Dec. 1997
The Saddle between Kilimanjaro's main and secondary peak. High desert ecosystem.
This was the four-day ascent (slow, to acclimate to the altitude).
This picture was from a short trek after arriving at Horombo Hut.
Kibo hut was a short stay (because of altitude). We left it at 11:00p-ish for the only tough ascent of the journey: steep and snowy.
The ascent to Gilman's Point was eerie, lit by a full moon, with a bands of clouds warping around the mountain disturbing the atmosphere.
Once you get to Gilman's Point, you're essentially walking 120-degrees around a relatively flat crater rim. Deep snow. 19,000 feet high. Exhausting. Cold.
I did slip a malachite engagement ring on Leigh's finger while she was too hypoxic for better judgement.