“Today will probably be the toughest day of your life”
Towering over the sandy plains of Tanzania stands Mount Kilimanjaro – The Worlds tallest free-standing mountain. Cudgie Smilie & Trevor Rawden will trek through deep forest, home of spectacular wildlife, stretching up to moorland and onwards towards glaciers before attempting to summit Mount Kilimanjaro at Uhuru Peak 5,895 Meters!
“This will be one of the most challenging & rewarding experiences of our lives”
Please sponsor us through Just giving.
Nigel ‘Cudgie’ Smilie
“Legend”, No, Inspired, Yes but by so many 
, Committed – Yes, Dedicated – Yes, Determined – Yes, Motivated – You Bet! If you want to do something in your life then go out and do it, life is far too short.
Enjoy The Journey, All 5895 meters of it!, Reach for the Stars.
I love making people happy and if this challenge can make those around me happy then I will have achieved my aim.
Kilimanjaro Diary
17th February 2011
Well we have arrived somewhat nervous about the days ahead and not looking forward to 14 hours on a plane. It will be worth it just to see Kilimanjaro from the air, let alone stand on it! Daniel, we are coming to see your star my friend…… keep us safe matey, we might even have a fag with you at the top.
Weather forecast Kilimanjaro today! 36 degrees, 50% chance of rain, tomorrow should be better 33 degrees 20% chance of rain. Oh how I love a muddy walk!
Hello all have arrived at Heathrow safely and am now bricking it, will update you later.
7.30 p.m. on board flight to Ethiopia.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Friday 18th February 2011 – 7.55 a.m.
Have landed in Ethiopia and awaiting flight to Kilimanjaro.
24 hours of traveling just landed in Kilimanjaro, flew over an amazing mountain. 6.00 a.m. tomorrow the hard work starts!
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Friday 19th February 2011 – 6.00 a.m.
We are about to start our climb.
Another update for you all.
Day 1 – Fu…… painful, 3500 calories burnt, heart peaked at 167 also had nosebleed. Now at 2900 mtrs so nearly halfway! Have seen monkey’s and elephant shit, today has been very painful but awesome.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sunday 20th February 2011 – Day 2
Just completed 11 hours of sheer hell, every bone in my body aches, now at 3895 mtrs, just 2000 mtrs to the top. Calories burnt 8000, we are all at Shira 2, awesome.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Monday 21st February 2011 – Day 3
We have gone into the unknown today, we went up to 4671 mtrs, you cannot even breath, I cannot describe the feelings in my body, it has taken a severe battering, my only hope is it will survive to the end. The cloud clared today so I got my first glimpse of the summit, with a tear in my eye. We have the dreaded Barronca wall tomorrow.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Tuesday 22nd February 2011 – day 4
Started at 5am with The Barranco Wall, for those that have done it you will understand the pain & emotion you go through. This journey has been immense so far, The pain has been extreme, if you was on a plane they would have given you oxygen by now. The team have given me a nickname, The Water Buffalo due to the amount of water I have drunk. We are now at Karranga Camp resting up before what lies ahead, Just about to tuck into steak & potatoes army style and then get my head down.Its been another hard day and the airs so thin you have to do everything in slow motion. Onwards and upwards
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Wednesday 23rd February 2011 – Day 5
Started out early again today, I am now at Barufu Base Camp, The air is so thin, you can hardly breathe. We have to get are heads down today at 4.30pm as we start the final ascent to the summit of Kilimanjaro at 11.00pm tonight. Love to all & wish me luck. Don’t forget there’s still time to sponsor this crazy man, Just follow the link
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Wednesday 23rd February – Day 5/6
At 4.45am after a mammoth effort my body decided to turn off at 5400 mtrs, I could do no more…. So close, but I have a family at home that I now have to think off. I now have to get down to 3700 mtrs today. There have been a lot of tears, I realy wanted to do it…. I’m So Sorry XXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Thursday 24th February – day 6
I am now down, Descended 3200 Mtrs in the last 24 Hours, Down but not Defeated. I got further than most and if you had seen some of the people I saw being carried down, But I still went on. Has it put me off? No chance I want to be back next year to finish the job! Love to all those that have followed me on this journey. XXX
Watch this space
