Route Climbed: Umbwe - Western Breach (Mweka descent) Date Climbed: 27 December, 2005
Completed with G-mack despite many trials and tribulations...
After G contracted illness night before proposed departure date, we spoke w/ Joel (our guide) the next morning, who said he didn't mind if we started a day late & just shortened the overall trip length to just 5 days (something I would NOT recommend to anyone- give yourself at least 6 days!! Kili's a BIG mountain, & if you're coming from the US, at least, you'll have jet lag, way different weather, & food to adjust to as well!!), we started the next day. Of course, I got the bug that Gordon had 2 days up the mountain! Fever, chills, congestion, coughing & sneezing @ 2,900 m (w/ 2 successive days afterwards of 1,000m gains- ouch!!)
Anyway, 1st camp at cave. Second camp @ Barranco Hut, 3rd @ Arrow Glacier Hut. Started @ 5.32 for summit. Fresh snow on Western Breach. Would have been an enjoyable route, but as I felt like utter dog shit the whole while, I could not enjoy it... Summited @ 11.20 (after it had started snowing (it either rained or snowed each day of our trip except for our final descent day)), left summit @ 11.35. Descended to Millennium Camp that day.
Route Climbed: Western Breach (Machame) Date Climbed: September 15th, 2005
So far one of the best experiences in my life. I started from the Machame gate and went up to the summit via Machame, Shira and Arrow Glacier Camps in 5 days. Just to test myself I carried my own gear (13kg) all the way to Arrow Glacier Camp and with the minimum acclimatization it was pretty exhausting.
I reached the summit just after sunrise with only a couple of people there at the time and the views are absolutely spectacular. I truly recommend the Machame route (instead of Marangu) as you can see the Shira plateau, Lava Tower and Arrow Glacier from Western Breach which are the highlights of the ascent.
Route Climbed: Machame Date Climbed: September 15, 2005
Went with Duma Explorers and highly recommend them - excellent value for the cost. This was the toughest thing I have ever done, mainly because I was sick the entire time (and not altitude sickness). We had cold frosty weather at the top with no view, but I didn't care - I made it to the top of Africa! :-) The descent was actually the toughest part for me - 15,000ft in a day and a half on rock (snow is much easier on the joints).
Route Climbed: Marangu Date Climbed: 17 September 2004
Sue and I summited just before 6 in the morning and 3 minutes before sunrise.... Very cold but what a beautiful view of the light hitting the Serengeti with Mount Meru keeping watch in the distance... A very rewarding climb!
First big one and a beauty. We spent 7 days on the mountain, had time to acclimatize properly on the Machame route. Climbed the Lava Tower, reach Uhuru Peak and skied down the scree slope, a lot of fun!
Had good luck with weather on top -- wasn't very cold, never had to fully zip my outer layer. Made it to the top with my friend Greg Fletchall and his son, Matt (age 12). Coming down was long and difficult. Many thanks to our guides Freddie and Charlie and the Marangu hotel, which arranged the climb.
Route Climbed: Umbwe/Western Breach Date Climbed: Sept 18 2005
I reccomend the Umbwe route, we had only one other group on the route for the first two days. The Western Breach is a nice challenge too. Good climb, good time.
Route Climbed: Lemosho/Western Breach Date Climbed: September 19, 2005
Climbed with Kiliwarriors!!! They were awesome ... big thanks to Justin, Gideon and the others for guiding us to the top. All in our team of 5 made it to the Summit. Just be prepared as the descent was very challenging for several in our group. Can't say enough good things about the Kiliwarriors.
Route Climbed: Lemosho/Western Breach Date Climbed: July 7, 2005
Great trip with Kiliwarriors and Faraja as our guide, Hosea our assistant, Kanini our camp manager. I was here in April 2004 with a different, well-known company, but this was fatastic! Great company, guides and porters. It isn't always about the summit, even though I made it twice, but about the experience on the mountain and the men that take you there. None better than Kiliwarriors.
Many people on the summit slogging in from Marangu at this time of year. Saw evacuated people. Scarey. Even though people of marginal fitness, like myself, can make it to the summit, you need to know it is a serious altitude and things can happen suddenly. Be prepared for that!
I climbed this route when I was 18 with two friends. We chose the Machame Route because we wanted a challenge (we couldn't see ourselves sleeping in cabins). EWP helped us organize our trip (http://www.ewpnet.com/Machame.htm), and we arrived in Kilimanjaro International Airport in late may of 2000.
