So here it is in Great Aunt May's very own words, this is the first time these words have been reprinted since July 1941. Exactly 68-years ago this Saturday she began to write the account. Only a few days after returning from the expedition!
BAY 575. NAIROBI. 11-7-41
THE MAKING OF A MOUNTAINEER
CHAPTER ONE – THE FIRST ASPIRATIONS
IT was probably about three years ago that the suggestion was first made. Two years ago, when exploring the upper regions of Mount Elgon, the suggestion was discussed a little more fully, but still with reference to the more or less distant future. “Perhaps next year – or the year after…” and so on. And there the matter rested.
Shortly after Easter this year, a woman came up to see me as I was doing some business in town, saying that she lived in Moshi, a small town in Tanganyika. A Salvation Army officer whom she had met from time to time had asked her to pass on his greetings to any Salvationists whom she might meet in Kenya. At this reference of Moshi I remarked that we had been thinking of spending one of our future furloughs at Marangu, about 25 miles from Moshi and that if we did so we should very much like to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. The conversation that ensued made the climb sound so attractive that I came home all enthusiastic for a holiday at Marangu in the not-so-distant future. Both Captains were interested in what I had to relate and thought it would be an admirable way of enjoying ourselves in June 1942. For June 1941, we had been contemplating a lazy three weeks by the sea at Mombassa.
It was not long before the Mountain proved to be a more powerful magnet than the sea. We had often heard of the Guest House at Marangu from Major and Mrs Penn, Majors Betts and Fairhurst. They had spent their furlough there about three years ago and had often spoken of the lovely surrounding country and snow-clad mountain looking down upon it. They had not done any climbing, but had referred to Marangu as an ideal spot for a holiday. On being asked for the address to which we should write, Mrs Penn very kindly offered to write to Mrs Lany on our behalf, asking for her terms and also what arrangements could be made for climbing, if we felt like making the attempt.
Our enthusiasm for the mountain grew rapidly. We knew that June was not considered a good month for such a venture and even if we had not known beforehand, we could not have gone away without knowing it. For almost every person who heard of our plans told us that December or January would be far more suitable for climbing. In Mrs Lany’s letter we were advised to leave the decision whether to climb or not, until we actually reached Marangu. When we would have more idea of what the weather would be. So we set aside warm clothing and other requirements in the hope that June would be in a kindly mood...
