Climbing Mt. Longonot

After a restful night at the country club, we headed out for Mount Longonot, an extinct volcano that had been looming over us for the past day. Our driver, Jethro (who looked to be in his late thirties or early forties, dressed in a pressed white collard shirt, a pair of pants, and loafers), greeted us with an enthusiastic "GOOD MORNING!" He also shared his life philosophy as we left the Country Club "Life is hard, but you're living so BE HAPPY!"

We had hoped they vans would take us at least halfway up the mountain. We were disappointed when the van stopped permanently at the entrance located at the bottom of the mountain. After some administrative delays at the gate, we were introduced to our guide who indicated that the rim of the volcano was reachable in forty minutes, but you could reach it in 120 minutes going at a leisurely pace. Jethro, who initially indicated he would not make the climb, set out with us.

The foot of the mountain was easy going and we were all amazed at the view after just a short, relatively easy climb. The trial, however, eventually got much harder as it became steeper. Dirt and dust gave us poor footing on the trial as we tried to climb. The steeper climb, however, gave us more dramatic views.

We came to a small clearing after two steep climbs. As we rested, we saw the several others in our group climbing up a very steep trial to the rim (they were so far, you could just see the bright colors of their T-shirts) and a short time later we heard shouts as the first of our group made the rim. The rim, however, was not the end. On the far side of the massive crater was the mountain peak, which was about another hour or so from the rim.

We set out to the rim with Professor Gathii, who is heading the program this year. As the students grasped for air and contemplated turning back, Professor Gathii talked easily and barely seemed winded at all. This was his third climb of the mountain and it was evident he was only straggling to make sure the last group of students made it to the rim OK.

Before we knew it, we were on the steep climb to the rim. By this time, the only thing that was keeping me going was the fact that the rim was just a little way off and eventually the steep climb did gave way to a level strip of ground about 10-feet wide. On one side, you could see the Kenyan countryside including Crescent Island (which is actually more of a peninsula than an island). On the other side was a sheer drop into the green crater of the volcano.

At the rim, I learned Jethro had shot up the mountain with the first group leaving most of us poor, out-of-shape, American law students in his wake.

I walked around the rim for awhile taking pictures as I went. The peak of the mountain was covered by clouds and it was already about 1:30 in the afternoon (I took longer than the 120 minute leisurely pace to reach the rim). Rather than go for the peak, which would've required me to climb up and down at least a couple of smaller peaks), I decided to head down to the base with another group and get some lunch. While the climb up was harder on our lungs, the climb down was hard on our legs. We kicked up dust and dirt with each step and were covered in dirt by the time we reached the bottom. However, we did manage to see a giraffe on our way down. We all stood there for a time checking him out while he watched us with interest. In some ways, the sighting was even better than the one on Crescent Island because giraffes are known to be on the island and if you go there, you will see them. This giraffe was completely random and unexpected.

The picnic lunch that the Country Club had packed for us was one of the best meals I've had in Kenya (but that's probably just because I was so hungry by the time I got down). We waited for the others, who made it the peak, to return. Jethro, of course, made the peak easily and somehow managed to avoid the dust on the climb down. Jethro's white shirt was as white as when he had set out. And, yes, he had made the whole climb in loafers and without any water.

Sorry no pictures as of yet. The wireless is really slow at our apartment, so it's easier to get up text than pictures. I'll try to get a few of our favorites posted soon.