Day 8: Climb to Uhuru Peak / Summit

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 FROM THE TEAM

Tonight as I sit in the tent, it is 720 PM and I wonder if anyone else is still awake! We finished dinner and everyone was ready for bed-even our guides. I listened through the meal of the stories of the day and would like to briefly pass along some of the what we have been doing the last 24 hours.

They were all so tired from “the longest day”.

Pumoja  Pumoja came true for our team today. Translated, as you have likely heard this means, “together, together”.

Not only did the entire team make it to the summit, we agreed at dinner that we all needed each other to make it up to the top.

Last night, after the 11PM wake-up call, we left Kosovo base camp (16,000+ feet) and began walking at midnight. Our guide Gabriel “shuffled” his way at perfect speed for us to arrive at the crater edge, Stella Peak, at 515AM.  We hit Uruhu peak just after 615AM!

One of the amazing things that blew us hikers away was the porter assigned to each of us for the day. They literally ended up carrying our backpacks up the mountain, some at the beginning, although one of our Swiss he-men did carry his the whole way!

Our whole team has been in awe of these Jesus like servants all week.

One the way down, almost everyone confessed that they did not know if they were going to make it to the summit.  It was cold, tiring, sleep deprived as well as doubts and voices whispering fears. But all agreed a fellow team member came along at just the right time with a touch or a word needed or a carrying of the backpack.

Together, together.

We arrived back at Kosovo camp around 9AM and took a short rest before packing up for another 5 hours of downhill walking.

Today we travelled 9,350 feet downhill to tonight’s camp. Even with prep, most of us were really struggling as we arrived in camp at dinner time, soaking wet and our tents wet too.

All were exhausted. Eat, talk, go to bed.

What a day! Up Kilimanjaro for the whole team. We have a life memory.

So proud of my team. My guides. The porters. The whole Beyond Team.

The rain is putting me to sleep. Night all.

Pete Hiskey

745 PM

February 7, 2023