Day 5: Climb to Barranco Camp

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

Ending elevation 12,900 feet

Elevation gain 400 feet

Distance hiked 6 miles

Average hiking time 7 to 9 hours

WHAT A DAY… Again, we were told our 5-8 hour hike would be easy. In the beginning hours of the day, the mountain was certainly crushing me. Those “rolling hills” were simply up-hills. There where many “thank you Jesus, praise you Jesus” with each step to get most of our group to the Lava Tower- the highest elevation we’ve reached. While I was kneeling over with the final steps to the top, there were a few crazies who opted into what looked like a climb to the Tower of Terror… don’t worry, they all survived to tell the story. Lauren(the birthday girl) even considered it a present for herself! The journey quickly turned into a steep downhill climb, as we avoided the wet slopes and unsteady boulders. Even with the strain in the quads and knees, I found my second wind. This was THE MOST BEAUTIFUL thing i’ve seen in my life. There were few moments to look up- and every time I did , my breath left body- not just because of the altitude. Between the unique flora and fauna, the occasional glacier waterfall, and the cotton candy clouds settling on our camp site, I didn’t have enough phone battery to capture it all. Today was a good day. The team will soon be gathering for a warm dinner to share our stories of the two different trails. Be praying we carry the same optimism and high-spirits we have at this moment as we approach the daunting Baranco Wall tomorrow morning. We will need it!

Journal Entry by Corrie Lemasters