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Updated Information
Witt & Jen
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Date |
Camp Site or Accommodations |
GPS |
Distance Today:
10 km |
Meals
Pasta with meat sauce |
Weather |
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Kilimanjaro National Park,
Tanzania (Baranko Hut: 13,098 ft) |
09 June, 2004 |
Tented Camp |
03°04.040’S
37°16.590’E |
Odometer: 25169km |
Chilly, clear, 50(F) degrees
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Eric roused us at about 4am to get out of our
tents to see the rim of the mountain covered in a fresh dusting of snow
and the streak of the Milky Way disappearing behind the summit. Sunrise
was equally spectacular with the sun turning the tops of the clouds orange
and lighting up Mount Meru. We hiked for about four hours to a level spot
where our porters had our table and chairs set up for lunch. About an hour
after lunch we reached Lava Tower, a rock outcropping at an elevation of
about 4600 meters. Witt, Eric, and Alan accompanied August on a Class-4
scramble to its summit from where we had good views of the Western Breach,
a popular technical route to the summit. Nick is still not feeling well
and relaxed with Jen at the base. The side trip up Lava Tower took about
an hour, and we were all tired after the 3-hour trip down to camp. We
talked with Ann, Christoph, and Liera (trekkers from another group) for
awhile before dinner.
Don't forget to use the arrows to see all
of the photos! |
Mt. Meru at sunrise from the Shira plateau. The shadow of Mt. Kilimanjaro is visible to the left of Meru Alan climbing the Lava Tower
Mt. Meru at sunrise from the Shira plateau. The shadow of Mt. Kilimanjaro is visible to the left of Meru
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Updated Information
Witt & Jen
|
Date |
Camp Site or Accommodations |
GPS |
Distance Today:
6km |
Meals
Potatoes, beef and sauce |
Weather |
|
Kilimanjaro National Park,
Tanzaia (Karanga Hut: 13,200 ft) |
10 June, 2004 |
Hotel Buffalo |
XX°XX.XXX’S
XX°XX.XXX’E |
Odometer: 25181km |
Chilly, clear, 50(F)
degrees |
|
We climbed the “Baranko Wall” this morning,
which was Class-3 and quite fun. Again we enjoyed spectacular views across
the clouds. At times it feels like we are on the edge of the world. We
reached camp and enjoyed at hot lunch with occasional views of the summit
rim from the “officer’s mess tent” (our dining tent). |
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Updated Information
Witt & Jen
|
Date |
Camp Site or Accommodations |
GPS |
Distance Today:
6km |
Meals
Deep-fried bread |
Weather |
|
Kilimanjaro National Park,
Tanzaia (Barufu Hut: 15,380 ft) |
11 June, 2004 |
Tented Camp |
XX°XX.XXX’S
XX°XX.XXX’E |
Odometer: 25186km |
Sunny 60(F)
degrees |
|
Hiked from Karanga this morning, and arrived
at Barafu Hut at about 1230pm. Saw Ann and her crew, they had made a
successful climb to the summit last night. We had lunch, filtered some
water, and rested. Eric is experiencing a little altitude sickness and
everyone seems tired. |
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Updated Information
Witt & Jen
|
Date |
Camp Site or Accommodations |
GPS |
Distance Today:
30km |
Meals
Rice with bread |
Weather |
|
Kilimanjaro National Park,
Tanzaia (Mweka Hut: 10,000 ft) |
12 June, 2004 |
Tented Camp |
XX°XX.XXX’S
XX°XX.XXX’E |
Odometer: 25216km |
Variable |
|
Summit Day.
We left camp at around midnight to begin the slow 5000 ft (1300 m)
slog up to the summit. We went slowly and the going was easy at first. We
enjoyed the company of fantastic stars and the shadowy hulk of Mawenzi
peak to our right we walked and walked, and still the bulk of the mountain
loomed tall above us. By 4am the waning moon had risen and we were high
enough to begin feeling out of breath. Eric was strong, despite having
been sick last evening. We reached Stella Point about 45 minutes before
sunrise and kept walking toward the summit to stay warm. The summit was
bitterly cold and we took a few pictures and hung out just long enough to
see the sun rise over the plain before heading back down. We warmed
quickly as soon as we dropped below Stella Point, and the hike back to
camp only took about two hours with the help of loose scree. We had lunch
and grabbed a couple of hours’ sleep before packing up and heading down to
Mweka hut. In all we did almost 13,000 feet of elevation gain and loss
(1300m up and 2800m down). |
Yes, it's as cold at the summit as it looks the small triangle is Mt Meru. the large one is the shadow of Kilimanjaro
Yes, it's as cold at the summit as it looks
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See More Photos of the Kilimanjaro Climb by
clicking here |
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Updated Information
Witt & Jen
|
Date |
Camp Site or Accommodations |
GPS |
Distance Today:
7km |
Meals
Indian food at a restaurant |
Weather |
|
Moshi, Tanzaia |
13 June, 2004 |
Springlands Hotel |
XX°XX.XXX’S
XX°XX.XXX’E |
Odometer: 25223km |
Partly Cloudy, 60 (F)
degrees |
|
We hiked down from Mweka hut in the morning.
Our muscles were sore, and we were happy to see our bus waiting for us.
Back at the hotel we spent the afternoon relaxing by the pool. We took a
taxi into town for some nice Indian food and watched the sunset on the
mountain while sipping some celebratory champagne and enjoying some
cigars. |
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Our crew: 10 porters, 2
assistant guides, 1 head guide, 1 cook, 5 clients |
Back to the jungle |
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On to Lake Manyara National
Park...... |
