As I spoke before I will be taking a difficult route that has a lot to offer in regards to views. I will be traveling with a group known as Alpine Ascents. They have a 90% success rate when it comes to climbing the mountain which is the highest in the industry.
I got all this information from:
http://www.alpineascents.com/kilimanjaro-dtd.asp
Machame Route start to finish. Data is approximate.
Distance: 64km / 39 miles in 7 days.
Elevation Gain: 4,891m / 16,044 ft Elevation Loss: 5,020m / 16,444 ft
Climb Day 1 Start: Machame Gate 1830m / 6,000 ft
End: Machame Hut 3000m / 9,900 ft
Elev gain: 1200m / 3900 ft.
Time: 6 hours on average
Distance: About 10km, 6 miles
We travel by Land Cruiser to the Machame trailhead, winding through coffee fields and small forests of ferns and flowers. After registering with the park service, we meet our porters from the Chagga Tribe, indigenous to the slopes of Kilimanjaro. They are an integral part of our African journey and become friends and provide insight into their culture and society. Our climb begins on the edge of a rain forest (elevation 5,800’). Below the watchful eyes of the monkeys, we trek seven hours to the Machame Camp (10,000’) and set camp for the night.
Climb Day 2 Start: Machame Hut 3000m / 9,900 ft
End: Shira Hut 3800m / 12,500 ft
Elev gain: 800m, 2,600 ft.
Time: 4 –6 hours average
Distance: About 8km, 5 miles
Leave the Machame Hut, cross a small valley and begin our ascent. The environment changes from heath forest to moor lands. These moor lands are littered with two species of giant groundsel, Senecios and Lobelia. Halfway up the trail we meet a river gorge and ascend across the Shira Plateau (12,300’). We sleep at Shira Camp.
Climb Day 3 Start: Shira Hut 3800m / 12,500 ft
End: Barranco Hut 3900m / 12,900 ft
Elev gain: 2,100ft / Elev loss: 520m, 1700 ft.
Time: 6- 9 hours average
Distance: About 10km, 6 miles
* Day includes critical acclimatization gain and loss
* Lava Tower option: additional 600 ft of gain/loss
Today we climb to 14,800’ while crossing a ridge and view the plains far below. Here we eat lunch and admire the ancient glacier ice of the Breach Wall before dropping to our 12,800’ campsite at Great Barranco.
Climb Day 4 Start: Barranco Hut 3900m / 12,500 ft
End: Karanga Valley 4055m / 13,300 ft
Elev gain: 400m, 1,300 ft. Elev loss: 300m, 1,000 ft.
Time: 4 - 5 hours average
Distance: About 5km, 3 miles
We climb up and over the Great Barranco, topping out at about 14,500’ before dropping to our camp at the Karanga River at about 13,000’. This completes another day of acclimatization as we pass below the famous Breach Wall, the largest ice and rock face in Africa. The Breach Wall climbing route, known as ‘The Icicle’, was first climbed in the early 1970’s by Reinhold Messner. Daytime temperatures can reach (80°F), while evening temperatures often drop below freezing.
Climb Day 5 Start: Karanga Valley 4055m / 13,300 ft
End: Kosovo Camp 4,760m / 15,600 ft
Elev gain: 700m, 2,300 ft.
Time: 5 hours
Distance: About 5km, 3 miles
From the Karanga River we climb about 5-6 hours to our high camp at Kosovo (15,600’). As we wind through beautiful and rarely traveled regions, we enter a high desert plateau, littered with volcanic boulders. Looking south we view the desert plains as the pinnacles of Mowenzi Peak tower before us. At Kosovo we prepare for the summit attempt. We spend our time packing and preparing for the early morning, 2:00am departure.
Climb Day 6 High camp to Summit Start: Kosovo camp 4,760m
Summit: Uhuru Peak 5896m / 19,344 ft
Elev gain: 1136m, 3726 ft.
Time: 8 - 10 hours
Distance: About 7km, 4 miles
Summit day! Awake at midnight and prepare gear for the ascent. We climb wearing headlamps until the predawn light is reflected off the African plains. Following a distinct ridge we approach the crater’s rim, then traverse northwest along the rim to the main summit, Uhuru Peak (19,340’). From here we view the Bismarck Towers, rock pinnacles along the rim and the hanging Rebman Glaciers.
As the sun rises over Africa, we are privy to a panorama of incredible views. To the north stands the second highest mountain on the continent, Mt. Kenya (17,056’/5199m), with its unique twin summits. The southern exposure reveals the sprawling plains of Tanzania and East Africa and Mowenzi Peak.
Climb Day 6 descent Start: Uhuru Peak 5896m / 19,344 ft
End: Millenium Camp 4000m / 13,000 ft
Mweka Camp 3100m / 10,200 ft
Elev loss: 1869m – 2,796m OR 6,133 ft – 9,170 ft
Time: 6-9 hours
Distance: About 13km, 8 miles
After enjoying the view from the top, we descend to Barafu, pack camp, and begin our traverse down the Mweka route on the southern side of the mountain.
Day 7: Start: Mweka Camp 3100m / 10,200 ft
End: Mweka Gate 1800m / 5,580 ft
Elev loss: 1300m, 5,900ft.
Time: 4- 5 hours
Distance: About 7km, 4 miles
The sunrises are exquisite as we awaken below the towering mountain. We descend through the lush green landscape of the Mweka route into the thickest jungle we have yet encountered. The environment becomes primordial, with 20 foot-tall fern trees creating a prehistoric atmosphere. After reaching the Mweka Gate we drive to Arusha and enjoy a celebratory dinner. O/N New Arusha.
If you noticed Day 6 is two parts: the climb up and the climb down. In the end it will be a long day of climbing between 14 and 19 hours total. Luckily we start at 2am. There are a lot of points where we climb to a high elevation and then descend just so we can take in a spectacular view.
When it comes to my climb I will make sure that each day is appropriately written about from my view and that there are plenty of pictures to accompany my account. The full trip that I am taking is 15 days long. I will post the full trip itinerary in another blog but I wanted you the readers to get a chance to understand what the climb is truly about.
