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Climbing Mt. Kenya, February 22-26, 2026

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  Our Mt. Kenya adventure began at the Sirimon Gate, elevation 2650 m (8,692 ft), with two guides (one owned the company), 1 cook, 3 porters, and a very nice gentleman from Paris. John, the owner, drove all the gear up to Moses Camp while the rest of us walked 9km (~6 miles). Along the route we saw Colubus monkeys playing in the treetops and watching us. Notice the footwear Chris has. This is all he wore on the mountain. We arrived just before dark to a cluster of green buildings, one with tables, one with bunk beds and a bathroom, and one for the cooks and porters. We were now at 3300m (10,824 ft). The camp space is reserved and shared by multiple groups. At the Sirimon gate, we met a group of 5 Israelis, a couple from northern Italy, and 2 Chinese women, all of them looked to be in their 20's or early 30's. In the "dining building," there were a few other groups who had arrived earlier. The Israelis proceeded to set up a stove, chop, cook, and then spill their stew ...

Mount Kenya Academy

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  We are back at Mount Kenya Academy, the same school where we taught for 2/3 of the school year in 2024.  This time we are teaching for one term (1/3 of the school year). We began teaching on January 12th, with KK teaching science to grades 7, 8, and 9, and Chris teaching swimming to grades 1-8 and coaching the middle and high school swim teams. The inner courtyard is known as the G-Square for Graduation Square and is surrounded by classrooms. Mount Kenya Academy has two campuses, a junior school and a senior school, that are about 200 yards apart. Both schools have a pool but the senior school pool is better designed for lessons and workouts. Chris at the senior school pool with a class of junior school students Some swimming stars! Chris and two colleagues at MKA: On the left is Gerald who works as the school's lab technician, setting up biology, physics, and chemistry labs, maintaining equipment and ordering supplies. In the center is Peter, a swimming and PE teacher. Pete...