3 more days to go ! Saturday morning I get on a plane to San Francisco and there will meet up with Susheel to catch our Emirates flight to Dubai and then on to Nairobi and from there finally to Kilimanjaro.
I have tried to have everything prepared in advance, but then this is me and so there is (as always) some last minute scrambling to wrap things up. The big one that came up yesterday was the need to get new boots. This is to say the least not a good idea, but in last few long walks/hikes I have felt that my boots were loose on the heels and I could feel the heels lift. This is not good and a sure recipe to get blisters or other foot problem. Off I went to REI and a good soul there helped me try out a few different boots and I settled on the Asolo Vortex XCR. In some ways this is similar to my La Sprotiva Trango which is a light weight mountaineering boot. The Vortex is classified as an Alpine boot by Asolo. it is light and flexible, and has good ankle support, Gortex lining and Vibram soles making it suitable for the varied conditions on Kili. I have worn the new boots for 2 days now including a stroll outside in the snow and ice and a stint on the treadmill at a 15% inclination. So far so good. The heels tend to get hot, but then I have been wearing mountaineering wool socks and with the heating cranked up due to the current cold wave, so that is not surprising. The fit is good and I am told that the break in period is only 3 days or so. I have my fingers (toes ?) crossed and am praying that these new boots work out.
Besides the boot, I am finding out that trying to keep "essentials" (in case the check-in bag doesn't make it) with me on the flight is going to be difficult with just the single carryon allowed by Emirates. The main bag (check in) is getting very full as well and more than anything now I am looking forward to get past all these preparations and get going !
