Day 6: 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
Day 3: We embarked on a part of the hike we all thought was going to be easier than the first two days. And the first half of the day was exactly what we expected. A long slow climb with beautiful views of the mountain. At lunch we had to say goodbye to one of our group. Eddie Macias, of the film crew, had to head down the mountain due to an upset stomach that would not allow him to hike. After lunch the day took a surprising turn. We headed down to a valley where we’d be camping for the night. It was a very long and agonizingly slow descent that took much longer than anyone thought it would be. Our legs were screaming for relief. When we finally pulled into camp, we’d completed 8 hours of hiking and over 9 and a half miles. We were exhausted. But as has been the case every night, dinner brought us together and brought renewal. We shared our reflections on the day and experienced a powerful time that included laughter and tears. Our hearts are full.
~ Steve Allen & Charlie T