-Year-Old Woman Conquers Kilimanjaro: Overcoming Altitude Sickness on Day 3 Summit Challenge

**Lemosho Route Day 3: A Test of Endurance and Team Spirit**

⛺️ **Route:** SHIRA2 CAMP (3,850m) → Lava Tower Camp (4,600m) → Barranco Camp (3,900m)
🥾 **Hiking Stats:** 11 km trek featuring an 850m ascent and a thrilling 700m descent
🌳 **Scenic Highlights:** Alpine meadows, rugged high-altitude deserts, and sweeping volcanic vistas
🌤️ **Weather Shifts:** Temperatures drop 5-10°C from Day 2, with biting winds and sudden downpours at higher elevations
👚 **Gear Essentials:** Layer up!

Pack long/short sleeves, a warm fleece, a weatherproof hardshell, durable hiking pants, a cozy beanie, a sun scarf, and UV-blocking sunglasses

**The Journey Unfolds**
Day 3 on the Lemosho Route began with a determined stride from SHIRA2 CAMP, ascending into the thinning air of Kilimanjaro’s alpine zone. The trail to Lava Tower Camp unveiled a dramatic volcanic landscape—barren yet breathtaking, with Kilimanjaro’s snow-capped peak looming like a silent guardian. But the real challenge came during the steep, rocky descent to Barranco Camp, where every step demanded focus and stamina.

**Altitude’s Bite**
Above 4,300m, the first whispers of altitude sickness crept in—a dull headache, a slight dizziness. My teammates’ reassurance (“It happens to everyone!”) softened the worry, but nature had more in store. At 4,600m, fierce winds and icy rain lashed at us, plunging temperatures and sapping morale. Battling nausea and exhaustion, I choked down a few bites of food, clinging to the promise of relief during the descent.

**Teamwork in the Thin Air**
By evening at Barranco Camp (3,900m), my symptoms eased—but three teammates weren’t as lucky. Violent vomiting, raging fevers—their conditions turned dire. At these heights, even a minor illness can escalate fast. Rallying together, the healthier among us worked with guides to administer meds, hydrate the sick, and tuck them into tents. In that moment, the bond of shared struggle burned brighter than ever.

**Reflections Before the Storm**
This day was a raw lesson in nature’s duality: its beauty humbles, its harshness terrifies. Yet it also revealed the unshakable strength of teamwork. Every encouraging word, every shared water bottle, became a lifeline. As I drifted to sleep, I clung to that hope—though somewhere deep down, I sensed the hardest trials were yet to come.

*(To be continued… the summit push looms.)*