On the trip we saw pretty much every kind of animal, lots of zebra, elephants, lions, hippos, hyenas and more. The really good thing was that alot of these animals had children with them. We drove around the national parks in large range rovers with ‘pop-up’ roofs that allowed us to stand up inside the vehicles and gives us perfect 360 degree views.

At night we camped out in the parks, and even though we were in designated areas we still had animals wondering through the camp, one night we had three elephant come right through the centre of the camp! We were told not to make any sudden movements or noise in case they got spooked.

Unfortunatly we only saw limited action from the big cats as they are most active at night and we were not allowed out into the parks after sunset. But that didn’t stop us keeping an eye out in case we saw creeping closer to a herd a gazelle!

On our way driving between parks we stopped a a Maasi village and got to meet various members of their tribe. They showed us their traditional dances and where they lived. One guy told explained to us the proccess of the circumcision – it sounded very painful!

On the September 3rd, myself and 7 of my work colleagues climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. At 19,340 feet (5,895m), Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the largest freestanding mountain in the world.

When we arrived in Moshi, Tanzania, it was really cloudy as it was the start of the Tanzanian wet season, and so it wasn’t until the third day of the climb we actually got to see the mountain at all!

It took 5 day hike to reach the summit, and 2 days for the descent. And it was prbably one of the hardest things I have done, both physically and mentally.

Headaches and nausea from the altitude sickness were a daily companion which had to be pushed aside as we walked across a wide range of environments from rainforests, to alpine deserts to the glacier capped summit. But it was an amazing experience that we will all remember, even if we didn’t have the hundreds of photos we took along the way!

I’ll always remember the final day of climbing, when we reached the top of the ‘Roof of Africa’, there were many times when we just wanted to stop and turn back – I even feel alseep at lunch because I didn’t want to be there!, but we pushed on and all 8 of us successfully reached the top.

All of this was in aid of Amani Children’s Home, a children’s home in Tanzania that looks after and schools street children. For almost a year know I have been helping organize and taking part in a number of fundraising events to raise money for the wonderful charity.

On Monday, 15 October, we totalled up all of the monies we had raised over this past year and the grand total was nearly £12, 000 of which I helped raise just over £1,300! I am really, really happy with this as my target was £1,000 .

All of us beat our targets and had a trip to remember! Please feel free to ask me any questions about my trip and I hope I can be of help. And now it’s back to work for me

This makes packing pretty difficult as I  have to have clothing and equipment to cover all of this! Now I’m wishing I just  took that beach holiday in Spain, and to make matters worse it’s currently  snowing on the mountain!

I set off from Brighton at a bout 5 and my flight leaves Heathrow at about 10.30 to
Narobi. After arriving in Nairobi, I will then probably be  getting on one of them fragile little prop planes fixed with gaffa tape to fly  to the little village of Moshi. Sure an hour on this plane beats spending 10  hours on the bus. Finally arriving at Moshi, Tanzania at about midnight on Saturday and start the climb on Monday.

I have spent a very frantic week getting things sorted at work for while I am away and also picking up clothing and equipment. To warrant spending all this additional cash I have decided to go skiing next year so that I use all this warm weather clothing again!

Anyway I just wanted you all to know what was happening so you can think of me freezing at the top of the mountain (should reach the top by next Saturday… hopefully).

So this is it, I’m off. Wish me good luck and and be prepard for lots of travel stories when I get back!! Thanks to everyone who sponsored me, and if you would still like to you can do so here:
http://www.justgiving.com/dougplatts

Take care

Doug – the kili climber

It was really hard work raising money dancing around in the suit but lots of fun. It was a really sunny weekend so that made being in the suit very hot.

After Friday night it looked like we had raised about £400 between us. We spent Saturday afternoon outside the fron of Brighton pier and we were swamped by tourists wanting our pictures. We didn’t raise as much as Friday, probably about £200, which was a shame as it was really hard work – but was still worth.

Sunday we spent at a big cricket match in Hove, fortunately Australian cricketer Shane Warne was playing for one of the teams, this meant the cricjkt ground was packed.

