Day 3

Is the most beautiful hike between the three days. From 8:50-12:30pm we trekked a steep climb to the Austrian Hut. At this elevation, I was only 10m from the elevation of Mont Blanc (highest mountain in Europe) and higher than where I've slept at the base of Kilimanjaro. Austrian Hut, like most mountain huts, features a hallway where cooking takes place and 3 rooms where 4 beds per room are allowed for sleeping. I opted for a tent because it offers a quieter experience and the gas coming from the cooking was unpleasant to me. In the afternoon, Samson and I trekked to Point Lenana(16,355ft), the third tallest peak in Mt.Kenya and offers the world's tallest via ferrata. It took 1.5 hours RT from Austrian hut to the point and back.

My guide informed me that unfortunately he has been painfully experiencing a toothache and that he's called another technical guide, John who will lead me tomorrow. He also mentioned that the Finnish ladies weren't feeling well and descended the mountain. I met John at the camp, tried on a harness, and John debriefed me of the climb tomorrow. We will be climbing up the SE normal face, with the crux of the climb rated as a 5.8 grade. He informed me that there will be 17 pitches up and most of the climbs are low class 5s, including some class 4s. We will be using a 60m rope. 

I could see Nelion and Baitian in stillness and unmoved by the fog. Later at night, my new Finnish friend Malla surprisingly arrived and we were both ecstatic we will be climbing together tomorrow. 

Knowing that wakeup time will be at 4:30am for a 5:30am departure, I went to bed around 8pm to get some rest. Tomorrow will be a big day.

🥾3.7miles +2000ft No headache! No diamox

🏕️ Austrian hut at 4790m (15711ft)