Kilimanjaro 2023
kilimanjaro international airport
kilimanjaro international airport
unloading the gear at the start
unloading the gear at the start
the start of the climb (with informational sign about medical evacuation!)
the start of the climb (with informational sign about medical evacuation!)
lemosho gate (only 34 hours of climbing to go....)
lemosho gate (only 34 hours of climbing to go....)
rain forest section of the trail
rain forest section of the trail
the first day is pretty much the best part....
the first day is pretty much the best part....
first camp, mti mkubwa AKA Big Tree camp (8700 ft)
first camp, mti mkubwa AKA Big Tree camp (8700 ft)
second day, and the end of the rain forest
second day, and the end of the rain forest
tea time! our favorite part of the hike each day
tea time! our favorite part of the hike each day
our first view of the peak!
our first view of the peak!
seems a lot closer than it is....
seems a lot closer than it is....
second camp, Shira #1 (12,000 ft elevation)
second camp, Shira #1 (12,000 ft elevation)
shira camp, no more trees and starting to get frost
shira camp, no more trees and starting to get frost
did i mention how much we liked tea time?
did i mention how much we liked tea time?
third camp, shira #2 (yes, i know that is confusing...) 12,600 ft elevation
third camp, shira #2 (yes, i know that is confusing...) 12,600 ft elevation
shira #2 with the clouds rolling in
shira #2 with the clouds rolling in
the climb out of shira #2
the climb out of shira #2
the rocks are starting to get a little bigger
the rocks are starting to get a little bigger
climbing towards lava tower and into the clouds
climbing towards lava tower and into the clouds
lava tower now visible just below the clouds
lava tower now visible just below the clouds
almost to lava tower!
almost to lava tower!
lava tower, 15000 ft elevation. We didn't camp, just spent an hour to help acclimate
lava tower, 15000 ft elevation. We didn't camp, just spent an hour to help acclimate
lava tower. you can climb it if you want. we didn't want...
lava tower. you can climb it if you want. we didn't want...
our 4th camp, moir hut, is somewhere in that crater
our 4th camp, moir hut, is somewhere in that crater
climbing out of the crater of moir hut
climbing out of the crater of moir hut
an ominous sign perhaps.....
an ominous sign perhaps.....
i was the one quoted as saying "nevermore!" as this raven attempted to steal my granola bar...
i was the one quoted as saying "nevermore!" as this raven attempted to steal my granola bar...
patricia expresses disbelief that this is actually a trail....
patricia expresses disbelief that this is actually a trail....
the approach to buffalo camp on the ridge
the approach to buffalo camp on the ridge
morning in camp #5, buffalo camp
morning in camp #5, buffalo camp
it was a moonscape leaving out of buffalo camp
it was a moonscape leaving out of buffalo camp
rough terrain on the backside of kilimanjaro
rough terrain on the backside of kilimanjaro
views of kenya from kilimanjaro
views of kenya from kilimanjaro
giant rosette plant
giant rosette plant
tea time at the first cave
tea time at the first cave
our sixth camp at third cave camp (it helps if you draw a flow chart...)
our sixth camp at third cave camp (it helps if you draw a flow chart...)
third cave camp (12,500 ft)
third cave camp (12,500 ft)
morning at third cave camp
morning at third cave camp
getting passed by the porters (as usual...)
getting passed by the porters (as usual...)
seventh camp, school hut at 15,700 ft. Last camp before the summit. we leave at midnight for the summit.
seventh camp, school hut at 15,700 ft. Last camp before the summit. we leave at midnight for the summit.
gilman's point at 18,652 ft right before dawn. The steep slope finally levels out and we knew we could make it.
gilman's point at 18,652 ft right before dawn. The steep slope finally levels out and we knew we could make it.
stella point at dawn. One hour to the summit.
stella point at dawn. One hour to the summit.
sunrise over africa from stella point
sunrise over africa from stella point
past the glacier on the way to the summit
past the glacier on the way to the summit
almost to the summit, on the rim of the crater
almost to the summit, on the rim of the crater
the summit! 19,340 Feet elevation!
the summit! 19,340 Feet elevation!
the summit! 9.5% oxygen!
the summit! 9.5% oxygen!
barafu camp on the way down
barafu camp on the way down
stopped at barafu camp for lunch but needed to get lower before camping
stopped at barafu camp for lunch but needed to get lower before camping
still feeling nauseous on the way down, but felt good enough to kid around with our guide
still feeling nauseous on the way down, but felt good enough to kid around with our guide
our last camp at high camp, which now didn't seem that high at 13,000 ft
our last camp at high camp, which now didn't seem that high at 13,000 ft
nice view of the summit from high camp
nice view of the summit from high camp
the whole crew. it literally took a village to get us to the top.
the whole crew. it literally took a village to get us to the top.
on the way out, we are heading through a rain forest again.
on the way out, we are heading through a rain forest again.
3 hours to the finish line, and 10km of nonstop mud!
3 hours to the finish line, and 10km of nonstop mud!
blue monkey
blue monkey
colubus monkey
colubus monkey
mweka gate! We're done!
mweka gate! We're done!
celebratory champagne!
celebratory champagne!
receiving our participation trophies!
receiving our participation trophies!
kilimanjaro video
kilimanjaro video