Pole Pole Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

Anyone who has been in Eastern Africa, probably has come familiar with the swahili word 'Pole Pole', which means 'slowly'. You are reminded several times during your visit to take things slowly. To climb Kilimanjaro or any high mountains for that sake this word sticks with you as a reminder of how to reach the summit succesfully.
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In the background is Mt. Meru (4600 m.), which a friend and I climbed before our attempt on Kilimanjaro in order to get acclimatized to the hights.
We did reach the summit of Kilimanjaro without any problems along with many others. As one said to me, "this is a sausage factory, letting people in the one way and spitting them out the other way" I can only agree with him... Although the volcano isn't active in a geological sense, it is very active all day round with people reaching for the summit of Africa's highest mountain and by the way the worlds highest free standing mountain.

Thanks to all the friendly and hardworking tanzanian crew. You are the real heroes of this mountain.

A nice day to everybody.

mporta, Merline has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

mporta (3350) 2007-10-01 10:47

Hello Christian
and welcome back from your African trip.
I guess we have similar taste in matter of travels and hiking, and I wait eagerly to see your next posts from Kilimanjaro.
The first one is very beautiful, the sky has something of spiritual and the silhouette of ascending trekers is striking.
Great job
Matteo

Merline (6574) 2007-10-02 11:00

Hi so you're back, this looks promising...:-)

It's to me a picture that shows the smallness of man in nature, a relationship to it, a mood...Maybe the sky is a bit overexposed, but I think that + the dark silhouettes ascending the mountain and Mt. Meru outlined in the background, the gorgeous light make this a great pic of strong atmosphere, I like it a lot!

Regards
Michèle

ewiczek (374) 2007-11-05 17:29

wonderfull view, nice color

mafegan (3961) 2008-05-31 0:20

Hi Christian
An excellent photo with the silhouettes of the trekkers, their tents, Mt Meru in the background, the slopes of Kilimanjaro and the dramatic sky above.
You are right about the 'sausage factory' - but only 60% of the people who want to be let in actually make it and when they are spat out the other way they are different people.
Yes, the porters are the real heroes and without them we would not able to achieve our dreams.
TFS, Marlene