Thomson Trek's schematic of the route. We changed plans on summit day, spending night 9 at Barafu, and night 10 at Mweka (not shown, at lower right) rather than Mweka Millennium. (This map counts camp 1 as night 3.)

Our lead guide, James.

Assistant guide, George.

Assistant guide, Polite.

James and George at the edge of the Ash Pit, Kilimanjaro.

Lucas Walema, head waiter.

Londorosi Gate, Kilimanjaro National Park

Weighing our bags at Londorosi Gate, Kilimanjaro National Park

Porter check-in at Londorosi Gate, Kilimanjaro National Park

Thomson Safaris Landrover, and our driver Mohamed.

Lemosho Gate - our trailhead! - Kilimanjaro National Park

The trek begins! Lemosho Gate - Kilimanjaro National Park

Starting our trek! Photo by Ken Kaliski.

George and Ken discuss sights along the forest trail.

George leads us along the forested trail.

Our trek begins in the forested slopes of the Lemosho Route.

Forest camp - end of day 1.

The guides and porters welcome us to the Forest Camp at the end of the first day.

Tea is served every afternoon in the dining tent.

An impressively large pit being dug for a new toilet facility.

Our cozy tents at Forest Camp.

Baggage for five trekkers! We carry the daypacks; porters carry the duffle bags.

The trekkers make their way up the forested trail.

A stop to look for birds in the forest.

David pauses on the forested trail.

Lunch at the top of a ridge.

A look back at the valley we traversed and the lowlands beyond

Sitting on tufts I think they call "Elephant Grass".

Ken adjusts his boots at an overlook of the Shira Plateau, as we shift from heather zone to moorland.

Our first look at the Shira Plateau - with Kilimanjaro hidden in the clouds beyond.