Tag: Kilimanjaro

Podcast Series: 7 Summits Eposide 7–Kilimanjaro

Of all the Seven Summits, Kilimanjaro offers a two-for kind of “climb.” Well, to be accurate, it’s more of a trek to 20,000 feet and a safari for those wanting more Africa. The experiences are a cultural treat made special by everyone you meet in restaurants and hotels, not to mention the guides, porters and safari leaders. It is a must-do for anyone seeking adventure and global education. Overview Kili is among the world’s highest volcanoes at 19,340 feet / 5894 meters. The highest is Ojos del Salado, at 22,615 feet/ 6893 meters on the Argentina/Chile border. German Hans Meyer first summited Kili in 1889. The volcano has three peaks: Kibo, Shira and Mawenzi, with Kibo being the summit. Many climbers consider it a walk-up, but it still represents a deadly threat when climbers go too fast or ignore challenging weather. The local park officials maintain strict rules and require local guides to accompany each team. The climb takes four to seven days, with seven being the suggested minimum time, with eight or nine even better, to allow for proper acclimatization. Tent camping is the standard on all routes. Porters carry most of the group gear, so climbers usually just manage a small day pack, weighing 10 and 15 pounds. Of note, the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP) encourages climbers and visitors to support the Kili porters by donating clothes, but more importantly, it monitors operators regarding the fair treatment of all porters, including pay, health, insurance and gear. Kilimanjaro is the closest of the seven to the equator, so January, February and July through October will offer the best weather. March, April, and November are the rainy months. The second highest mountain in Africa is Mt. Kenya in Kenya, at 17,057’/5199m, 250 miles north of Kilimanjaro. Logistics and Difficulty Kili is a straightforward climb via the regular routes with no real objective danger except for cold summit weather. Porters carry everything for you, as the park regulations require, so all you have is a simple day pack with the bare essentials. The routes are very dry, and there is rarely snow at lower elevations but some snow on the summit. There is no crevasse danger like on Denali or Rainier, and it’s similar to a Colorado 14er (albeit higher) than Rainier or Denali. Most people find it manageable on a perfect weather day and regular routes. However, as with most extreme altitude climbs, Kilimanjaro can have brutal summit weather with temperatures at 0F. When the winds blow, the wind chills can be very dangerous. Climbers have died on Kilimanjaro. Also, remember that this is almost 6,000 meters or 20,000 feet, so AMS is always a risk, as is HAPE or HACE. It is estimated that 25,000 climb Kilimanjaro using the various routes each year. The summit rate is around 66%, with cold summit days and altitude issues being the primary reasons for not summiting. There is about one death each year, and is relatively safe; however, one climber was killed by lightning in early 2013 Kilimanjaro Moshi MarketMoshi Market Moshi Market Hiking on Kilimanjaro Hiking on Kilimanjaro The Baracco Wall on KIlimanjaro The Baracco Wall on KIlimanjaro Microclimates on KIlimanjaro Hiking on Kilimanjaro Camps on KIlimanjaro Porters on KIlimanjaro HIking on KIlimanjaro Alan on Kilimanjaro summit KIlimanjaro true summit Glaciers on Kilimanjaro Summit Crater Routes and Dangers While multiple routes exist on the mountain, several dominate. The climb is relatively tame compared to others, like Denali’s physicality, Carstensz’s technical climbing and Everest’s altitude. Five main routes meander through the jungle, crossing five microclimates to join the three final ascent routes to Kibo. Both the Machame and Lemosho routes offer a more leisurely-paced scenic climb. The Lemosho route is less crowded, while the Machame route has a more difficult beginning but joins into the same route as the Lemosho. The Marangu, aka Coco-cola route, is crowded since it follows a road part-way. It also offers a hut instead of sleeping in tents, but I’m not sure that’s advantageous given the conditions. The Northern Circuit is relatively new, and I think it’s a winner. It is a bit longer, which is good for acclimatization, but it is still very scenic and less crowded. “Climbing” My climb was more of a hike at a high altitude. I did the Machame route, which starts in the jungle at 10,000 feet / 3048 meters and goes through five microclimates to the summit. The trail was smooth primarily and well-worn. There was a bit of mud initially, so I appreciated having gators. Depending on your experience, the most “challenging” section was on the Baranco Wall, where we did some easy rock scrambling. Otherwise, the entire route to the summit and down was straightforward and similar to a Colorado 14er. Safari One of the all-time treats was going on an African safari. After our Kili climb, we took a short bush plane ride to the Serengeti. Landing on a grass strip, we were immediately greeted by a wild buffalo herd. I finally saw many animals I admired on television or in magazines. We went to the Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest – a previously collapsed volcano- and saw many more animals, including the rare Black Rhino, of which only 3,000 are in the wild. The safari guide was knowledgeable, explaining in detail what we saw and was happy to answer our questions. Serengeti Bush Plane Serengeti Black Rhino Serengeti Giraffe Serengeti Ostrich Serengeti Love Birds Serengeti Hyena Serengeti Sunset Serengeti Monkeys Serengeti Elephants Serengeti Crazy Bird Serengeti Lepoard Kill Serengeti Gazelle Serengeti Water Buffalos Serengeti Zebras Serengeti Baboon Summary Kilimanjaro is a fun cultural experience, but I enjoyed the safari more afterward. I would return for both the climb and the safari. If you want to cover all the Seven Summits angles, here is the list of nine climbs: Everest, Nepal – 29,035/8850m Aconcagua, Argentina – 22,902/6960m Denali, Alaska – 20,320/6194m Kilimanjaro, Africa – 19,340/5896m Elbrus, Russia – 18,513/5642m Vinson, Antarctica – 16,067/4897m Carstensz Pyramid

