August 14th

The media are alerted to the triumphant return of Chetana, Anne and someone called "Mrs Riley"

From The Argus

The girls on kili with the lily flag:

(this video is not the best of quality so I have put on a still as well)

Mon 09 Aug -

11:10pm

Comment from Kaz:

It is great to be home - can't quite believe we've done it, but we have the photos and video to prove it! A huge thankyou to everyone who has donated to the Lily Foundation, and thanks so much for all the support - we have appreciated it!

Mon 09 Aug -

10:47pm

Comment from Evan:

All home now. Threw a great surprize party with lots of cake and champagne! Kaz Showing us video. will try to get her to make a comment!

Mon 09 Aug -

4:56pm

Comment from Evan:

The girls have landed (The flight that is) And are on their way back home!

Mon 09 Aug -

7:00am

Text from Kaz:

Morning! we are at airport & ready to go - will be nice to get home - glad to hear your ok - enjoy toronto! & see you on thur

Love you X X

Sun 08 Aug -

8:31pm

Text from chetna:

We r in a mall. will go back 2 aunts house and try and check in. Call me later. Aunt trying 2 impress karen Ann with modern nairobi. X

Text from Kaz:

Hi there. We are back on the joggly bus to nairobi to chet's rellies - flying out tmrw morn - what time are you flying to toronto? Sad to not see you @ home - hope everyone well x x x

Sat 07 Aug - 21:45 BST

Brighton

Comment from Ridley:

I have to go to Toronto tomorrow, so won't be able to update this blog any more. However Evan is going to do it for me, so keep checking for updates, Evan style.

Sat 07 Aug - 20:30

Arusha

Text from Kaz:

Hi, here we are celebrating our climb, very clean and happy, all ready for our beds. Hope all are well x x

Sat 07 Aug - 20:30

Arusha

Sat 07 Aug - 18:50

Arusha

Text from Kaz:

Hi. We are back in Arusha & have just shopped & are meeting our team for celebratory beers hurrah! Bus to Nairobi in morning - happy to be clean again - have a safe trip tmrw x x

Fri 06 Aug - 17:00

Mweka Camp

Altitude 3100m

Text from Kaz:

Hi. Battery really low. Will have elec by tmrw x

Fri 06 Aug - 12:05

Barafu Camp

Altitude 4600m

Text from Chetna:

Made it! It was hard. Battery low, so will call from lodge. Totally shattered and still have trek 2 final camp. X

Fri 06 Aug - 11:50am

Barafu Camp

Altitude 4600m

Text from Kaz:

Hi there, just back - no juice left in phone - success! Everyone made it! Even all 8 of our group - many tears were shed. Now we are tired & in need of some rest! Fab but no need to do that again love love x x

Fri 06 Aug - 05:30BST

Brighton

Comment from Ridley: DAWN OVER MT KILI

The sun is just comming up in Brighton, and has been up for nearly an hour on Mt Kili. .Can't you tell I'm struggling to be relaxed about waiting for news from the mountain. I woke up at 3:30. The summit party should be at Stella Pt by now. La la la. what's on the radio... oh the shipping forecast... "Tyne, Dogger, Fisher, German Bight..."

Thurs 05 Aug - 19:30BST

Brighton

Comment from Ridley:

It's all getting very close now. The summit party will be leaving Barafu camp in 2 hours, at 9:30pm UK time (11:30pm East African Time). They will climb by torchlight up 1300m of steep frozen volcanic scree to try and reach the top soon after dawn. Stella point at 5685m is the end of the really steep scree, then they have a more gradual climb around the rim of the crater to the peak.They should reach the very top about 6am their time (4am UK time). I spoke to Karen on the phone before they went to bed and she said she was feeling very strong and confident that they were in good shape for tonight.