At half time we all took part in the mascot race, against one teams hawk, a seagull, a shark and a greyhound. At the end of the game, which Brighton won thankfully, we collected money from people as they left the grounds and we did really really well.

So now with only two weeks till I set off for Tanzania there are a couple more fund raising activities I have planned. One of them is a raffle and another is a BBQ. But don’t forget if you would like to make a donation to my fund raising efforts you can here:

http://www.justgiving.com/dougplatts

Last night we went round all the pubs in town and along the sea front making absolute fools of ourselves! It was great fun We went round with buckets telling people about the children’s home and climbing Kilimanjaro and they were really generous. I got my photo taken as a gorilla at an art gallery and also am on many phone videos which will probably make their way on to YouTube!

It was pretty exhausting being so energetic and I’ve got another couple of days of it. Today we are all outside the main pier down on Brighton seafront and tomorrow we are at a big cricket match where we have to race their mascots, a shark and a hawk – should be loads of fun.

But yesterday I did manage to raise £100 just in my bucket, not sure what the other guys made but I think we all did pretty well. So I’m hoping I’ll be able to raise a couple of hundred this weekend which will be great.

I can’t tell you how hot it is in the gorilla suit but it is lots of fun, although apparently I look a bit scary with the mask on, I’ll put up a picture as soon as I have one and you can cast your verdict.

So for the past few days and for the next few weeks I’m going to be cooking cookies, cupcakes, and anything else I can come up with thats relatively easy to make – as the only time I have to cook it late in the evening and I don’t want to be up all night doing it. I’ve also been cooking cereal bars for the healthier people in the office. The other day I made chocolate covered cornflake cakes which remineded me of cooking when I was a kid, all the cooking skills are coming back now.

I probably make about about £5 – £10 profit a day after taking out money for ingredients. Which is fine for me as that should mean around an extra £100 to go towards my fund. I don’t think I could cook any more or sell any more than that anyway.

So if anyone has any cheap, easy recepies for healthy, or unhealthy , snacks please let me know and I’ll add them to the menu.

On the ascent, and also the descent, I will be staying in a tent overnight. Due to the mountain’s equatorial location as well as its high elevation, climbers can experience almost every climate type during the journey to the top. It is also known to many for its year round snow-topped summit. So below is a list I have compiled of things to bring:

Sleeping Gear

• sleeping bag and stuff sack: night-time temperatures on Kilimanjaro can be as low as zero degrees Fahrenheit so bring a warm bag
• sleeping pad: full-length Therma-Rest or equivalentHead and Face
• pile or wool hat: it must cover the ears; a balaclava works well
• shade hat: a visor hat with a good brim is essential for protection from the equatorial sun
• bandannas: various uses – cleaning glasses, sun protection when tied around the neck, etc.
• sunglasses with side shields or glacier glasses: essential eye protection whether in the tropics, at high altitudes or by the water

Upper Body

• t-shirts: two t-shirts that will get dirty; polypropylene is best; no cotton
• upper body layers: three warms layers for the upper body. These must be made of wool, polypropylene or pile. Layers must fit over each other and provide good insulation. A long underwear top, a sweater and a pile or heavy wool shirt make a good combination. Cotton should be avoided.
• rain parka: a good parka made of Gortex or waterproof nylon that has been seam sealed. Afternoon showers are common in

East Africa, especially on Kilimanjaro.

• poncho: quick and handy protection for your body and your day pack; poor protection in windy rain
• wool gloves or mittens: wool or pile; one pair of heavy mittens and a light pair of gloves works well
• mitten shells: one pair to go over mittens; provide protection from the wind and rain at higher altitudes on the mountainOptional
• down or synthetic jacket: although not required some individuals may prefer to bring a heavier expedition weight jacket for cold mountain nights.

