What a journey!
Mount Kilimanjaro consists of three volcanic cones, Kibo (the highest), Mawenzi at 5,149 metres (16,893 ft); and Shira, the shortest at 3,962 m (13,000 ft). It is the highest mountain in Africa (located in Tanzania, on the border with Kenya) and the highest free-standing mountain in the world at 5,895 m or 19,341 feet above sea level (the Uhuru Peak/Kibo Peak). [from Wikipedia]
Kilimanjaro is a stratovolcano. Of its three peaks, Mawenzi and Shira are extinct, while Kibo, the highest, is dormant and could erupt again. The last major eruption has been dated to between 150,000 and 200,000 years ago. Although dormant, Kibo has gas-emitting fumaroles in its crater. [from Wikipedia]
September 22: I flew from Stone Town, Zanzibar to Kilimanjaro Airport (via Dar es Salaam). I was picked up and transported to Marangu Hotel.
Photo 1
September 23: I wandered around Marangu Hotel (the grounds are lovely!). The Ascent for Alzheimer's team visited a local school to drop off supplies, explore the area and village; and prepare for the trek... sorry, but I love flowers! I had to capture them! :)
Photos 2-26
September 24, Day 1: Nalemuru gate to Simba camp.
Preparing for the trip: packs were weighed and assembled. For a team of 6 people, we had 27 support staff consisting of guides, assistant guides, porters, chefs, etc. Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro is an important local employer of people.
Once ready and our permit received, we were transported to the trailhead (6,000 ft., 2,200 m) on the north eastern side of the mountain. Day 1 consisted of a 3 to 4 hour hike through gradually ascending forest and agricultural land to First Cave or Simba Camp (8,000 ft., 2,600 m), which is just above the tree line.
Photos 27-32
September 25, Day 2: Simba camp to Kikelewa camp.
This was a long day, about 8 hours of hiking in total. Even so, it was a relatively easy day for me. In the morning, we had fabulous views of Mawenzi Peak to the south and Kibo Peak to the west. The path wound westward through Alpine moorland to Second Cave at 3,500 m. After a lunch stop, the path turned towards Mawenzi. After another 3 hours on a rocky path, we reached Kikelewa Cave at 3,690 m (12,000 ft.). Most of the altitude gain was achieved in the first half of the day.
Photos 33-37
September 26, Day 3: Kikelewa Camp to Mawenzi Tarn.
As soon as I got up, I knew I was in trouble; altitude sickness had hit me. Breathing became very challenging; I simply could not get enough air. The path itself headed south, then climbed up a steep ridge directly towards Mawenzi. At the top of the ridge, the path turned and traversed a rocky landscape and then descended into the Tarn Valley where camp was made at 4,320 m (14,000 ft.). The distance covered was only about 5 km but this took us between 4 to 5 hours because of the steepness and altitude.
Photos 38 to 43
September 27, Day 4: Acclimatization Day.
I found breathing easier, but I was careful to slow down my movements (which can be challenging for me!). We explored Mawenzi’s North Corrie and some of its jagged peaks, rising over 1,000 m (3,200 ft.) in altitude before returning to our camp in the Mawenzi Tarn.
Photos 44 to 46
September 28, Day 5: Mawenzi Tarn to Kibo Hut.
Again, breathing was easier for me. We retraced some of our path from Day 3 before descending into the Saddle which straddles Mawenzi and Kibo peaks. The Saddle is a 6 km hike in an altitude desert often compared to a lunar landscape, barren and windy. Here, we were hit by rain and hail. Camp was made close to Kibo Hut at 4,700 m, or 15,500 ft.
We were all in bed by 5 pm in order to prepare for the night ascent to Uhuru Peak. At 11 pm, we got up, dressed in all of our warm clothing, had a hot cup of tea, and then prepared for our final push to the top.
Photos 47 to 51
September 29, Day 6: Kibo Hut to Summit, then descent to Horombo Hut.
The Ascent for Alzheimer's Team left Kibo Hut shortly after midnight. Very early on, my breathing became laborious. Within an hour of leaving Kibo Hut, I had vomited twice – which actually made me feel better. However, I did not miss a step.
The first part of the ascent to the Hans Meyer cave was quite indirect, going around large rock outcrops. It was not as steep as the latter part. The surface is loose and it was hard going. After the cave the scree slope became extremely steep and we climbed in a zig-zag fashion. We finally reached Gillman's Point on the crater rim at around 6 am. The views of the sun rising over a sea of clouds were spectacular. I really did feel that I was on the "Roof of Africa". Gillman's Point is at 5,700 m (18,700 ft.). From here, the path followed the crater rim for another 2 hours to reach the summit at Uhuru Peak, 5,896 m (19,341 ft.). For me, the hike from Gillman’s Point to Uhuru Peak was brutal. One of the guides, Wilfrid, took me by the arm and encouraged me to keep going. I am so grateful to him.
We arrived at Uhuru Peak at about 8:30 am.
Once celebrations and photos were taken came the descent back to Kibo Hut. Once again, Wilfrid took my arm, as he could see I was struggling in the scree. We arrived at Kibo Hut around 11:30 am; we were allowed to rest until 2 pm, and then we broke camp to start our hike to Horombo Hut, a further 3 hour trek.
Day 6 was an incredibly long day; we trekked a total of about 15 hours that day.
Photos 52 to 57
September 30, Day 7: Horombo Hut to the Park Gate.
The descent from Horombo to Mandara Hut took around 3 hours, and the final part of the descent through the forest to Marangu Gate took another 2 hours.
At the Gate vehicles were waiting to take us back to the Marangu Hotel – for a shower and to celebrate!
