Day 6: Climb to Karanga Camp

MOUNTAIN ROUTE OVERVIEW

After breakfast, one of the biggest challenges for our climbers begins. They’ll climb up and over the Great Barranco Wall. Getting to the top of it will take 1 to 2 hours. After the wall, climbers will cross a barren and rocky plateau with views of Kibo and three glaciers before descending into Karanga Camp. As they cross the plateau on a trail of gravel and sand, climbers will pass streams and giant boulders for 2 to 3 hours. As they walk into camp, they have a good view of tomorrow’s route. They’ll get to camp by lunch. But this short day is planned for resting which helps with acclimatization.

MOUNTAIN ROUTE STATS

Starting elevation 12,900 feet | Ascend 14,000 feet to the top of Baranco Wall

Ending elevation 13,300 feet at Karanga Camp

Net elevation gain 400 feet

Distance hiked 3 miles

Average hiking time 4 to 6 hours

UPDATE FROM THE GROUP

Today was another day of transitioning landscape. We pushed our limits and shared moments of encouragement as we climbed over Barranco Wall. We achieved new heights and witnessed God's beauty in the sky.I wouldn't want to climb this trek with any other group of ladies! Pamoja! Pamoja!

~ Tina Charman

We awoke with barranco looming over us- a giant wall filling the horizon already speckled with colorful jackets of porters and hikers headed up and over. My first thought was Psalm 122-“we lift our eyes to the hills, where does our help come from. It comes from the Lord, the maker of Heaven and earth”. This morning I read a portion of Hinds Feet on High Places to my tent mate (and YL girl from a million years ago), Laurie, that said “i will greatly enjoy turning this jellyfish into a mountain goat”. So, away we go to become mountain goats on the wall! As we began to climb the wall, we were, once again, reminded of the gift of this all women group: to hear our voices encouraging, laughing, crying, pushing each other on was a gift. And, we carefully followed our guided instructions: put your left foot here, your right hand here, push up…slowly and steadily, we conquered our fears and made it to the top. We celebrated with a snack exchange, group photos, and lots of laughter.

As we descended the other side, we were once again reminded of how liking is like life- down into one valley, up a steep incline, plunge into another valley, and repeat. In one afternoon we were surrounded by rocks, felt like we were on the face of the moon, walked through a recently burned out section of the mountain, and dwarfed by the amazing hundreds-years-old trees that only grow here. We arrived to a late lunch and free afternoon at camp. It was lovely to spend evening visiting, doing face masks and repairing manicures, watching the sunset, and singing and dancing with our team!

To my family and Joel at home, today was my hardest day mentally because I know how hard it was for Joel. And, yet, I found that “His mercies are new every morning”. I can’t wait for the adventure ahead!

~ Camille Brantley