Summit night!!

 Getting out of the tent was difficult.  We woke up at 11:00 pm and wanted to start climbing by midnight. It had been snowing/raining right up to the time we woke up,
so the tents were frozen over with ice.

 Warming up with cookies and hot water before we go!

 The sunrise was amazing!!  We had been climbing for six hours straight with only a few minutes of rest every hour.  In the dark with little oxygen, freezing temps, 40 mph winds, and only a headlamp to light the way, your mind goes into almost a subconscious state.  The guides were watching us closely and would often shout out making sure we wouldn't fall asleep while walking!!  There is a great book called, "Zombies on Kilimanjaro" where the author talks about the subconscious state climbers are in at high altitude.  For me, it was that state just before drifting off to sleep, or when you are trying your hardest to keep awake.  

 We had just reached the crater rim, Stella Point!

 From the crater rim, we followed it up to the Summit; Uhuru.

 My standard announcement to the boys.

Dad and me at the summit 5895 meters, 19,340 feet!  The winds and temps were very bad that morning so we could only stay a few minutes.  After we got back to base camp we heard that many people from a British group didn't make it and several climbers and porters had to be brought back down for Altitude Sickness and Pulmonary Edema.   Our entire team and guides had respiratory issues for a few days afterwards.