Day 8: Climb to summit Uhuru Peak

MOUNTAIN ROUTE OVERVIEW

Summit is an 11 to 16 hour day. Climbers go to sleep after an early dinner the night before and are woken up around midnight to being their summit attempt. After a light snack, they ascent into darkness, cold, and wind. Temperatures usually range from -4° to 5° fahrenheit. This is where climbers feel the altitude, so they’ll carry as little as possible, hike slowly, and take many rests to ease the symptoms. They’ll make their way up a trail that is flanked by the Ratzel and Rebman Glaciers. After climbing for around six hours, they’ll reach the edge of Kilimanjaro’s crater between Stella and Hans Meyer Points. They’re just an hour from the summit when they get here! After a hot cup of tea and rest, they’ll begin climbing on a rocky and icy trail to the summit, Uhuru Peak, at 19,344 feet which is the highest point on the continent of Africa. Once they reach the summit, they’ll spend a few minutes making sure they touch the sign, celebrating with the group, and taking pictures before descending to Kosovo Camp. Once they reach camp, they’ll eat lunch and take a short nap before continuing their descent to Mweka Camp. Once they arrive at camp, they’ll have dinner and go to bed early after a 13 to 19 hour day of hiking!

MOUNTAIN ROUTE STATS

ASCENT

Starting elevation 15,400 feet

Ending elevation 19,344 feet

Elevation gain 3,944 feet

Distance hiked 4 miles

Average hiking time 8 to 10 hours

DESCENT

Starting elevation 19,344 feet

Ending elevation 10,200 feet

Elevation loss 9,144 feet

Distance hiked 8 miles

Average hiking time 7 to 9 hours

The whole team made it to the peak of Mt Kilimanjaro today! In case that’s the only line you read in this blog, that fact-that the WHOLE team made it to the top-is the one message that I desire to convey.

Every person who summitted today had issues of some kind this week, many of which were significant. We’ve had lost luggage, migraine headaches, panic attacks, physical injuries, stomach disorders and altitude sickness to name but a few!

I am so proud to write that we ALL made it to the top today!

Each one of my friends on this team will have different memories that will stick with them about today throughout their whole lives. It was a very special day. You’ll have to ask them as most of what I’ll share forward from this point is what I observed and learned today and through the week.

At 3:12AM I learned my first lesson of the day-humility. One of our porters, Dennis, asked to carry my pack. Inside of me, pride was raging! I was thinking I can carry this pack if anyone can. But I remembered during our team sharing and discussion on humility this week and went ahead and surrendered. That little decision made the day a whole different experience for me-so much more enjoyable and possibly even doable.

To say that today what’s a tough physical day would be a huge understatement! We were roused at midnight and began trekking at 1AM. The main word that would describe my walk up the mountain would be delirious. I can’t even remember much of it as I write. It was 5 1/2 hours straight up the hill before we arrived at Stella Point (18,885 feet).

But what a reward once we arrived! The sun was just coming over the horizon and it had to be in the top five most beautiful sunrises-if not the most beautiful sunrise I’ve ever experienced. You have to see some of the pictures!

God was continuing to speak to us all loudly through His Creation. Several of us were moved to tears, especially me. I felt so grateful to be on this trip with my son, Michael, and my friend Cliff. Combined with the physical push and altitude, we all shared hugs, tears and love!

But there was still another hour to Uhuru peak, the top of Africa. For each team member, this next portion of the hike presented a variety of challenges. It had the look of a 20 minute walk but was closer to an hour. It was a mental challenge for all of us, and we all made it!

Have I mentioned the entire team made it to the top? We took the obligatory picture at the Kilimanjaro sign to prove we all made it there!

It was a 360 degree panoramic picture of beauty. We had a celebratory toast, hit a golf ball of the cliff (yes, it was a biodegradable one!), and took many more pictures before heading back down to camp.

We have 24 hours before we leave and nearly 13,000 feet of descent-which for me is almost equally hard on the knees and toes.

Been a great week getting to know these new, wonderful, talented group of friends. We have a “life memory” of climbing the highest independent self standing mountain in the world.

Each of us fought the fight that was before us personally and as a team. It was a tough week filled with all kinds of challenges, and with the help of God and each other, we made it to the top.

Woo hoo!!!!!

~ Pete Hiskey