Day 8: Climb to Kosovo
MOUNTAIN ROUTE OVERVIEW
As our climbers near the summit, they have another short day for acclimatization today. After breakfast, climbers leave Karanga Camp and make their way across moraine with a view of Mawenzi and Kibo to Barafu. The alpine desert terrain is full of boulders with lichen and moss. Upon reaching camp, climbers will spend the afternoon resting before packing for the summit and having an early dinner in preparation for their ascent to the summit to start at midnight. Summit begins at 5 PM EST!
MOUNTAIN ROUTE STATS
Starting elevation 13,300 feet
Ending elevation 16,000 feet
Elevation gain 2,700 feet
Distance hiked 3.5 miles
Average hiking time 4 to 5 hours
We went to bed under a billion of the brightest stars you can imagine. Pictures could never give it justice and just one of the many reasons we are here experiencing it personally as only a handful will. We also began our slumber with a light covering of frost on our tents. We have come to realize that sleeping in mummy style bags is challenging. During the course of the night, the constant turning and twisting leads to knots forming in our bags with us in them. Christian is breathing harder trying to untangle himself than during the steeper climbs. We woke to the same symphony of zippers as Rick mentioned previously. The coffee service in the morning was lacking today; there was no whipcream or nutmeg. I thought this was billed as a luxury trip. During breakfast, we met a milestone with all hiker earning their trail names.
From here on out it is all uphill, literally. The tone of the hike has changed dramatically. As we climb the silence is deafening. The crackle and crunch from the stone and dirt beneath our feet is only accompanied by your panting or that of the person behind you. The jokes and stories have seemingly slowed or ended. We are laser focused on breathing, no one is talking not even Stu. If Disney made a baby goat version of Nemo I could hear her say just climb, just keep climbing. No one is even looking up, why bother.
As we were climbing before lunch John Simon our guide taught us a new way to walk uphill to preserve muscle strength, known as the skeletal walk. Several of us wondered why John waited until day 5 to teach us this walk. As we practiced we observed everyone around us using this new skill following the slow cadence climbing among us, walking deliberately head nodded forward as if the marching division of the walking dead were all around.
Lunch was wonderful at 15,200 feet. During lunch John Simon gave us a thorough briefing on tonight’s summit hike. There was a lot of information to digest. Being adaptable and not being selfish. He gave guidance on attire, food, and medication consumption. I think most of us are anxious. It is not if we will get sick but how we handle the sickness. We arrived to camp Kosovo early afternoon. Camp is at an altitude of roughly 16,000 feet. We were instructed to prepare our gear and rest. Dinner will be served early and we will try and get some sleep before we begin our summit hike at midnight. But who are we kidding, sleep will be hard to find. —
- Manny Blackner