Lower Body

• undergarments: adequate supply for the entire climb
• hiking shorts: one pair of quick-drying shorts; good for hiking at lower elevations on the mountain
• tights: comfortable to hike in, protection from vegetation and sunburn, warm on cool misty days; Lycra are best
• long underwear bottoms: one pair, either wool or polypropylene
• pile, bunting or wool pants: one comfortable pair that fit loosely over the long underwear bottoms
• rain pants: a good pair of Gortex or nylon pants (nylon pants must be made of breathable, water resistant nylon); must be roomy enough to fit comfortably over pile or wool pants

Feet

• thin socks: two pair of polypropylene socks to wear under heavy wool socks; help prevent blisters and keep feet dry
• thick socks: six pair of heavy wool or polypropylene socks
• hiking boots: one pair medium weight hiking boots large enough to be comfortable with one thin and one heavy sock
• gaiters: one pair of high gaiters made of breathable material; keeps dirt and snow out of boots
• tennis shoes: to wear in camp after a day of hiking

Personal Health and Comfort

• toiletries: toothbrush and paste, comb, shampoo, tampons, footpowder, handcream, etc. Bring enough for the entire trip as few are available in

Tanzania.

• sunscreen: bring plenty of sun block with SPF of 15 or more. It’s easy to underestimate the amount necessary for equatorial sun protection.
• lip balm: must have SPF rating of 15 or more
• ear plugs: to block out snoring and other noise to ensure a good night’s sleep
• flashlight and/or headlamp: bring extra batteries
• adjustable ski poles: required to assist with a rigorous descent from the mountain
• pocket knife: simple Swiss Army type with scissors
• personal first aid and drug kit: see Health and Medical Information
• towel: for wash up in camp
• towelettes: individually wrapped anti-bacterial towels are great for general hygiene
• spare contacts or glasses: contacts can be a problem in dusty conditions; glasses wearers should have a spare set
• umbrella (optional): protection from rain and sun; most guides use one
• portable chair: (optional): Therma-rest and Crazy Creek both make light-weight, comfortable portable chairs. Stools are provided in camp for dining
• snacks: (optional): bring a supply of your favorite snacks to eat on the climb. It is a nice treat for the porters to receive a small snack on the climb
• fingernail brush (optional): for removing dust from your nails, clothes or boots
• plastic sandwich bags: keeps personal items separate and dryWater
• water bottles: two one-quart, wide-mouthed plastic bottles. If you use a collapsible water bottle or hydration system you are welcome to bring it along for drinking water. However, continue to bring at least one hard plastic bottle in addition. These can be used in cold weather as hot water bottles in your sleeping bag (example: Nalgene ).
• water treatment tablets: two bottles of Potable Agua or Polar Pure crystal iodine; purifies drinking water while on the climb and is lightweight and easy to use
• water flavoring: powdered additives like Tang, Gatoraid and Wyler’s lemonade make treated water taste better.

Carrying Gear

• large day pack: with padded shoulder straps and waist belt; used for carrying personal gear such as water bottle, extra clothing, snacks, camera, etc. Individual loads will be between 15 and 20 pounds. A climbing pack with a volume between 2500-3500 cu. in. (40-50 liters) serves most people needs well
• large duffel bag: with a lock; mountain gear will be kept in it and the entire duffel will go into the group mountain bag that will be carried by the porters. Limit loads to items on the equipment list. Your large duffel will weigh between 10 kilos or 22 lbs.
• medium duffel bag: to store your non-mountain gear; this will be stored at the hotel, to be used after the climb and will be brought to your hotel
• baggage tags: makes identifying your bags easy at the airports or hotels
• plastic bags: sleeping bag and clothes will be double-bagged while on the mountain for protection from afternoon rains. Heavy duty garbage bags work great and can store dirty or wet clothes as well.

Now I realise some of these things might be ‘luxuries’ or not really necessary but I think generally these are the things that will be needed. Any comments you have will be greatly appreciated, whether I have missed out something vital or just thinking of too many things.

I was a little concerned with the weather forecast for the day as it was forecast showers – and I wasn’t particularly looking forward to running in the rain – I did bring a spare set of clothes just in case. But… the weather was great, and the run around Hyde Park was very nice. I’d never been there before and so was nice to have a look around as I ran. I am glad the race wasn’t any later as a couple of hours after the run there was thunder and lightening, and that wouldn’t have been fun!

