Details of the climb up Kilimanjaro

Although climbing Kilimanjaro is not a technical climb (no ropes or crampons needed), it is very definitely a physical and mental challenge. It is a 100 km, 60 mile, 6 day, 15,000 ft ascent challenge. And if I do reach the peak I must endure air with only 49% of the oxygen at sea level, strong winds, and temperatures that can reach -15F. Not surprisingly, less than half the folks attempting this climb succeed in reaching the peak. Clearly I am at disadvantage living at sea level, and having access to peaks for practice climbs with only 1000 ft ascents.

To reach the Mt. Kilimanjaro summit I will need to:
Day 1 start at 4888 ft and climb to 7152 ft, distance hiked 13 miles
Day 2 start at 7152 ft end at 12598 ft, distance only 5.5 miles, but start of high altitude acclimation
Day 3 start at 12598 ft end at 12959 ft, hike 9.3 miles but this day includes an ascent to 15190 ft then come down to help acclimatize
Day 4 start at 12959 ft and climb to 14927 ft, hiking 8 miles (last chance to acclimatize), if suffering any signs of altitude sickness I will not be able to attempt the summit.
Day 5 start at 14927 ft (start hike at midnight!), hopefully reach the peak at 19340 ft at dawn, hiking 4.3 miles
After brief stop at summit, begin descent from 19340 ft to 10170 ft hiking down hill for 14.3 miles, total for the day is 18.6 miles (by far the hardest, highest, longest hiking day!)
Day 6 begin at 10170 ft and finish at 6496 ft with a final hike of 9.3 miles

Additional day by day details of my planned route to the summit of Kilimanjaro can be found at:
http://www.climbingkilimanjaro.com/machame-route-kilimanjaro.php