Where the time goes, I really do not know, but I realised today (with shock, horror and excitement) that we have just one month to go until we head on down to Tanzania and attempt the mighty mountain of Kilimanjaro!

The past six weeks seem to have flown by in a blur, and while we have been busy training in the Austrian Alps, shopping for lightweight sleeping bags, gaiters (didn’t even know what they were 2 months ago!), and sets of rather dashing thermal undies, the month of August seems to have started and ended in a blink of an eye.

Preparing to climb Kilimanjaro is something we have taken very seriously indeed, and while we are young(ish), fit, and experienced hikers, there is always the dreaded altitude sickness to think of… so we have decided that if we want to make it to Uhuru Peak, planning, peak performance, and determination is required – and by the bucket full!

As we are taking the longer 7-day Machame Route, we hope that the extra day for acclimatisation will give us a boost, and while views and opinions differ greatly on the subject of climbing “Kili”, one thing seems to clear… it’s a mental thing, and willpower is everything.

The thought of going a whole week without a shower is something I am struggling to come to terms with, but when I consider that I will be making the climb with a group of 10 or so men, I am sure that my baby-wipe baths, dry shampoo and super strength deo will keep me much ‘fresher’ than my male counterparts!

So, with just four weeks to go, it is time to step up the training program, buy those last-minute ear-muffs, and prepare for what is ultimately going to be a trip of a lifetime. Wish us luck!