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| (Google photo of Mount Mulanje) |
Perhaps it’s because I was born and raised in the middle of
Michigan’s mitten—one of the flattest places on earth—that I’ve always had a
fascination with real mountains (“real” mountains = mountains with snow on top,
not the “mountains” of Pennsylvania).
Last week Sara and I had the privilege of spending a few
days in Malawi soaking in sunshine at the gorgeous Lake (post coming soon),
visiting friends, and hiking Malawi’s Mount Mulanje.
If a real mountain must have snow topped peaks, perhaps
Mount Mulanje isn’t a real mountain. However, its 3,000 metre (~10,000 foot)
postcard-worthy frame definitely looks like a real mountain. And… having
recently spent thirty hours in close proximity with Mulanje’s rock formations,
I’d have to say Mulanje is a “real” mountain (even if we didn’t find any snow
along our route).
Our hike up to Lichenya only took 6.5 hours—including a tea
break, lunch break, and a few miscellaneous stops for water along the way.
Sounds so easy… but the climb is a significant workout.
It’s been just over five years since I first made my way up
Mt. Mulanje. It was so wonderful to return to this mountain and re-trek its
Lichenya Path in the company of friends. It was Sara(!), her dad, her two brothers
and two sisters, two other friends, and me who comprised our hiking party five
years ago. This trip included a Swiss carpenter, an Ausie fellow, two of the
Millers close family friends, Sara, her dad, and me.
What a privilege it was not only to return to Malawi but
also to have the physical ability to enjoy another climb up the Mulanje Massif.
I hardly took any photos of the hike (I was too busy
climbing…), but I managed to snap a couple during breaks. Plus, I’ve pulled a
few from our hike five years ago [thanks to the Millers].
Enjoy!
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| that's where we're going... |
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| pack up |
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I had to stop to shoot pictures here...
I vividly remembered this steep part of the climb five years ago. |
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| we ate our lunch up there |
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| picture-perfect Lichenya "hut" (more like a cabin I'd say!) |
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| inside the hut |
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| view from the hut |
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| headed down, down, down |
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| the 2009 hiking crew! |
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| 2009 break time |
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| yes, we started down there |
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beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
there were scads of wild flowers blooming this time as well |
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good-bye, mountain.
until next time |
Absolutely magnificent!
ReplyDeleteDoug looks like he's going to run up the mountain in that one photo.
impressive....I'm so glad you have said Yes to so many out of the box adventures while in Africa.
ReplyDeleteIt snowed there in June 1954
ReplyDelete