Onwards and upwards……

Shira Plateau Camp – 22^nd February 

It’s quite easy for me to forget just how well established my camping routine has become over the last few years but walking around the camp as we prepared to leave served as a timely reminder!

I swear that some of the guys must have unpacked just about everything they own which was now strew around their tents (inside and out).

This ensured more than a small degree of panic as folks frantically tried to find everything they would need for the day whilst simultaneously trying to cram everything back into the bags it had come out of the evening before!

I’d like to say we left on time……..but I can’t!

I’d like to say we left almost on time……(I’m sure you get the picture)!

The first few hours trekking today was working our way through the upper reaches of the forest and without the rain it was a truly breathtaking experience.

 We're dry and we're happy!

I’ve no doubt that I lack the vocabulary and the poetic expertise to do it justice but in the dappled light of the early morning sun I couldn’t help snapping away even if I knew that to the uninitiated it would simply appear as just another “green” image.

 

 Old Mans Beard hanging from the trees.

 Just another green picture!

The transition between forest and moorland somehow managed to be both sudden and unnoticed at the same time!

In the space of a few minutes we went from walking amongst towering trees to following a narrow trail cut between 10ft high bushes and scrub!

 What goes down must go up...and down.....and up again!

As for the walking, it was not particularly challenging, crossing a series of short climbs and descents as we crossed the valleys on our way up towards the plateau.

 The porters taking a well deserved break (and already a LONG way ahead).

However as a group we were still finding our rhythm and at times the pattern of taking a couple of steps forward and then grinding to a halt seeming far more tiring (not to mention frustrating) than sticking to a steady pace all the way up.

 Not the worst  traffic jam I've ever been in.

Still the breaks provided a good excuse to grab some more photos and as we gained height the plant life grew smaller providing great views of the foothills and farmland that surround the mountain.

 Packed lunch and a view, what more could a trekker ask for!

After a decent break for lunch it was just another hour up onto the Shira Plateau and as we approached the campsite all our porters appeared eager to show us where our tents had been pitched and our bags were waiting….THESE GUYS ROCK!

 Shira Plateau camp, complete with tents pitched and baggage waiting.

It was a welcome contrast to our late arrival in camp yesterday and provided the perfect opportunity to relax and get to know each other (as well as the finer strategy for Uno and various other card games)!

 At first I was ridiculed for taking this photo

(but I thought otherwise no-one would believe just how could a hand I had been dealt)!

Then I was ridiculed for failing to WIN with it!

It’s already starting to feel that we are coming together as a group and the banter is flying around freer than ever!