We ended up having a guide, and assistant guide, a cook, and 5 porters to help us with our hike (for details see the shortcut listed above):
EWP was fantastic, and our trip was a dream! I recommend it to anyone in good shape. Avoid the Marangu route (too touristy in my opinion), and go with one of the more remote routes if you can.
This mountain has so much to offer for almost any level climber. I was so glad I took the Machame Route rather than the Marangu. Even though somewhat more demanding the Machame has so much more to offer from unforgetable views and less crowds. Also remember the true summit of Kilmanjaro is Uhuru and not Gilmans Point. By taking the Marangu Route many climbers reach Gilmans Point and decide not to continue around and up to Uhuru.
By taking the Machame Route you completely bypass the Gilmans Point and forces you (if you want to summit) to go all the way to Uhuru.
Believe me, take the extra time and energy and you will always be happy with your decision.
Diggler - Dec 29, 2005 3:02 am
Route Climbed: Umbwe - Western Breach (Mweka descent) Date Climbed: 27 December, 2005Completed with G-mack despite many trials and tribulations...
After G contracted illness night before proposed departure date, we spoke w/ Joel (our guide) the next morning, who said he didn't mind if we started a day late & just shortened the overall trip length to just 5 days (something I would NOT recommend to anyone- give yourself at least 6 days!! Kili's a BIG mountain, & if you're coming from the US, at least, you'll have jet lag, way different weather, & food to adjust to as well!!), we started the next day. Of course, I got the bug that Gordon had 2 days up the mountain! Fever, chills, congestion, coughing & sneezing @ 2,900 m (w/ 2 successive days afterwards of 1,000m gains- ouch!!)
Anyway, 1st camp at cave. Second camp @ Barranco Hut, 3rd @ Arrow Glacier Hut. Started @ 5.32 for summit. Fresh snow on Western Breach. Would have been an enjoyable route, but as I felt like utter dog shit the whole while, I could not enjoy it... Summited @ 11.20 (after it had started snowing (it either rained or snowed each day of our trip except for our final descent day)), left summit @ 11.35. Descended to Millennium Camp that day.
Millenium Camp to base next day. Great adventure!
Juho - Dec 17, 2005 1:07 pm
Route Climbed: Western Breach (Machame) Date Climbed: September 15th, 2005So far one of the best experiences in my life. I started from the Machame gate and went up to the summit via Machame, Shira and Arrow Glacier Camps in 5 days. Just to test myself I carried my own gear (13kg) all the way to Arrow Glacier Camp and with the minimum acclimatization it was pretty exhausting.
I reached the summit just after sunrise with only a couple of people there at the time and the views are absolutely spectacular. I truly recommend the Machame route (instead of Marangu) as you can see the Shira plateau, Lava Tower and Arrow Glacier from Western Breach which are the highlights of the ascent.
luckykat - Dec 8, 2005 6:00 pm
Route Climbed: Rongai Date Climbed: 04 November 2005Yes! I made it to the top. The whole team has written up their stories on our website.
http://www.mcdougalladventures.com/adventures/kilimanjaro-climb
Enjoy! Hope it helps those of you who come after!
timfoltz - Dec 8, 2005 12:40 pm
Route Climbed: Marangu Date Climbed: Summer of 2001Great Climb, mostly a long hike up and down
vbc285 - Dec 3, 2005 4:30 pm
Route Climbed: Marungu Route Date Climbed: June, 2001Three days up and two down. Awsome climb and experience. One down and 6 to go!!!
Jaybird-99 - Nov 22, 2005 2:08 pm
Route Climbed: Western Breach (via Lemosho) Date Climbed: February 24th, 2005Have a look at my trip report journal.
It is best read as the pdf file as it has quite a few pictures and graphics.
emilie - Nov 11, 2005 6:50 pm
Route Climbed: Machame Date Climbed: September 15, 2005Went with Duma Explorers and highly recommend them - excellent value for the cost. This was the toughest thing I have ever done, mainly because I was sick the entire time (and not altitude sickness). We had cold frosty weather at the top with no view, but I didn't care - I made it to the top of Africa! :-) The descent was actually the toughest part for me - 15,000ft in a day and a half on rock (snow is much easier on the joints).
rossjmac - Oct 28, 2005 2:45 am
Route Climbed: Marangu Date Climbed: 17 September 2004Sue and I summited just before 6 in the morning and 3 minutes before sunrise.... Very cold but what a beautiful view of the light hitting the Serengeti with Mount Meru keeping watch in the distance... A very rewarding climb!
