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

Ending elevation 13,300 feet

Elevation gain 400 feet

Distance hiked 3 miles

Average hiking time 4 to 6 hours

Thanks be to God! We headed up the wall as a group, we conquered it! It was the hardest physical thing that I’ve ever done. I even had help as my 2 guardian angels, Marco and Juma, helped me (pulled me) up the mountain. My family has been encouraging me every step of the way. I am so glad they are here with me. I believe God wanted me here to really connect to Him. There is a need every step to rely on Him. Praise Jesus, Thank you Jesus has become the mantra. This experience is not what I expected but I don’t think I can explain it. The Mountain is our Church. - Marcie Engelhardt

This climb up Kilimanjaro is not about a hike. Sure, we are hiking through breathtaking geography but that’s not what I’ll take home. Our group of 16 hikers are only surviving because of a team of 65 porters and guides. I have stayed at several luxurious hotels around the world but I have never been served and cared for by anyone like these men. They wake up before us and bring hot tea and coffee to our tents. Then they prepare a delicious hot breakfast in the large dome tent. As we finish breakfast and start our daily hike with a small day pack they’re washing our dishes and packing up the entire camp and our heavy duffels. As we climb the mountain we’re passed by the porters carrying all of duffels on their heads along with a huge backpack! They get to the lunch site ahead of us and set up the whole thing again so that we arrive to a hot lunch. After lunch, same thing again- they pass us on the way to our camp where we are greeted by our porters who escort us to our tents that they set up where our duffels and sleeping cushions await us for the night. They actually take our hiking boots off for us and deliver washing water. While we rest they’re working hard to prepare another wonderful dinner. We finish dinner and head to bed while they clean up and prepare for the next day where they do it all over again! As Marcie mentioned there are several guides who walk with us to assist us with anything on the trail. They’re quick to lend a hand up a steep rock or to carry our packs( along with theirs)! Amazingly these 65 men have genuine smiles on their faces as they greet me by name. I love it as they joyfully sing Tanzanian folk songs along the trail. I’m learning how a true servant behaves. I will always remember Marco and Juma. - John Engelhardt

This has been a wonderful experience so far. I am so thankful for everything the porters, guides and cooks have done for us. I am blessed to be hiking with this group and would not want to hike it with anyone else. God is so good! I cannot wait to see what he has in store for all of us as we get closer and closer to the summit and then the descent. - Jonah Engelhardt

I don’t have much to add, other than to echo my gratefulness for our wonderful team on the mountain. In the months leading up to our journey, I wondered whether I had physically prepared enough to handle the trek. Now I know, no matter how many times I had climbed stairs or done a living room workout, I would have never been able to climb Kilimanjaro on my own strength. I am supported in every sense of the word by our team, and do nothing to deserve all of the work they do for me each day- but they still say “good job!” to me at the end of the day! I have really enjoyed talking to Juma (in Spanish, Swahili, and English!) and hearing stories from Gabriel and John, our guides. I am terrified of heights but literally scaled a 2000ft vertical rock wall today and enjoyed it, without fear! Our porters’ servant hearts have helped me understand Jesus’ love for me. I can not do anything to deserve it or repay for it. But it follows me each day and helps me get through my day. Without it I could not make the daily trek —Erin Engelhardt