Hello you cybernauts out there in Mountain Zone land, this is Vern Tejas with Alpine Ascents' Kilimanjaro climb Team Harambe.

The day started off in a complete fog, the serial fingers weaving away through the limbs of the rainforest.

High overhead the condensation was dripping on our tents. It was a challenge, even to get up. We pried our eyes open and sure enough it was wet and moist outside (laughter).

But the team pulled together, that's our name by the way, Team Harambe means pulling together. And we had a wonderful breakfast and then proceeded through the moorlands, and the high heathers, and actually started up the mountain in earnest today. We scrambled over the rocks and got out of the roots of the lower rainforest and broke into the moorlands and saw our first giant groundsels, which is part of the senecio family. We also saw giant lobelias and saw our first wildlife, it's called a four-stripe mouse and it was a big one, we stood in awe as it roared (laughter).

Once we cleared out of the rainforest and got up a little ways we had a wonderful picnic lunch; the sun actually burned through the clouds and we got our first view of the mountain. In a full moon, holy smokes, we couldn't have asked for anything more. We feel very blessed up here on the route.

We pushed on to Shira Camp and we're now camped at about 12,000' above sea level. And, again, the moon is so bright tonight we don't have to struggle with our headlamps, we can see our ways to and from the tents in the evening. Of course the stars overhead are showing us the way to the Southern Cross. And some people, this is probably the first time people have had an opportunity to see this.

Team breaks into a traditional African chant (music begins)... As you probably know that's la Cucaracha... We have a birthday wish. Happy Birthday Suzanne Nelson and that's why we played Oh Susannah for you. Suzanne we hope you're having a wonderful birthday out there.

Hello Anselmo! Hi Mom from Susan. And all of you out there following us on the internet site, we want you to know we're thinking of you as well.

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