Here is a brief description of our climb. The experience was so awesome that it would be impossible to explain all the feelings of exilhiration and achievement. The photos below are just a glimpse of what it was like "up there".
Collection point at Karama Lodge. We were all nervously "upbeat" and ready to tackle all that came our way.
Our first view of "her" - what a daunting mountain.
Entrance to the National Park - Machame Gate. This was the last chance to hire any forgotten equipment.
Enter 'The Rain Forest' - this would test the driest of raincoats.
This was a long day - 8 hours of walking. Well worth it!
Our campsite at Machame Hut (3 000m). The porters did all the hard work as we arrived to find the camp setup. (this would be the case everyday).
Day 2 -Hether Region: you definately feel like you have a starring role in "The Lord of the Rings" - an elf or fairy could appear at any time - this is the feeling you get from the vegetation.
Day 2 still produces some happy campers on the way.
Shira Camp (3 878m) - the first time we get a good view of 'the peak'.
Day 3 - Moorland on the way to Karanga Camp.
Some ups and downs on day 3.
Karanga Hut (4 021m) - the snow starting to look like glaciers.
Day 4 - making our way to Barranco Hut. We needed to make a stop at the Lava Tower (4 700m) - this was part of our acclimitisation - walk high, sleep low.
Here is a pic of some ash flow - to think this was an active volcano - not so long ago!
Barranco Hut (4 483m) - and still smiling. From our tent we could view what we were to climb the next day "Barranco Wall" - let's just say we were all nervous.
Day 5 - The Desert - no that is not a sand storm - believe it, that's mist! This is going through the Alpine Desert - nothing much grows here and the temperature is staring to drop.
The Desert - yes this is the same desert, but we have sun this time.
We have finally arrived at our last camp before summit - Barafu Hut (4 600m). We were to go to sleep around 6pm. They woke us up at 11pm to start our summit. We were an hour into our summit when the first "Happy New Year" wishes were heard. It was great to see the lights and fireworks in Moshi and Arusha. It was dark, cold (-15deg C) and exhausting, but once we reached the top it was WORTH ALL THE EFFORT!!!! 
Break of a new dawn - 1 January 2009. 
This was the pinnacle of the trip - Uhuru Peak (5 895m). ETA was 6:50am Tanzanian time (1 hr ahead of SA) See the glacier in the background - they stand close to 30m high. Well done to all who climbed!
1 comment:
Great ride report. Looks like you guys had a good time. Why not post this report on www.wilddog.za.net
Well done,
Kenny Beukes
Springs
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