Day 5: Climb to Barranco Camp

Despite many of us still struggling with the time-zone adjustment (7-9 hours) as well as sleeping on the ground, we were up as usual for “bed tea” at 0630a, followed by another breakfast with great food and way too much of it. We hit the trail just before 0830a, departing Shira Camp at 12,500 feet.

We immediately headed up and up for 2 1/2 hours, until we rested at 14,235 feet on the edge of the oldest Kilimanjaro volcano (there have been three). After snacks and drinks, we headed up to the Lava Tower (15,190 feet) and lunch, arriving at 0130p. For six of the 10 of us, this was a new personal “highest elevation”. Lunch was incredible, including hot soup, fresh fruit, grilled cheese sandwiches, and veggie empanadas. We are very spoiled by this amazing staff…

After gaining most of 3,000 feet, the “fun” now began as we hiked back down and down on steep rocky slopes to Baranco Camp at just over 13,000 feet, arriving at 0445p after a total of six miles (that felt much longer and harder). The last stretch went through local trees that add an arm and bloom every 25 years. Many are hundreds of years old.

After washing up and resting a bit, it was off to dinner and then bed, hoping for better sleep before tomorrow’s uphill climb of the Baranco Wall.

-Paul Monson

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MOUNTAIN ROUTE OVERVIEW

Today, the trail runs through a black lava desert past millions of boulders. From the Shira Plateau, the group will go up a ridge, past the trail to the peak of Kibo, to Lava Tower (known by locals as Shark’s Tooth). During their lunch break, they can take in the snowline above the Lava Tower. After lunch, they’ll descend to the Barranco Camp at an altitude of 13,000 feet. The black lava desert fades into heather and moorland. From Barranco Camp, they’ll see the Barranco Wall, the Western Breach of Kibo, and the South Glacier. This is where their hike ends – and they rest and have dinner. Because their bodies are exposed to such a high elevation at lunch, this is one of the most important days for acclimatization and will prepare our climbers’ bodies for summit day!

MOUNTAIN ROUTE STATS

Starting elevation 12,500 feet | Ascend to 15,000 feet at Lava Tower

Ending elevation 12,900 feet in Baranco Valley

Net elevation gain 400 feet

Distance hiked 6 miles

Average hiking time 7 to 9 hours