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 16,000 feet
Ending elevation 19,344 feet
Elevation gain 3,344 feet
Distance hiked 4.5 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
UPDATE
1/26 at 5:00PM
We spoke to our Trip Hosts via Satellite Phone this afternoon, who confirmed that the entire team is now safe and sound tonight, sleeping back down at Mweka Camp @ 10,000 ft, after an exhausting summit night. They will have their final dinner together on the mountain this evening, then wake up early to hike 3 hours out to Mweka Gate in the morning. Stay tuned for updates coming direct from the Group, to be posted first thing tomorrow morning!
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“As I type this email, our first ever Beyond All Women's Kilimanjaro Climb, comprised of 17 new lady friends from around the world, is waking up at Kosovo Basecamp @ 16,000 ft to begin their Summit Night under the night sky, trekking up to Uhuru Peak @ 19,341 ft. Their elevation at Kosovo is higher than any point in the lower continental US. As I spoke to my wife, Melissa, on the Sat Phone just now, I was so encouraged to hear about how this entire Group has overcome adversity and come together as “ONE" Team, like a family, consisting of the women on our team, with all of our Guides & Porters, which includes 2 female Lead Guides. Those of you who've come before & have experienced the comradery on summit night, know exactly what she's talking about. Pamoja Pamoja. Together Together. One step at a time.
It's a very special Team of 17 women, made up of mothers & daughters, wives, grandmothers, business executives, old friends, comedians, entrepreneurs, young life leaders, medical professionals, and more… who've made GREAT sacrifices at home, in order to hit the pause button to spend 10 days off the grid, on the mountain, in community with other women, challenging their bodies & filling their spirits. What a gift.
Melissa confirmed they're facing extreme winds and cold at high elevation... Many of them are physically exhausted, as they prepare to make this final push to the Summit. She asked if we would pray a special prayer over the Team as a whole.”
~ Drew
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UPDATE FROM THE GROUP —> PHOTOS COMING, STAY TUNED…
There is one rule to follow on this trip... listen to your guides. They know the trails, terrane and oxygen level changes. They are constantly monitoring us as we hike for altitude sickness or exhaustion. All week long... they've asked me what can you take out of your daypack because its too heavy. You want your daypack as light as possible for summit night…
The Summit is on Uhuru Peak... Uhuru means freedom and freedom is what we found last night/early this morning. My daypack at the beginning of the week was a true amatuer hour moment. The guides asked me over and over what could be taken out.
ACTUALLY, they laughed when they asked "what do you have in there?" it was hard to lift I had all the essentials and then some. And each day, the hike got easier because I carried less weight.
The symbolism of shedding layers of unnecessary weight was not lost on me. Each day this sisterhood let go of little pieces of comfort from home. Big fears were left at the trailhead.
The grief of a loved one laid down. The need to hurry up and get stuff done surrendered little by little. The need to be accepted by others or meet the need of everyone around us left with a stack of Ebenizer stones that we passed by. We came Into summit night lighter…
And here we stand in the pitch black dark of night preparing our daypacks once more with winds howling the tents around. A little less pride. A little less weight of the world on our shoulders and a little less bondage to the things that we carried here. This trek is as much a physical journey as a spiritual walk of surrender. To reach the place of freedom (Uhuru Peak), I watched as one by one, each woman handed daybacks over to the amazing guides who literally carried our load. Just like Jesus to pick up our burdens and lift us with His grace until we reach a place of true freedom…
12 amazing women reached the summit for an epic sunrise that will mark a new trail for each of us. Yes, we reached 19,341 feet and the tallest mountain peak in Africa and it was tough. Many feeling the effects of the altitude and up all night as the 6 hour climb started at midnight. Gail force freezing winds pounded us the whole way up. No doubt, we will make the trek down lifted by a new found freedom and deeper faith in the Lord. Most of us came in wanting to hear or see the Lord in a fresh way. And in God's sweet goodness, He answered us and we will go home a different way.
Thank You Jesus, Praise You Jesus!
~ Billi Dray