Photos 58 to 62
Mount Kilimanjaro consists of three volcanic cones, Kibo (the highest), Mawenzi at 5,149 metres (16,893 ft); and Shira, the shortest at 3,962 m (13,000 ft). It is the highest mountain in Africa (located in Tanzania, on the border with Kenya) and the highest free-standing mountain in the world at 5,895 m or 19,341 feet above sea level (the Uhuru Peak/Kibo Peak). [from Wikipedia]
Kilimanjaro is a stratovolcano. Of its three peaks, Mawenzi and Shira are extinct, while Kibo, the highest, is dormant and could erupt again. The last major eruption has been dated to between 150,000 and 200,000 years ago. Although dormant, Kibo has gas-emitting fumaroles in its crater. [from Wikipedia]
September 22: I flew from Stone Town, Zanzibar to Kilimanjaro Airport (via Dar es Salaam). I was picked up and transported to Marangu Hotel.
Photo 1
September 23: I wandered around Marangu Hotel (the grounds are lovely!). The Ascent for Alzheimer's team visited a local school to drop off supplies, explore the area and village; and prepare for the trek... sorry, but I love flowers! I had to capture them! :)
Photos 2-26
September 24, Day 1: Nalemuru gate to Simba camp.
Preparing for the trip: packs were weighed and assembled. For a team of 6 people, we had 27 support staff consisting of guides, assistant guides, porters, chefs, etc. Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro is an important local employer of people.
Once ready and our permit received, we were transported to the trailhead (6,000 ft., 2,200 m) on the north eastern side of the mountain. Day 1 consisted of a 3 to 4 hour hike through gradually ascending forest and agricultural land to First Cave or Simba Camp (8,000 ft., 2,600 m), which is just above the tree line.
Photos 27-32
September 25, Day 2: Simba camp to Kikelewa camp.
This was a long day, about 8 hours of hiking in total. Even so, it was a relatively easy day for me. In the morning, we had fabulous views of Mawenzi Peak to the south and Kibo Peak to the west. The path wound westward through Alpine moorland to Second Cave at 3,500 m. After a lunch stop, the path turned towards Mawenzi. After another 3 hours on a rocky path, we reached Kikelewa Cave at 3,690 m (12,000 ft.). Most of the altitude gain was achieved in the first half of the day.
Photos 33-37
September 26, Day 3: Kikelewa Camp to Mawenzi Tarn.
As soon as I got up, I knew I was in trouble; altitude sickness had hit me. Breathing became very challenging; I simply could not get enough air. The path itself headed south, then climbed up a steep ridge directly towards Mawenzi. At the top of the ridge, the path turned and traversed a rocky landscape and then descended into the Tarn Valley where camp was made at 4,320 m (14,000 ft.). The distance covered was only about 5 km but this took us between 4 to 5 hours because of the steepness and altitude.
Photos 38 to 43
September 27, Day 4: Acclimatization Day.
I found breathing easier, but I was careful to slow down my movements (which can be challenging for me!). We explored Mawenzi’s North Corrie and some of its jagged peaks, rising over 1,000 m (3,200 ft.) in altitude before returning to our camp in the Mawenzi Tarn.
Photos 44 to 46
September 28, Day 5: Mawenzi Tarn to Kibo Hut.
Again, breathing was easier for me. We retraced some of our path from Day 3 before descending into the Saddle which straddles Mawenzi and Kibo peaks. The Saddle is a 6 km hike in an altitude desert often compared to a lunar landscape, barren and windy. Here, we were hit by rain and hail. Camp was made close to Kibo Hut at 4,700 m, or 15,500 ft.
We were all in bed by 5 pm in order to prepare for the night ascent to Uhuru Peak. At 11 pm, we got up, dressed in all of our warm clothing, had a hot cup of tea, and then prepared for our final push to the top.
Photos 47 to 51
September 29, Day 6: Kibo Hut to Summit, then descent to Horombo Hut.
The Ascent for Alzheimer's Team left Kibo Hut shortly after midnight. Very early on, my breathing became laborious. Within an hour of leaving Kibo Hut, I had vomited twice – which actually made me feel better. However, I did not miss a step.
The first part of the ascent to the Hans Meyer cave was quite indirect, going around large rock outcrops. It was not as steep as the latter part. The surface is loose and it was hard going. After the cave the scree slope became extremely steep and we climbed in a zig-zag fashion. We finally reached Gillman's Point on the crater rim at around 6 am. The views of the sun rising over a sea of clouds were spectacular. I really did feel that I was on the "Roof of Africa". Gillman's Point is at 5,700 m (18,700 ft.). From here, the path followed the crater rim for another 2 hours to reach the summit at Uhuru Peak, 5,896 m (19,341 ft.). For me, the hike from Gillman’s Point to Uhuru Peak was brutal. One of the guides, Wilfrid, took me by the arm and encouraged me to keep going. I am so grateful to him.
We arrived at Uhuru Peak at about 8:30 am.
Once celebrations and photos were taken came the descent back to Kibo Hut. Once again, Wilfrid took my arm, as he could see I was struggling in the scree. We arrived at Kibo Hut around 11:30 am; we were allowed to rest until 2 pm, and then we broke camp to start our hike to Horombo Hut, a further 3 hour trek.
Day 6 was an incredibly long day; we trekked a total of about 15 hours that day.
Photos 52 to 57
September 30, Day 7: Horombo Hut to the Park Gate.
The descent from Horombo to Mandara Hut took around 3 hours, and the final part of the descent through the forest to Marangu Gate took another 2 hours.
At the Gate vehicles were waiting to take us back to the Marangu Hotel – for a shower and to celebrate!
Photos 58 to 62