Running a 10K course rather than a half marathon felt completely different, I realise that it’s only half the distance; but I mean that when i ran a distance in miles I would always convert it back in to kilometers, so if I had 2 miles left to go I would work that out to be at least 3 kilometers – which seemed, to me anyway, longer as it was a higher number.

Anyway, running the course I did a pretty good pace and passed each marker feeling pretty good. I had a but of a tired few moments at 6K and again at 8 but managed to push on. The last stretch though was a bit of a killer! Once I passed the 9K all I wanted to do was walk the remainder – but obviously couldn’t as there were people everywhere cheering us all on. So I pushed on and on, and made it to the finishline – phew!!

If anyone else took part in the BUPA 10K please let me know how you got on.

Also, if you would like to make a donation towards my fundraising activities for the Amani Children’s Home you can do so here:

http://www.justgiving.com/dougplatts

So the next thing to plan for, and it’s going to take a lot of planning, is my attempt at climbing Mt Kilimanjaro in September! I’m sure you’ll be hearing a lot more from me before then

So here is the course for the BUPA 10K race this Sunday in London’s Hyde Park.

Looks like it’s going to be showers on the day, but I don’t think it will be a problem. I haven’t been able to do very much training for this as I’ve just been too busy. I had my birthday last Wednesday and have been busy with that – went to Barcelona for a long weekend. I’m going to be looking for a time around 50 minutes to an hour.

The course looks fairly flat so I think I’ll be able to give it a good shot. After all the running I’ve been doing, in training and in my half marathons, I realise how much dedication it takes to be able to keep your fitness at a high enough level to be able to complete some of these courses let alone achieve credible times. I can’t imagine how much training professional runners have to go through.

01 Sept 07

2200 Arrive into Kilimanjaro International Airport. Transfer to Impala Hotel Kilimanjaro for overnight accommodation.02 Sept 07Morning pre-climb briefing and equipment check with your mountain guide and a representative from Tanzania Journeys to prepare you for the climb ahead. Rest of day at leisure. Overnight at Impala Kilimanjaro Hotel.

03 Sept 07

0900 Depart from your hotel and transfer to Machame Gate (1800m). After registering with the park authorities at the gate, commence climbing Kilimanjaro from Machame Gate to Machame Camp (3000m) where camp is set for dinner and overnight stay.

04 Sept 07

After breakfast, climb from Machame Camp (3000m) heading to Shira Camp (3840m) for overnight.

05 Sept 07

Depart Shira Camp (3840m) gradually climbing across Shira Plateau to a high point at Lava Tower (4600m) before dropping down into Barranco Valley  and setting camp at Barranco Camp (3950m).

06 Sept 07

Leave Barranco Camp (3950m), slowly crossing the floor of the Great Barranco Valley and up the Barranco Wall; continue across a high alpine plateau and drop into Karanga Valley (3960m) for overnight.

07 Sept 07

Depart Karanga Valley (3960m). Slowly trek (7 hours) steadily uphill to Barafu Camp (4600m) for overnight. Rest and prepare for summit night.

08 Sept 07

A midnight start to conquer the highest point in Africa.  Leave Barafu Camp (4600m) winding you way up the steep scree slope to Stella Point (5700m) on the crater rim (about 6-7 hours hike). Head towards Uhuru Peak (5895m) over 1 – 2 hours.  Follow the same route down to Barafu Camp where you will stop for some brunch and a rest. Descend to Mweka Camp (3100m) for overnight camp.

09 Sept 07

Descend from Mweka Camp (3100m) to Mweka Gate (1450). Register at Mweka Gate to complete your climb and collect your certificate. A vehicle waits here to transfer you to Moshi for overnight at Impala Hotel Kilimanjaro.

10 Sept 07

Day at leisure and half day visit to Amani Children’s Home. Overnight at Impala Kilimanjaro Hotel.