Kilimanjaro Climb:Five days up, one day down
2.13.07: Getting Ready: After a very
bumpy two-hour ride we arrive at the
Rongai Route trail head. It's in Moru, a
remote village along Tanzania's border
with Kenya.
This green hillside village is built with
temporary wooden homes for people
who work the land. There are several
coffee and banana plantations (and
women carrying bananas on their
heads) along the way.
I'm applying 30 SPF sunscreen, a
necessary accessory every hour or so
while making the climb. Kilimanjaro is
about 200 miles south of the Equator
and the sun is brutal.
We start the climb at 6,397' -- a higher
elevation than Denver, the "mile-high"
city.
bumpy two-hour ride we arrive at the
Rongai Route trail head. It's in Moru, a
remote village along Tanzania's border
with Kenya.
This green hillside village is built with
temporary wooden homes for people
who work the land. There are several
coffee and banana plantations (and
women carrying bananas on their
heads) along the way.
I'm applying 30 SPF sunscreen, a
necessary accessory every hour or so
while making the climb. Kilimanjaro is
about 200 miles south of the Equator
and the sun is brutal.
We start the climb at 6,397' -- a higher
elevation than Denver, the "mile-high"
city.
We were climbing with the African
Walking Company. It would take
33 staff members to help nine
climber to the summit. That
includes our guide, Meke,
assistant guides, Last and Robbie,
chef, Trophine, and summit
porter, James (who in addition to
carrying a 40-pound load, would
also climb with us on summit day).
The pile in the middle of the
photo is our collection of bags.
Each of the porters carry a
maximum load of 44 pounds.
Most of them do so on their heads.
Quite frankly, we couldn't have
made this climb without them.
Walking Company. It would take
33 staff members to help nine
climber to the summit. That
includes our guide, Meke,
assistant guides, Last and Robbie,
chef, Trophine, and summit
porter, James (who in addition to
carrying a 40-pound load, would
also climb with us on summit day).
The pile in the middle of the
photo is our collection of bags.
Each of the porters carry a
maximum load of 44 pounds.
Most of them do so on their heads.
Quite frankly, we couldn't have
made this climb without them.
Sarah signs the trail register, letting
park officials know who is on the
mountain.
The registers at each camp provides
a record of who reached each point
of the mountain.
Ultimately, the register is used to
determine certificates. Those who
reach Gillman's Point (18,816') earn
a green certificate.
Those who go all the way to Uhuru
Peak (19,343'), get a gold certificate.
This was Sarah's second Kilimanjaro
climb. She served as an assistant trip
leader and plans to lead Global
Alliance for Africa trips in the coming
years,
park officials know who is on the
mountain.
The registers at each camp provides
a record of who reached each point
of the mountain.
Ultimately, the register is used to
determine certificates. Those who
reach Gillman's Point (18,816') earn
a green certificate.
Those who go all the way to Uhuru
Peak (19,343'), get a gold certificate.
This was Sarah's second Kilimanjaro
climb. She served as an assistant trip
leader and plans to lead Global
Alliance for Africa trips in the coming
years,
Our group is ready to go.
From left to right:
My husband Chris, me, Shawna,
Karen, Lisa, Lauren, Carla, Sarah
and our trip leader, Ann.
From left to right:
My husband Chris, me, Shawna,
Karen, Lisa, Lauren, Carla, Sarah
and our trip leader, Ann.
Children hear hikers coming and
come running from the fields, many
planted with corn.
They call out "Jambo! Jambo!"
which is Swahili for "Hello",
They also call out an English word:
"Chocolate!"
We give them whatever we can from
our backpacks and boxed lunches.
come running from the fields, many
planted with corn.
They call out "Jambo! Jambo!"
which is Swahili for "Hello",
They also call out an English word:
"Chocolate!"
We give them whatever we can from
our backpacks and boxed lunches.
Copyright 2008 Fat Woman on the Mountain
Tuesday, February 13: (Day 1 of the Kilimanjaro Climb)
Nale Moru Village (1950m) to Moorland Camp (2600m)
Ascent: 650m
Descent: 0m
Hiking time: 3 to 4 hours
Habitat: Forest
Nale Moru Village (1950m) to Moorland Camp (2600m)
Ascent: 650m
Descent: 0m
Hiking time: 3 to 4 hours
Habitat: Forest
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Kilimanjaro Photo Diary
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