2012 Kilimanjaro

Travel Photos
22 Jan, 2012 Day 0: Our goal from in front of the gate of Springlands Hotel, Moshi. 23 Jan, 2012 Day 1: Our combined gear for the mountain: day-pack and pack for porters each. 23 Jan, 2012 Day 1: Luc and I all ready to leave Springlands Hotel to start our trek up Kilimanjaro. 23 Jan, 2012 Day 1: Start of the Rongai Route with Mawenzi Peak (left) and Kibo Summit (right). 1950m/6,398ft. 23 Jan, 2012 Day 1: For 7 of our 8 days we were on the same schedule as another Zara Group: Nathalie, Sally, me, Sergio, Silvia, Robert and Luc. 23 Jan, 2012 Day 1: My tent at Simba Camp. 2600m/8,530ft.
24 Jan, 2012 Day 2: Luc and I enjoying breakfast in our cozy dining tent. 24 Jan, 2012 Day 2: Mawenzi Peak and Kibo Summit. 24 Jan, 2012 Day 2: Kibo Summit. 24 Jan, 2012 Day 2: Mawenzi Peak. 24 Jan, 2012 Day 2. 24 Jan, 2012 Day 2: Me, Luc and Samwel on an acclimatization hike in the afternoon, out of Second Cave Camp.
24 Jan, 2012 Day 2: Second Cave Camp. 3450m/11,318ft. 24 Jan, 2012 Day 2: Dinner at 2nd Cave Camp. 25 Jan, 2012 Day 3: Sunrise on Kibo Summit from 2nd Cave. 25 Jan, 2012 Day 3: Arriving at Kikelewa Caves Camp. 3600m/11,811ft. 25 Jan, 2012 Day 3: Acclimatization hike out of Kikelewa Camp. Samwel and Gabrel. 25 Jan, 2012 Day 3: Back from our afternoon hike writing my diary, all ready for the evening cold (Stphen's down booties worked out a treat!). Photo courtesy of Luc Poppe.
26 Jan, 2012 Day 4: Above the clouds. From Kikelewa to Mawenzi Tarn. 26 Jan, 2012 Day 4: Walking into Mawenzi Tarn Camp. 4330m/14,206ft. 26 Jan, 2012 Day 4: Mawenzi Tarn. 26 Jan, 2012 Day 4: Our 2 blue tents and dining tent front right. Our neighbors are the other Zara group. We were welcome to use their toilet tent (left). 26 Jan, 2012 Day 4: View from our afternoon hike above Mawenzi Camp. 26 Jan, 2012 Day 4: Fog rolling into Mawenzi Camp; overlook from our afternoon acclimatization hike.
27 Jan, 2012 Day 5: From Mawenzi Camp to Kibo Hut. You can see the trail going all the way to Kibo and if you look carefully you can see the dots representing Kibo Huts. 27 Jan, 2012 Day 5: The 4 white dots about in the middle are the plane wreck in the next photo. Photo courtesy of Luc Poppe. 27 Jan, 2012 Day 5: The Saddle. Remnants of a small plane that crashed (2008?) 27 Jan, 2012 Day 5: Crossing The Saddle. 27 Jan, 2012 Day 5: Crossing The Saddle, about 20 mins out of Kibo Hut Camp. Mawenzi Peak in the background. 27 Jan, 2012 Day 5: Our tents at Kibo Hut Camp. 4700m/14,420ft. Our goal for the next day obscured by clouds in the background.
27 Jan, 2012 Day 5: The Saddle from Kibo Camp. 28 Jan, 2012 Day 6: Summit push day. We opted for a daytime ascent and left Kibo camp at 6:30am. the scree slope up to Gilman' Point is seen straight ahead. Photo courtesy of Luc Poppe. 28 Jan, 2012 Day 6: Summit push day. Here it's coming up to 10am. You can see Kibo Camp down the scree slope (just above Samwel's pack, well.. my pack actually). 28 Jan, 2012 Day 6: I needed more than one rest stop up that scree slope!! Gilman's Point is somewhere at the top of that slope. Luc, me and Samwel. 28 Jan, 2012 Day 6: Plodding and zig-zagging right along on the scree slope. About 10:40am. 28 Jan, 2012 Day 6: Made it to our intermediate objective: Gilman's Point!!! About 10:50am.
28 Jan, 2012 Day 6: Gilman's Point. 5681m/18,432ft. 28 Jan, 2012 Day 6: Some much needed energy food before pushing on from Gilman's Pt. Photo courtesy of Luc Poppe. 28 Jan, 2012 Day: 6: View of the glaciers from Gilman's Pt. 28 Jan, 2012 Day 6: That's our goal right there! From Gilman's Pt. 28 Jan, 2012 Day 6: From Gilman's Pt to Uhuru Peak. 28 Jan, 2012 Day 6: Between Gilman's Pt and Uhuru Peak. Around 11:30am
28 Jan, 2012 Day 6: Going up. 28 Jan, 2012 Day 6. 28 Jan, 2012 Day 6: Glaciers from Uhuru Peak. 28 Jan, 2012 Day 6: We made it to The Roof of Africa, Uhuru Peak at 12:21pm!!!! Me, Samwel and Luc. 5895m/19,340ft. 28 Jan, 2012 Day 6: Me and the glaciers on Uhuru Peak. Photo courtesy of Luc Poppe. 28 Jan, 2012 Day 6: After descending back to Kibo Hut and a 45mins rest we descended to Horombo Camp.
28 Jan, 2012 Day 6: Arriving at Horombo Camp at 6:40pm. 3720m/12,205ft. 29 Jan, 2012 Day 7: Ready to descend from Horombo Camp. Luc, Sally, Sergio, Nathalie and Robert. We all made it to the summit. 29 Jan, 2012 Day 7: The path out of Horombo Camp. 29 Jan, 2012 Day 7: Senecias on route between Horombo and Mandara Camps. 29 Jan, 2012 Day 7: The route between Horombo and Mandara Camps. 29 Jan, 2012 Day 7: Samwel and Gabrel.
29 Jan, 2012 Day 7: Entering the Jungle not too far out of Mandara Camp. 29 Jan, 2012 Day 7: Yep, I had my Kindle and since today there was no need for acclimatization hikes anymore I could relax and read. Photo courtesy of Luc Poppe. 30 Jan 2012 Day 8: Group shot with our entire crew at Mandara Camp. Without our team we could not have done it!!! Thank you!!! 30 Jan 2012 Day 8: Walking through the jungle from Mandara Camp to Marangu Gate. 30 Jan 2012 Day 8: From Mandara Camp to Marangu Gate. 30 Jan 2012 Day 8: We arrived at Marangu Gate around 10am.
30 Jan, 2012 Day 8: Signing the register at Marangu Gate. Photo courtesy of Luc Poppe. 30 Jan 2012 Day 8: I was the first one for the day! My companions said I walked so fast because I could almost smell the shower at Springlands Hotel :-) 30 Jan 2012 Day 8: Back at Springlands Hotel with a well-deserved and aptly named beer (the first alcohol since Jan 2)! After that shower. 30 Jan 2012 Day 8: We invited our whole crew over to Springlands for drinks and dinner. 30 Jan 2012 Day: Yes, beers were enjoyed by all! 30 Jan 2012 Day 8: Me and Samwel, our very capable guide.
30 Jan 2012 Day 8: With Gabrel, our assitant guide. 30 Jan 2012 Day 8: 'Certificate Ceremony': Luc, Samwel, me and Gabrel. The perfect end to a perfect and very rewarding adventure. 30 Jan, 2012 Day 8: We did it!