Thurs 05 Aug - 18:15

Barafu Camp

Altitude 4600m

Text from Kaz:

Great to hear you - gave me a real boost. Have a lot of confidence - no symptoms feel strong. Our guides are fab. We have had some snow! Love you all. Kisses to my babies x x

Thurs 05 Aug - 18:15

Barafu Camp

Altitude 4600m

Text from Chetna:

Going 2 sleep. It is 6pm. It is going b v cold. 6hr to the top. Love. X.

Thurs 05 Aug - 14:30

Barafu Camp

Altitude 4600m

Text from Chetna:

At Barafu. It is v windy. Feeling OK. Eating popcorn and tea. Dinner at 5pm and bed. We are leaving at 11:30pm for the summit. Post summitters have said it is very cold and take it slowly slowly and drink. Wearing 3 pairs of trousers. Hope I am going up the fridge OK. Love all x.

Thurs 05 Aug - 14:30

Barafu Camp

Altitude 4600m

Wed 04 Aug - 15:10

Karranga camp

Altitude 4040m

Text from chetna:

At Karange valley camp. had lunch. Resting. tough breathing. just going 2 pee - guides call it 'send message' when we have 2 pee on the way. X

Wed 04 Aug - 15:10

Karranga camp

Altitude 4040m

Text from Kaz:

Hi hope you got pics earlier. One was at barranco camp in morn, other at top of wall 2 hrs later. Now resting at Karanga camp - We are all tired but happy to be here. Love to all x

Wed 04 Aug - 11:30am

Top of Barranco wall

Altitude 4200m

Text from Chetna:

Top of barranco wall. It is 11:30. Scrabbled up wall. all well. Above the clouds. Hope all well. X.

Wed 04 Aug - 11:30am

Top of Barranco wall

Altitude 4200m

This picture arrived just before the text above so I assume they are from the same place.

Same photographer as last time I think!

Tuesday 03 Aug - 20:37

Barranco camp

Altitude 3950m

Text from Chetna:

Outside toilet. The stars r great, v cold. Had 8hr walk 2day and r at 3rd camp. Seen shooting stars. Legs hurt and shoulders. Wish u here! Love 2 u and kids. Missing u all. Kaz trying to send pic to Ridley. X

Tuesday 03 Aug - 17:30

Barranco camp

Altitude 3950m

Text from Ann:

Love to all from all of us. Had the longest day 8hrs 20mins walking sooo tired. Might run out of juice soon. So may have to rely on texts from others. All good can see mountain peak from camp. Much love Xxxxxx

Tuesday 03 Aug - morning

Shira camp

Altitude 3760m

Text from Ann:

Going up to 4600m today 7hrs of climbing eek. Pass this on to chetna and karen's family. All good love you mummy Xxxxx

Monday 02 Aug - 17:30

Shira camp

Altitude 3760m

Text from Chetna:

At shira camp. It is 5:30 and getting cold. Had long day 7hr from camp to camp including lunch stop. A lot of groups. Feeling tired with altitude. Saw the top of kili v briefly before misty again. Love 2 u and kids. X

Monday 02 Aug - 15:55

Shira camp

Altitude 3760m

Text from Kaz:

hi, just made it to new shira camp, amazing view - had first sight of kili today, fabulous! Feelong ok, some others not - will take short hike higher, love you all x x

Monday 02 Aug - 15:55

Shira camp

Altitude 3760m

The girls are looking a bit more tired that at 1800m. The sun is shining though.

Sunday 01 Aug - 17:55pm EAT

Machame camp

Altitude 3000m

Text from Chetna:

We have arrived at camp 1 after 5hrs walking. Alls well. Getting cold now we have stopped. Tea soon and sleep. Cloudy and damp. Love all. X.

Sunday 01 Aug - 10:45am EAT

Machame Gate

Altitude 1800m

29 porters! Why didn't they just get 3 more and travel by sedan chair! At least they won't be short of someone to take their picture.

Text from Chetna:

About 2 start. Love u all. It is raining. 8 people and 29 guides and porters. X.

