Africa
Who: Terry Brown of Littleton
Where: Summit of Kilimanjaro (19,340 feet), the highest peak in Africa and the tallest freestanding mountain in the world.
Best meal: Breakfast at Shira 1 camp, on the Western Breach route. Fried eggs, fresh fruit and African coffee, served al fresco. The sky was clear, providing an excellent view of the mountain.
Best deal: A bottle of African beer at the Keys Hotel in Moshi, Tanzania, for 1,000 schillings (approximately $1).
Best time to go: There are two main climbing seasons – December through March and June through October, both considered dry seasons in East Africa. Our weather was excellent, generally warm while climbing and cool at night.
Best travel tip: Picking a good guide is key to a successful and enjoyable trip. Our guide service was Tusker Trail. The food throughout the climb was outstanding; we had frequent medical checkups (Tusker guides are required to attend high-altitude medical emergency training each year) and a private latrine at each camp.
