Day 5: Climb to Shira Camp
MOUNTAIN ROUTE OVERVIEW
Today is a shorter day that begins by climbing up a steep ridge to reach a small semicircular cliff known as Picnic Rock. The route begins in the moorland zone, above the cloud line that rests above the forest. As our climbers hike up the steep ridge along steep rocks they will be rewarded with a magnificent view over the Machame Camp and down to Machame Village.
The air becomes increasingly thin as they reach the halfway break point, as vegetation slowly decreases and the black lava sand increases. Again and again, the trail moves up and down, past the small mountain streams to rocky walls and deep ravines. The Shira Camp is situated in the middle of the Shira Plateau. Views of Mount Meru from Camp, and of Kibo if they’re lucky, is spectacular.
CLIMB STATS
Begin ~ 9,900 Feet / 3,000 Meters
End ~ 12,500 Feet / 3,800 Meters
Elevation Gain 2,600 Feet
Time Average 5-7 Hours
Distance Hiked 5 Miles / 8 Km
CLIMBER BLOG ENTRY
After telling my Young Life Leader that my heart burned for ministry in Tanzania, she introduced me to Drew Voyles. We messaged back and forth about a trip to Tanzania. But it never happened (I can’t remember why but probably a typical college excuse like not enough money or my friends aren’t going).
Ten years later, God brought me to Tanzania. He’s shown me how he’s working through Young Life staff to begin clubs across the country. He’s shown me how he’s using Young Life leaders to show high schoolers his love for them. He’s shown me how he’s using Young Life camp to give high schoolers family for the first time. But, more personally, God has shown me himself through an expedition on Mount Kilimanjaro with Beyond Adventures.
Today, after my first night on Mount Kilimanjaro, I woke up to our guide whistling How Great Thou Art. I stepped out of my tent with the Creator on my heart and as I did, the sun crested over the mountains. Dew crowned the earth with jewels and yellowed heather cloaked it with gold. The Creator was meeting us before the day began. It was going to be good.
We climbed almost 4,000 feet to Camp Two. But as we did, God was with us. We were reminded of how small we are and how big God is with glimpses of the snowcapped peak. We relished in creation with trees and flowers with never seen before. We valued community over ourselves by walking together rather than as quickly as we could. We communed with people from many nations. This culture isn’t of our world. God shared the culture of His world with us today.
As we walked into camp with tired legs and aching feet, the guides and porters welcomed us with song and dance. And it made me think about the day our savior will return. When he will “turn our mourning into dancing; release us of our darkness and cover us with gladness.” But until that day, we’ll keep making our way up this mountain and eating soup with every meal along the way.
Lena