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 15,400 feet
Ending elevation 19,344 feet
Elevation gain 3,944 feet
Distance hiked 4 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
Journal Entry by Lims Sibanda (YL Zimbabwe Staff):
On the 9th of July 2021, we slept early so we could wakeup early again, so we could be at the Uhuru Peak at sunrise. We set off for the peak at 1130pm, all we could see we're the lights up the trail. Every step we took was always going up at this point, I wished we could come to a flat terrain so we could rest as we were moving higher and higher, there wasn't any such place as we're drew closer to the peak. Even if there was such a place one could hardly notice as we were all dragging our feet towards the top of Africa. Our experienced guides knew where and when to have a water break. Resting for a long time was not ideal as the hikers could get extremely cold. Faced with all the opposing factors it was most probable that some of us could not make it to the peak, BUT I am glad all of us made it to the top. I thought descending from the Kilimanjaro was going to be a fun walk on the tallest mountain but is wasn't. As we finally reached our camp at Barafu, every one got to sleep, I could hardly wake up for lunch. At 3 pm we set off for Millennium Camp where we put up awaiting the final descent. They guys kept saying, 'if you can't climb it drink it'. Team BEYOND hats off to you guys. This was amazing!
Journal Entry #2 by Laurel & Corrie Lemasters
A wise man on the trip told me you can either have a good time or a good story. Boy, do we have a good story.
Per the usual wake up routine at camp, “knock knock tea” arrived at our tent. But it was 11 pm. An early start indeed. Daypacks ready and porridge of the day in our tummies, we set out. The string of headlamps didn’t muzzle the beauty of the stars. But we hardly had a chance to look up at the sky as we concentrated on our new 2-step dance. It was actually the rest step and pressure breathing necessary to allow the ascent to Kili’s peak. We were well-equipped in every way, clothing, boots, techniques, preparatory fitness (hah!) but we were ALL humbled with the length and duration of the high altitude climb. The switchback path of lights were equally inspiring (looking down) and despairing (looking up). And we kept going.
And we had to keep going. Each turn provided a vision of even more pathway to climb. And then to Stella Point. We thought we had all but arrived. But the cold and wind (gale force winds and 0 degrees around the crater) were the devastating blow to the MORE uphill climb to Uhuru through troughs of ice and hail. Could it possibly be harder? I had wept after passing through Kissing Rock at the Barranco Wall but I had no emotion as we got to the Peak. I was too anxious to turn back and get out of the cold. Picture? Sure! Smile and look happy? Sure. But inside I was empty and spent. I had nothing left.
The story, though, is that after climbing the mountain, you have to “unclimb” the mountain. The descent. The issue here is not your VO2 max or your time in the Peloton HIIT class. This is about body aches and joints screaming. Our places in the single file line shifted. The virgin knees and hips led the group and the more “mature” of us slowed down dramatically. But we still marveled at the porters literally running or skipping down the boulder and scree lined paths. The engineering and entrepreneurial crowd assured us a kitchen tray business would do well there. Instead each of us was greeted by a guide, who literally ran us down the hills. Wilfred kept repeating to me, “just relax and go forward”. A good lesson for life, I’d say.
It sounds so delightful, right? Don’t let me fool you. We got back to camp, crashed supine in our tents and got another round of yellow rice or Nutella pancakes or fresh pineapple or some other scrumptious odd combo of well prepared food. The problem was… more unclimbing to go.
After a few hours of rest, more descent. Painful, swollen thighs, overworked calves, and little to no motivation. All this in a 24 hour span. KILLER. CRUSHING KILLER.
So we’ve given our hiking boots to the beautiful porters and guides. No more hiking for us. This is “one and done” for us. God has done a great work in us, humbling us and assuring us of our need for His presence in every moment. And the two of us have become TEAM.
But beyond what has happened to US, this trip has been about the work and sustenance for all the people around Mt Kilimanjaro. Beyond Adventures is investing in beautiful people in Tanzania.
Everyone here gets the point. Finding your breaking point strips you of all your self dependency and pride. It’s just you and a God who sustains your very breath. And a lot of beautiful, encouraging people along the way.
It’s a GOOD story. A really really GOOD story.