Count Down to Kili

The flights are booked and the guides are hired. I'm counting down the days to my trip to Tanzania to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. The hike will be 6 days up the Marangu Route to Uhuru Peak at the top of Kilimanjaro. The Marangu Route, smartly and aptly named the "Coca Cola Route" is the "easiest" route to the top of Kilimanjaro.

The itinerary goes:

DAY 1 - To Mandara Hut
5500ft to 9000ft, 7 km, 4-5 hours, Montane Forest

Walk through the rainforest to the Mandara encampment located at 9000 ft

DAY 2 - To Horombo Camp
9000ft to 12,100ft, 11 km, 6-8 hours, Heathland

After about 1 hour, you will leave the glades of the rainforest and follow an ascending path on the open moorlands to the Horombo encampment.

DAY 3 - Horombo Camp
9000ft to 12,100ft, Extra day resting at Horombo and climbing the small peak of Mawenzi.

DAY 4 - To Kibo Camp
12,100ft to 15,400ft, 10 km, 6-8 hours, Alpine Desert

Ascending, we now pass the last watering point, walking onto the saddle of Kilimanjaro between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi. Vegetation begins with upper heathland but then disappears into "moonscape". Dinner, rest, and prepare for summit climb.

DAY 5 - To Summit and Horombo
15,400ft to 19,300ft, (and down to 12,100ft), 4 km up / 14 km down
10-15 hours, Alpine Desert

Very early in the morning (midnight to 2am), commence the climb to the summit on steep and heavy scree or snow up to Gilman's point located on the crater rim at 18640 ft (4-7 hours). Continuing, we now ascend to Uhuru Peak, which is the highest point in Africa: 19340 ft (1-2 hours). From here, we now descend, stopping for lunch and a rest at Kibo before continuing on to the Horombo encampment for dinner and a tired but happy overnight (1-2 hours).

DAY 6 - To Moshi
12,100ft to 5500ft, 18km, 5-7 hours

After breakfast, A steady descent takes us down through moorland to Mandara Hut (8858 ft), the first stopping place at the Marangu route. Continue descending through lovely lush forest on a good path to the National Park gate at Marangu (6004 ft).

So far, I've been doing some cardio vascular training and lots of stairs to get ready for the hike.
And counting down the days to March 1 when I leave for Tanzania.