MikeW - Oct 25, 2005 4:41 pm
Route Climbed: Machame Date Climbed: July 2003First big one and a beauty. We spent 7 days on the mountain, had time to acclimatize properly on the Machame route. Climbed the Lava Tower, reach Uhuru Peak and skied down the scree slope, a lot of fun!
kac - Oct 2, 2005 5:40 pm
Route Climbed: Lemosho Date Climbed: July 1, 2005Had good luck with weather on top -- wasn't very cold, never had to fully zip my outer layer. Made it to the top with my friend Greg Fletchall and his son, Matt (age 12). Coming down was long and difficult. Many thanks to our guides Freddie and Charlie and the Marangu hotel, which arranged the climb.
Ken Cameron
krissydog - Sep 27, 2005 2:00 pm
Route Climbed: Umbwe/Western Breach Date Climbed: Sept 18 2005I reccomend the Umbwe route, we had only one other group on the route for the first two days. The Western Breach is a nice challenge too. Good climb, good time.
mymirage77 - Sep 24, 2005 4:56 pm
Route Climbed: Lemosho/Western Breach Date Climbed: September 19, 2005Climbed with Kiliwarriors!!! They were awesome ... big thanks to Justin, Gideon and the others for guiding us to the top. All in our team of 5 made it to the Summit. Just be prepared as the descent was very challenging for several in our group. Can't say enough good things about the Kiliwarriors.
TodoVertical - Sep 22, 2005 2:50 pm
Route Climbed: Marangu (Guiding) Date Climbed: Sept. 13th 2005Typical september days. All seven of us reached Uhuru Peak !!
mnsurvivor - Sep 9, 2005 11:35 am
Route Climbed: Lemosho/Western Breach Date Climbed: July 7, 2005Great trip with Kiliwarriors and Faraja as our guide, Hosea our assistant, Kanini our camp manager. I was here in April 2004 with a different, well-known company, but this was fatastic! Great company, guides and porters. It isn't always about the summit, even though I made it twice, but about the experience on the mountain and the men that take you there. None better than Kiliwarriors.
Many people on the summit slogging in from Marangu at this time of year. Saw evacuated people. Scarey. Even though people of marginal fitness, like myself, can make it to the summit, you need to know it is a serious altitude and things can happen suddenly. Be prepared for that!
gert - Aug 21, 2005 6:55 pm
Route Climbed: Machame Route Date Climbed: Dec2001Wonderfull hike - will do it once again .............
Smithman123 - Aug 20, 2005 8:20 pm
Route Climbed: Machame Date Climbed: May 2001I climbed this route when I was 18 with two friends. We chose the Machame Route because we wanted a challenge (we couldn't see ourselves sleeping in cabins). EWP helped us organize our trip (http://www.ewpnet.com/Machame.htm), and we arrived in Kilimanjaro International Airport in late may of 2000.
We ended up having a guide, and assistant guide, a cook, and 5 porters to help us with our hike (for details see the shortcut listed above):
EWP was fantastic, and our trip was a dream! I recommend it to anyone in good shape. Avoid the Marangu route (too touristy in my opinion), and go with one of the more remote routes if you can.
Ron Leliveld - Aug 18, 2005 1:57 pm
Route Climbed: Lemosho Date Climbed: 3 january 2005It was very cold at the summit -20 celcius but a very good weather en view.
Before this mountain we have done mount kenia as acclimatisation so this one was not so difficult
bruno baschung - Aug 18, 2005 8:14 am
Route Climbed: machame road Date Climbed: mid september 1991Summit reached mid september 1991 with my friend Christophe Woronkowicz.
I strongly recommend the machame route, much less overcrowded and much more interesting than thje normal route.
Bruno BASCHUNG
Alan Fiolkoski - Aug 15, 2005 3:30 pm
Route Climbed: Machame Date Climbed: July 1999This mountain has so much to offer for almost any level climber. I was so glad I took the Machame Route rather than the Marangu. Even though somewhat more demanding the Machame has so much more to offer from unforgetable views and less crowds. Also remember the true summit of Kilmanjaro is Uhuru and not Gilmans Point. By taking the Marangu Route many climbers reach Gilmans Point and decide not to continue around and up to Uhuru.
By taking the Machame Route you completely bypass the Gilmans Point and forces you (if you want to summit) to go all the way to Uhuru.
Believe me, take the extra time and energy and you will always be happy with your decision.
Peter Creedon - Aug 5, 2005 9:04 pm
Date Climbed: 7/10/03Went with my cousin Randy. Beautiful trip. Hot at the base, but as you go up, it gets even better.