Day 6 Up the Mulanje Massive

Day 6 Up the Mountain (Mount Mulanje)

Cycling finished, our bikes put away, we put on our boots, grabbed our waterproofs and overnight kit and started up the mountain, first exercising with Siobhan and checking that our legs were still attached.

All still working....just.

Our first hurdle was the river crossing early on in the walk. The porters who were carrying our sleeping bags and food helped us to cross the river.

Then it was steep up up up through woods in typical Scottish weather. We climbed up through the mist and it was cold and slippery.

Lots of interesting plant life and we met many women on the way carrying large bundles of wood on their heads. However we could no longer see the mountain.

Made it to the CCAP lodge. interestingly this hut was reburbished by a school in Edinburgh, and they visit it each year. We met them climbing up on our way down...small world.

Soon we were warm and cosy in front of the fire, eating a fantastic meal cooked over the open fire and had sorted out the snorers and weak-bladdered into appropriate dorms. Much hilarity with singing around the fire and venturing out in the rain to the toilet.

Toasting our feet in front of the fire and drying out our clothes.

Apparently snow leopards have been spotted here... not to be mistaken for Pauline's scarf. Just loved Helen's hat with attached head torch. No showers tonight just the alarm set for 5 to start down with the sunrise. Getting up in the night (yes I was with the snorers and weak bladdered) there was a fantastic African starry sky (sorry Helen I know it was cold and damp but it was magnificent). Altogether a really great evening.

This is what it looked like in the morning when we could see where we had been.