a grand total of £6500.00 between the two of us for Scope. Of this money every pledge makes a difference. Scope is currently only able to reach one in four people who need help. With your support Scope will reach more people. To set the ball rolling, I have donated £200 myself, £400 between us. If you could send me your donation, that would bring me much closer to achieving my goal and help Scope achieve its goal that disabled people achieve equality.

Please send me a cheque made payable to scope. Please address your donation to Phil Cook, The Workshops, Redhouse Farm, Fressingfield, Eye, Suffolk, IP21 5PH. OR alternatively you can sponsor me online by using your plastic via www.justgiving.com/phil4

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity. So please dig deep and donate now.

Thank you for supporting us and for taking the time to read this.

Phil Cook and Jacs Atkinson

Thanks to all those that have supported me on my previous adventures such as crossing the Sahara Desert last year (2009) and indeed have already pledged this year. Now its the turn of 2010 and a little hill to climb, Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania Africa.

Myself and Jacs are planning a few other events along the way this year to help raise a little towards our £6900.00 goal and of course for us all to have some fun and a good laugh. This year it is all for SCOPE. www.scope.org.uk, a great home country charity that helps so many people, including a few that I know.

In Suffolk

A yard sale, to be held either at my work shop or at the local village hall, for this I am looking for people to donate good sell able stuff.  Now I say stuff as it could be anything, maybe a tee shirt that you bought and didn’t wear, a table, could be a car, anything for us to sell. Items so far include a vauxhall combo van, a delf lift, a leather swivel chair, a patio heater, various item of clothing inc suit jackets, lamps and the list is growing.

On the same day I am going to hold an auction of promises and as you might expect by now i need some promises to auction. I have already been given ;-

• a framed photograph portrait
• years subscription to a magazine
• 10 separate weeks holiday in Bulgaria for up to 4 people each week, just buy your flights and i will arrange transfers and the weeks accommodation, (there will be a minimum for this of £200, but it can sleep a family of four in a front line apartment, which is only 3 years old).

So if you have an item you could give me to auction again I would be very happy. Now it does not have to be a material item, it could be an offer of work, say to walk a dog, a spot of gardening, if you think of it maybe I can auction it. We are hoping to get a professional auctioneer to hold this part of the sale. Don’t forget that we can take bids on the auction by telephone either on the day or in advance by ringing
01379 586392 (10 lines) or my mobile 07768668432

An updated lists of promises will be made available prior to the auction.

Race night, still looking for a venue, have you got a pub or access to a village hall that we could fill with fun loving people willing to have a bet and a drink? please let us know and we could help each other out.

I am going to have an all over body wax and yes that is all over apart from my head, this will have a video made and some photos taken. The girls who are doing the waxing say that I should have both legs done at the same time to heighten the pain and amusement. I must point out that not all the treatment will be open to public display!!

We are also going to do two other treks in the UK. These are the Yorkshire three peaks and the National Three Peaks. Maybe you could do a rolling donation where the more miles we cover the more you donate?  Keep in mind that Kilimanjaro is 4 miles high!!!

We have the Diss Express on side and are hoping to get a few other papers onboard so that we can do a two page spread with businesses advertising along with us, still talking to the paper about them splitting the advertising fees paid, with us, as a donation.

Durham

Another race night, with the same requests as above

A party night with bands and a Dj, giving a night of drink, song and fun

We have a few other plans but we are keeping them under wraps until we can be sure that we can do what we are wanting to do….

Both venues will have, straight days of fund raising by raising awareness at places such as the supermarkets, I will have big notices up in the local swimming pools and football clubs.

If anyone is available to lend a hand, please don’t be bashful, come forth and help, you will be welcomed warmly. Or if you have any great ideas that you could share with us, please email myself or Jacs.

Donations

Please send me a cheque made payable to scope and address your donation to Phil Cook, The Workshops, Redhouse Farm, Fressingfield, Eye, Suffolk, IP21 5PH.

OR alternatively you can sponsor us online by using your plastic via www.justgiving.com/phil4 and www.justgiving.com/jacs3