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

Moral was very high and everyone seemed to be doing well with spirits and health. No one has exhibited any symptoms of altitude sickness and we’re making great pace up the mountain. One thing i will say is that Every Single Person in this group is so amazing and loving. I could not have wished for a better group of individuals to ascend this mountain with. All of us, on this journey, is a captain of their own destiny. 

My feet hurt pretty bad but no blisters or broken toes. My one low of today. 

My high of today is that a small group and I decided at lunch to go the high route, and check out a structure called the Lava Tower. It only took about an hour for us to get to the base of it. We removed our day packs and free climbed up to the top. All three of the guides did an amazing job of keeping us all safe and aware of how to get up. When Gabriel, our lead guide, understood 8 of us were climbing he let out a nervous chuckle and just turned around to continue scurrying up the cliff face. Made me and a few others laugh. 

We celebrated at the top with some cheers and laughs and then climbed back down to meet up with the group that went the lower route. The view from up there was spectacular and really gave me a sense of just how close we were from the summit. But even with that realization, the size of the remainder of the mountain still gave me a sense of pure awe. 

It also made me think back to some questions I had been thinking about a few weeks before arriving. 

What am I going to find up there? 

What revelation am I going to realize when I make it to the top? 

Something that I learned today is that once you reach the top of the mountain, there is another mountain. 

Not just the mountain of getting back down but the mountain of living a life with it’s successes and failures. How many mountains, both figuratively and literally, am I going to conquer in my lifetime?

I’m excited to find out but first I need to focus on the mountain in front of me. 

After meeting up with ‘the mountain goat squad’ We made camp at the Baranco wall at 15,200 feet. We had a great dinner and jovial conversation about the day and plans for tomorrow. The lights from the cities down below shine through the clouds and the moon shines like a spotlight down upon us. Like my captain before me, Andy, I too pray to be aware and present enough to notice what’s in store for me. This is my rebirth and my soul is willing. Over the next 3 days we will be tested, measured, and brought before the lord. Up to this point I was not afraid of what might become of me. But now I understand the brevity of what we are about to endure. Looking at the moonlit wall just below the snow covered summit is very ominous but I know we will make it and the lord will keep us safe. We begin climbing the 1200 ft wall in 12 hours. 

Journal Entry by Michael Ashburn