
Mt. Kilimanjaro is actually a composite volcano, comprising multiple layers of lava, tephra, and volcanic ash. Scientists concluded that there is molten magma just 400 meters below the surface at the summit. Not to worry, though, as "no eruptions have occured in living memory". I suppose this could mean that no one who experienced an eruption has lived to remember it.
The altitude at the peak is 19,330 feet. From base to summit, our group will climb 15,100 feet. That would be like walking up 26,844 stairs. If there was an escalator, however, it would only take about 4 hours and 22 minutes to ride to the top. A stack of dollar bills this high would be worth $42,139,535.
There is a firm out there that is planning to sell trips to the moon for $100 million per passenger. Considering the average lunar orbit distance, that works out to a little less that 8 cents per foot of elevation. Unless the "Mt. Kilimanjaro Expedition" cost less than $1,197 per person, the Moon might offer a better value.
Other benefits to a Moon trip? Fewer immunizations would have been required. Also, I don't think that NASA had invested near as much in communication equipment as Kevin has.
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