Day 7: Climb to Karanga Camp

MOUNTAIN ROUTE OVERVIEW

After breakfast, one of the biggest challenges for our climbers begins. They’ll climb up and over the Great Barranco Wall. Getting to the top of it will take 1 to 2 hours. After the wall, climbers will cross a barren and rocky plateau with views of Kibo and three glaciers before descending into Karanga Camp. As they cross the plateau on a trail of gravel and sand, climbers will pass streams and giant boulders for 2 to 3 hours. As they walk into camp, they have a good view of tomorrow’s route. They’ll get to camp by lunch. But this short day is planned for resting which helps with acclimatization.

MOUNTAIN ROUTE STATS

Starting elevation 12,900 feet | Ascend 14,000 feet to the top of Baranco Wall

Ending elevation 13,300 feet at Karanga Camp

Net elevation gain 400 feet

Distance hiked 3 miles

Average hiking time 4 to 6 hours

Today stared out better in that we got to sleep in! We are at Baranco Camp, 13,100ft elevation. Interesting are the sounds of the morning. It starts out with one or two zippers and people crawling out of their tents, and soon the whole camp is buzzing with activity. Hikers giving morning greetings and Porters talking, singing and laughing as they get breakfast ready.

Today we will do the Baranco wall or sometimes called the “Breakfast Wall” because you feel like eating breakfast again when you finish.

You get good a feeling as the sun rises up over the mountain. You stand there feeling the warmth and breathing the wild air!

During the Baranco was the views of the water falls are breathtaking and after the Wall the hiking included stretches of ups and down and ended around 13,300ft

Walking into camp and hearing our porters sings songs in Zwaheli welcoming us into camp and giving thanks for our safe travel was exhilarating. And lunch? Best pizza you have ever eaten at 13,300ft

The rest of the day was spent resting in preparation for the day to come.

The mountain falls asleep the same magical way. People laughing and talking. Then the talk slows to whispers and the sound of zippers as people crawl inside their tents. And finally the last zipper sounds and the whispers stop and all is silent. And it was a good day.

~ Rick White