Hello Mountain Zoners, this is Vern Tejas with Alpine Ascents' Kilimanjaro climb Team Guides in Training. [laughs in background]

We finally got to Camp 2 at the Shira Hut, it's up on the Shira Plateau about 12,000 vertical feet above sea level. Now we left the rainforest behind, and the Colubus monkey that we saw yesterday, and broke into what we call the alpine heat and the moorland which is the next zone of environment that is above the rainforest. They say Kilimanjaro is fascinating in the fact that every climate on earth can be found here. Right now we're in the high-alpine moorlands. Soon we'll be in the high-altitude desert but that's another story.

We finally really felt the altitude; several people are mentioning being breathless and it's more than just views that are causing that. We've come up 5,000 feet. So we started with our positive-pressure breathing and the people that took that to heart and really did it well today are all feeling wonderful.

Some of us are a little under the weather; however, we're going to stay at this altitude for the next two nights so that we can become acclimatized at 12,000 feet before we go any higher. One of the nice things that we did see today was the giant groundsel plant that is endemic just to this area; it's a pretty fascinating plant. Because of the altitude here there is a little oasis of flora and fauna that are particular just to this mountain and we saw some of the unique aspects of that today.

Weather-wise, we really appreciate you all crossing your fingers and saying your prayers for us, the sun came out today and we had some of the best views we've had. We're on the west side right now on the Shira Plateau and you can look up and see the Breach Wall and see the glaciers hanging down. And it's quite spectacular to see sunset on the mountain and get that nice alpenglow right before the sun went down.

We're eating fairly well. As a matter of fact, several people have said they're gaining weight so I keep telling them they better eat up because it might be the last good meal, but they think I'm kidding. Anyway, thanks for joining us and we'll catch you tomorrow, same time, same station.

Ciao for now. Oh, here comes a P.S. Love to Anastasia from John, love to Evelyn from Bob. Tim says hi to Bumble, Katie and Cathy.

— Vern Tejas, Alpine Ascents International Guide and MountainZone.com Correspondent