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One of my 7 Summits for Alzheimer’s climb – Africa’s Kilimanjaro and a safari.

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Kilimanjaro

One of my 7 Summits for Alzheimer’s climb – Africa’s Kilimanjaro and a safari.

Climbing Round Up

A brief update on the mid-winter climbing season. The Southern Hemisphere is in focus with Mts Kilimanjaro, check Vinson and Aconcagua receiving the usual attention. Thus far it has been a safe season albeit with death. The commercial outfitters are in full swing with multiple expeditions to these three of the seven summits. Word has it they are sold out and doing well. The local outfitters are also doing well reporting good business. This is impressive given the world economy. Somehow climbers always find a way to climb. Aconcagua After a difficult start for many teams including an early season death, no most are now report the normal high winds on the highest peak outside the Himalaya. Alpine Ascents Inc (AAI) has a steady steam of reports from the eight teams thus far. Jagged Globe had this report: The team had experienced pretty difficult weather conditions in Argentina also, with Aconcagua reportedly very cold indeed. Stories of other teams where all members got frostbite sound unbelievable, but sadly are true. This is not a mountain to underestimate when it comes to your preparation and clothing. The season goes into late February so stay safe everyone. Kilimanjaro Peak Freaks reports more success on the highest stand-alone mountain on earth with a New Year’s Day summit by their team. Currently a unique effort is on Kilimanjaro to highlight the need for clean water. The Summit on the Summit team include celebrities such as Jessica Biel and a website that might be confused with a video game. Vinson IMG reports a 100% summit success rate and impressively a no-delay flight back to Patriot Hills. As many know, the biggest difficulty in climbing the highest peak on Antarctica is that the weather sometimes strands teams for weeks. More teams from many other companies and independents are on their way. South Pole This season has seen an enormous amount of activity to the South pole. Check out Megan McGrath (awesome audio dispatches) who is solo and the just completed trek by Eric Larsen (great website). South and central America The Climbing Life has a nice report on their successful tour of climbs in Ecuador. Ice festivals Today the Ouray Ice Festival starts. Monitor the 24 hour endless ice climb by Red Bull athlete Will Gadd. It is a fund-raiser for the dZi Foundation to support remote mountain communities in Nepal and Sikkim. Finally on a sad note. Italian alpinist Fabio Giacomelli was killed in an avalanche at the base of Cerro Torre in Patagonia – as reported today by Alpnist Magazine’s website. My condolences to his family, friends and climbing partner Elio Orlandi Here’s to the safe summits and safe return for all  climbers. Climb On! Alan