Day 8: Climb to Summit Uhuru Peak

Summit!!!! Knock-knock tea came at midnight. Some of us had managed a little sleep, others none at all. We layered up- base layers already on, outer layers pulled close against the cold and we forced down what little food we could for energy.

By 1 a.m., we were on the trail. How does anyone feel prepared to climb the highest peak in Africa in the middle of the night? From the very start, it was intense. The route was crowded- groups everywhere, headlamps bobbing up the slope. When we asked Gabriel if it was always like this, he told us to look up: a brilliant full moon. As it turns out, many climbers time their summit during a full moon. While weaving through the crowds was challenging, it was also incredible to be part of such a shared experience- hundreds of people all pushing through the same struggle.

Our group stayed remarkably steady, stopping only three times. Reaching Stella Point gave us the final push we needed; with just one hour left, the summit was within reach. At Uhuru Peak, we each celebrated in our own way- snapping a few quick photos before the weather began to turn. Without knowing it, we’d timed our arrival perfectly, slipping into a rare ten-minute window of calm before the wind and potential hail picked up.

The descent was fast and full of adrenaline. We praised Gabriel for his unshakable leadership, his steady guidance had gotten us all here. Still in awe of what we’d accomplished, we grabbed a short rest at camp before tackling the second half of the day: miles and miles down to Mweka Camp. By evening, we were exhausted, exhilarated, and overwhelmed with gratitude. We had done it!!

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 16,000 feet

Ending elevation 19,344 feet

Elevation gain 3,344 feet

Distance hiked 4.5 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