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 | 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

By Day 3, we’ve all become well acquainted with the mountain, or what John Simon calls ‘his office’ — but today was the first day that started to feel like work. It was a long day and everyone was impacted in some way by altitude, sun, colds, or fatigue… confirmed by the noticeably quieter chatter as we continued on the trail.

Despite the test of of endurance, our ‘coworkers’ made all the difference. I don’t think the lows of the day will be what anyone remembers about 8/8.

Step by step we climbed to the highest we’d been — over 15,000 feet. When one of our group was hit by the altitude, our team supported with electrolytes, encouragement and prayer. Even in the quiet steps, I was proud that instead of grumbling, our group chose to celebrate the beauty around us. Lichen on lava rocks, steep hills up and over rivers, lunch in an alpine desert at Lava rock, descending into an oasis that looked more like Palm Springs…we took a picture in front of a tree that was 325 years old!

We ended our day with a team meeting — riddles , highs and lows, sunset pictures of the summit looming above and clouds floating below. Smiles returned and spirits were renewed. Shout out to how amazing the soups have been.

For me I will remember it as one of the best birthdays EVER. Strangers a week ago, this group of folks have become fast friends (rafiki in Swahili) and made sure I had a day full of laughter, singing, delicious meals , “junior guide training” and thoughtful questions.

Not to brag, but we crushed our day’s deadline — arriving at camp earlier in the afternoon than any Beyond group has in a long time.

Unlike a traditional office focused on productivity, our daily achievement is in being present. Present with the people God has brought together , for the amazing team of porters and servers and watchmen making this adventure possible. Present to appreciate the unbelievable views of the ‘office’. Present to take each day as it comes, because each day is its own story. Present to listen to what God might be showing us. I’ve never been so excited to wake up and go to work.

~ Adair Ziegler