Sunday 01 Aug - 10:45am EAT

Machame Gate

Altitude 1800m

Posing at the Machame gate start. Still smiling. Hang on, 10:45! What kind of time is that to start a climb? Half day today then.

detail of the sign behind them, scrounged off google

Sunday 01 Aug - 08:00am EAT

Arusha

e-mail from the girls

hello all, stephen, tala, tate, reid, prem

it is 8am and our rucsacs are loaded on the van and we are waiting for 3
other people to turn up so that we can go on our 3 hr trip to the start.
we
are all well, a bit scared, got butterflies in tummy and goosebums. we had
a nice day yesterday going into town and shopping in the market. everyone
is very friendly and the food good.

we had a debrief meeting yesterday and the chief guide, julius has decided
to call me china as he cannot pronounce chetana. he said that just
remember
'losts of people have done it so why not us'. julius has been up the
mountain nearly 300 times.

love you all and miss you. lots of bigs hugs and hope you are all being
good and sharing and not fighting and helping to do the housework and
cooking and having fun.

ps. you need to send a birthday card to uncle bernie.

love mummy / chetana
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx:)

Hi Ellie-Rae Sweetie and aunty Carolyn and all,
It is really now about to go on our climb, met our head guide jlius now
affectionately know as the emperor - he is assigned to get us to the top.
Julius seems really great and has climbed the mountain more than 300 times
so we are in good hands!! We are all very nervous, I have more than
butterflies in my stomache more like a couple of bats and a parakeet!! We
are off now about to get the bus to Kili. Love you loads and will update
as
and when. Lots of love mummyxxxxx

Hello Evan, Alex, Hubby, Nana and Grampy!

Yikes! the time has come we are all primed and ready to go - our adrenalin
has been pumping all night. Just can't wait to get going now.
The clouds cleared yesterday and we saw Mount Meru behind Arusha towering
above us! That got me really excited. We are in good hands so don't worry
about us - we are going to have a great time!!
Love you all - will text from the first gate
Karen xxx

Saturday 31 July - 2:30pm EAT

Arusha

Text from Kaz

Lovely & sunny here - done some heavy shopping. Eating lunch in nice garden - can't see kili from here nice surprise tmrw! I miss you all - love to all x x

Saturday 31 July - 10:09am EAT

Arusha

Text from Kaz:

Morn! here we are roughing it in central africa! Had a great nights sleep - feeling v fresh for tmrw start. We are all well... k x x

Saturday 31 July - 10:02am EAT

Arusha

The trekkers have made it to the side of the pool at the lodge in Arusha, at least that's what they tell us, this looks more like the Algarve to me. Is Chetna auditioninng for Charlies Angels?. In that case Ann will have to be the ginger one.

Friday 30 July - 9:30pm EAT

Arusha - Tanzania

Text from Chetna:

We have arrived at lodge after a 7hr v.bumpy ride in a squashed van aka guatemala. It is 9.30... luv all x.

Friday 30 July - 8:18am EAT (6:18 BST)

Nairobi -Jomo Kenyatta Intl

Text from Kaz:

Good morning We are here safe & a little tired. We will text in rotation so you will have to pass it around everyone else! Love you all x x x

Thursday 29 July - 9:52pm - English Channel

Virgin Atlantic 671 passes West of Brighton at 16,400 ft and 460 knotts. Why do I get the impression I know where they are better than they do?

Thursday 29 July - 7:47pm - Heathrow T3

Which three people in this picture are off to climb Mt Kili

Thursday 29 July - 7:45pm - Heathrow T3

Pictured shortly before going through security to the airside of T3, and shortly after a failed attempt to get an upgrade by wearing matching charity T-shirts.

Wednesday 28 July - 6pm - Saltdean

Karen still has all her gear spread out over the bed. No sign of any actual packing yet as such. 23 hours until they leave for the Airport.