Kilimanjaro

Day 0 – Travel from USA to Tanzania

  • Excited about the upcoming flight … looks like we all get window seats!
  • USA to Zurich then Zurich to Kilimanjaro
  • JRO Airport
  • Arrival on the Tarmac after 26 hours

Day 1 – Entering Kilimanjaro National Park at the Londorossi Gate (7742′) and ascending through the forest ecological zone to MTI Mkubwa (9793′), net 2151′ over 3 Miles

  • Assembling at the hotel with the lead guides
  • Travel van from the hotel to the park
  • Organizing the gear at the park
  • Good to know!
  • 49 kilometers to Summit!
  • Climbing through the first ecological zone – the forest
  • Onward and upward
  • Black and white calabasas monkey providing overwatch
  • Enjoying the hike
  • Arriving at our first camp – MTI Mkubwa
  • Day 1 in the books
  • Now only 43 kilometers to Summit
  • First rate boot service
  • Home on the range
  • Relaxing in camp

Day 2 – Ascending from MTI Mkubwa (9793′) thorugh the moorland ecological zone to Shira I Camp (11,483′), net 1690′ over 4.9 Miles

  • Breaking camp at MTI Mkubwa
  • On the trail through the forest
  • First glance at Kibo, the volcanic cone of Kilimanjaro which we will summit
  • local flora
  • A brief pause in the day
  • Our lead and assistance guides
  • Enjoying a short break
  • Mount Meru in the distance at 14,980′
  • No fires here!
  • local reptile
  • A short descent
  • Arriving at Day 2 camp
  • Signing in at the National Park registry
  • Shira I Camp
  • Now only 33 kilometers to summit
  • Kibo beckoning
  • Yellow tents for visitors/guides and green for staff, cooking, and dining
  • Cooking up dinner
  • Resident camp patrol
  • Our packable cammode and outhouse tent

Day 3 – Ascending from Shira I Camp (11,483′) through the moorland ecological zone to Moir Camp (13,780′), net 2297′ over 8.7 Miles

  • Morning Departure from Shira I Camp
  • The summit a few days ahead
  • Ascending the lava formation
  • Kibo
  • 18.6 kilometers from our start and coils of internet cable
  • 4 kilometers from last night’s camp at Shira I
  • Rocks upon rocks with Kibo in the distance
  • Getting closer every day
  • Continuing the ascent
  • Kibo showing clearly
  • Water seeping from a spring
  • Local flora
  • Along the volcanic rock
  • Rugged terrain before Kibo
  • Day 3
  • Arriving at Moir camp
  • Greeted with song from our team
  • With 12 of our 14 team members assisting us up the mountain
  • Rappelling down the cliff for those with energy to spare
  • Our hike after the hike for acclimation above 14,000′
  • Moir camp below
  • A brief stay above 14,000′
  • Descending back down to Moir camp
  • Our dining tent with dinner on the table
Greeted at camp by a song from our support team

Day 4 – Hiking from Moir Camp (13,780′) through the moorland zone up to the alpine desert ecological zone past Lava Tower to Baranco Camp (12,959′), net -821′ over 4.3 Miles

  • Day 4 ahead
  • With our cook as our team passes ahead to set up camp
  • Pointing out Mt Meru elevation 14,980′
  • Passing through Lava Tower camp before heading to Baranco Camp for the night
  • Day 4 at Lava Tower
  • Lava Tower behind and Baranco Camp ahead
  • Fog or clouds?
  • Local flora
  • Descending through a narrow passage
  • A lively mountain
  • Kibo being a little shy
  • The porters are the lifeline of the mountain
  • Descending before the next ascent
  • Flowing water
  • Frozen water shows the decline in temperature as we continue to climb
  • Traversing the slope
  • The path ahead
  • Approaching Baranco camp
  • Baranco Camp – now only 15 kilometers to summit
  • Signed into the official registry
  • Baranco camp at the base of the Baranco wall … tomorrow’s climb
  • Above the clouds

Day 5 – Hiking from Baranco Camp (12,959′), climbing the Baranco wall in the alpine desert ecological zone, to Karanga Camp (13,123′), net 164′ over 2.2 Miles

  • Morning at Baranco Camp below the Baranco Wall
  • A conveniently placed bridge
  • Climbing up Baranco Wall
  • Continuing to climb the wall with a look back down
  • Continuing up the Baranco Wall
  • A steep climb ahead
  • Lining up for a narrow passage
  • Reaching the top of the Baranco Wall
  • A large group of college students from Europe having a great climb
  • Best to check out the jet pack before the final summit in a few days
  • Tandem!
  • This one’s heading left …
  • Continuing the day’s journey
  • A glimpse of Kibo
  • Ice!
  • Continuing to close the distance to the summit
  • The trail winds on
  • A daily sighting of the rescue helicopter
  • Above the clouds
  • Everybody’s heading the same way
  • Kibo beckons
  • Approaching Karanga Camp
  • Day 5 coming to a close
  • Karanga Camp
  • Now only 9 kilometers to summit
  • Camping above the clouds
  • Popular spot
  • Our camp
  • Resting the tent enjoying the view
  • The feet can breathe!
  • The clouds roll by
  • Kib looms

Day 6 – Ascending from Karanga Camp (13,123′) through the alpine ecological zone to Kosovo Camp (15,978′) nearing the arctic zone, net 2855′ over 2.6 Miles

  • A sea of clouds
  • Karanga Camp above the clouds
  • Our goal ahead
  • Heading up toward Kibo
  • Looks like we go this way …
  • Moving up through the rocks and boulders
  • Always keeping an eye on Kibo
  • Approaching Barafu Camp at mid day … we’ll go by this one
  • A brief stop at Barafu Camp
  • Signing in at the park registry
  • Pausing at Barafu Camp
  • Still good to know …
  • Awaiting completion of our paperwork to proceed to Kosovo Camp
  • Good time to rest
  • Kibo looking rugged
  • Water collection system for Barafu Camp
  • Climbing above Barafu Camp
  • Clicking off the kilometers
  • Approaching Kosovo Camp – our launch point for the summit
  • Our camp at Kosovo
  • Each day we receive a boot dusting at the end of the climb
  • Rolling clouds
  • Our tent where we rest for the evening and arise at midnight to prepare for the summit
  • Patrolling the airwaves
  • Briefing on our saftey equipment for summit
  • Each day we measure oxygen levels … holding steady at 94. Oxgen at the summit will be 48% of sea level.
  • Another rescue helicopter sighting
  • Enjoying the views
  • Approaching sunset at Kosovo Camp

Day 7 – Ascending from Kosovo Camp (15,978′) through the arctic ecological zone to Uhuru Peak summit (19,341′), net 3363′, and descending to Mweka Camp (10,171′), net -9170, over 13 Miles

  • We began our climb in the dark at 1:00 am and met the sun at the summit at 6:45 am!
  • On the roof of Africa at 19,341′, the highest point on the continent
  • Summit on Day 7
  • A brief stop at Stella point on the descent
  • Celebrating with our team back at Kosovo Camp before the big descent
  • Descending back toward the clouds
  • Rescue helicoptoer preparing for departure, thankful to be passing by
Celebrating our summit back at camp with the team

Day 8 – Descendng from Mweka Camp (10,171′) to exit Mweka Gate (5380′), net -4791′ over 4 Miles

  • After a wet descent we completed our journey
  • Back at the hotel the team presented our certificates from the National Park