David and I are getting excited about our Mt. Kenya trek.  There's a lot to do between now and then for both of us: wrap up things at work, have dinners with friends, exercise/train adequately, eat right, pack...the list goes on.  A week from tomorrow morning, we'll be beginning our journey.  But for now, we're still getting things set like the route we're taking and hiring our guides.

It's looking like we're settling on a longer trek to allow ourselves to enjoy the scenery and get acclimatized.  The Sirimon route toward the northwest is supposed to be very gradual, so that's our ascent route.  We'll be coming down the Chogoria, which is supposed to be the most scenic.  We are also hoping to do the orange route below, that allows you to circle all of the main peaks (including the one we're planning to summit as well as two others that require technical climbing).

Apparently, the Sirimon route is also known for its abundant wildlife. We're hoping to see monkeys, antelopes, and even elephants (from a distance) on the lower slopes.  One of the potential guides we've been talking with about the route says that "There is a high chance that we will be entertained by the rock hyrax."  We're looking forward to The hyraX Factor, in which he'll perform Johnny Cash's never-released A Hyrax Named Sue.

A hyrax performs "Vissi d'arte" from Puccini's opera Tosca on an early 2012 trek.

We hope that we get to see the original Hyrax, instead of some wannabe stand-in.