Day 4: Climb to Shira Camp

MOUNTAIN ROUTE OVERVIEW

Today is a shorter day that starts with climbing up a steep ridge to a small cliff named Picnic Rock. Climbers will start in the moorland zone which is above the rainforest and clouds. As our climbers hike up the steep ridge, they’ll be rewarded with a sweeping view of Machame Camp and Machame Village. The air will become increasingly thin as they reach the halfway point and vegetation will slowly give way to black lava and sand. The trail continues up and up pst small mountain streams, rocky walls, and deep ravines. Shira Camp is in the middle of the Shira Plateau. Climbers will have views of Mount Meru and Kibo from camp is the weather is good!!

MOUNTAIN ROUTE STATS

Starting elevation 9,900 feet

Ending elevation 12,500 feet

Elevation gain 2,600 feet

Distance hiked 5 miles

Average hiking time 5 to 7 hours

UPDATE FROM THE TEAM

So today is February 3 it’s day two we have arrived at $hirak Cave camp we’re at 3850 m most of us have never ever been this high in our lives. We climbed 900 m today. We had about a six hour hike, which is about 7 km through the rainforest in the different zones, when we arrived, there was a very nice snack waiting for us and then we had lunch and after lunch we most of us lay down in our tents and it poured raining poured like crazy and then when we woke up, there’s an absolute beautiful afternoon here. I am very grateful for John Simon, and for Gabriel, and for Pete leading us up the mountain today I am very grateful for for Matt as he spotted me going up one of the walls thinking I might have it challenge there and he made sure I didn’t. I’m proud that we all made it again D2. We’ve all made it that’s it safely that’s the most important thing is that we get to the goal safely. Magic moment getting to one of the break areas and there’s a hot coffee waiting for us and then after our nap, the guys brought us bowls of hot water for us to wash your feet or wash your faces and that that’s just an amazing humbling experience. Wonderful magic moment lessons learned as we continue to go slow, “Pole Pole” as they say here, keep going slowly, thankful for today…

~ Rob Straw