Kilimanjaro Climber's Log

Viewing: 1-20 of 308
katelyngeselle

katelyngeselle - Oct 1, 2024 5:18 am Date Climbed: Sep 22, 2024

Hardest thing I've ever done in my life  Sucess!

I made it. I don't know how, but I did! Mind over matter, pole pole, one step at a time. 7 days, 6 nights via Lemosho Route. I would do longer if you can. I've never had a problem with altitude, I'm an avid and experienced hiker and mountaineer, I trained for this. I took altitude sickness pills. But I got altitude sickness day 2, and was miserable the entire rest of the trip. Do NOT underestimate this mountain!!

wyatt_meyers

wyatt_meyers - Oct 1, 2024 4:49 am Date Climbed: Sep 22, 2024

Long week but made it  Sucess!

Did the 7 day Lemosho route and after the 20km day two hike my hiking partner and I had pretty serious elevation sickness the rest of the hike. We ate maybe 2 meals the last 5 days and felt like hiking with food poisoning. The days were slow and filled with restroom breaks. I think after sickness we should have slowed accent but they assured us we'd be alright. Was a beautiful route and hike but difficult to fully enjoy once we were so seriously sick. I'd recommend the 8 day route to try to avoid getting as sick. We made it to the summit, though it took about 12 hours up with how sick we were, with the vomiting and restroom breaks. Maybe we actually did get some food poisoning as the symptoms seem similar and have lasted quite awhile after being at altitude. Luckily no one else seemed to get as sick as we got. Lessons were learned on this climb.

Wisemtn - Jul 30, 2024 4:58 am Date Climbed: Jul 26, 2024

Machame Route 6 Days  Sucess!

Awesome!

David Mortensen

David Mortensen - Jul 1, 2024 3:50 pm Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2024

Kilimanjaro  Sucess!

Marangu Route - 6 days

My wife and I really enjoyed the experience of climbing Kilimanjaro. Summit day was tough. The rest of the days were not too bad. It is a beautiful mountain. The roof of Africa!

hautfolin88

hautfolin88 - Mar 6, 2024 1:18 pm Date Climbed: Jan 11, 2024

Voie Marangu en 6 jours (A/R)  Sucess!

Souvenirs inoubliables, très fort émotionnellement au sommet

Kevin An

Kevin An - Jul 26, 2023 11:22 am Date Climbed: Jun 21, 2023

Climbed via Machame  Sucess!

We did the 7 day climb of the Machame route. A very enjoyable experience! Summit day was a bit of a challenge but amazing views from the summit.

Scott

Scott - Aug 24, 2022 6:48 pm Date Climbed: May 27, 2022

Kilimanjaro  Sucess!

May 22

Today was our first day on the Rongai Route on Kilimanjaro. Because it was the wet season, the Rongai route was chosen as it was on the dry side of the mountain. We went with Gladys Adventures (a guide service is required to be allowed to climb the mountain).

It was a long drive over to the Rongai trailhead. Half way along the drive, we discovered that we forgot our sunscreen back in the hotel! Blacks seldom use sunscreen so we had to check several places in the small Chagga towns before we found some. Kim got a 40 cent (literally the price) haircut at one of the towns as well.

At the trailhead there were a lot of colobus monkeys. We ate lunch and then started up the trail. It took us just over two hours to get to Simba Camp, which apparently a faster than usual time. Along the way we saw lots of flowers of various colors and many birds.

At dinner time there were a lot of blue monkeys and birds around.

May 23

It was a noisy night last night! There were many blue monkeys, birds, colobus monkeys, and a jackal making a lot of noise! It was cool though.

Just after 7:30 AM we were on our way up the mountain. There were a lot of flowers along the way and the views of Kilimanjaro were very nice. We reached the camp at Second Cave before 11 AM. The ravens were after our food. Around camp we checked out the cave and we could poke our heads out of a hole.

In the afternoon we took an acclimatization hike towards the Third Cave since this would be off our planned route for tomorrow. We hiked up to Bread Rock before heading back down.

May 24

Today was our third day on the mountain. We took the alternate route to Kilimanjaro which passes by Kikelelwa Camp. We left at just over 7:30 AM and reached the camp at 10 AM. Along the way were great views of Mawenzi and we saw many flowers. From camp we joined in the porter singing and dancing. We were about half way up the mountain.

In the afternoon we took an acclimatization hike. We saw two chameleons and a black lizard. The vegetation has changed to mostly grasses, but with some groundsels.

At camp we saw some mice that were large and looked like chipmunks, as well as several birds. Of course the ravens were around too.

May 25

After packing up, we headed for Mawenzi Tarn. The trail was steeper than on previous days, but there were lots of nice views. We reached Mawenzi Tarn late morning and after a rest, we went on an acclimatization hike up to the ridge.

Mawenzi Tarn was a really spectacular place in a nice setting.

May 26

Today we hiked from Mawenzi Tarn to Kibo Hut. It was cloudy much of the day and snow, hail, and rain fell. We did get a few views of Mawenzi though. We were worried a bit about the weather since tonight/tomorrow was our big summit day. We tried to sleep, but it was hard with the altitude, plus it was raining and snowing with a lot of wind. There were a lot of other people around too. They hiked up the Marangu Route and it was the first time we saw other hikers in several days.

May 27

We got up at 11 PM (previous day) and left at midnight for the summit. Luckily the skies had cleared and we had a lot of stars. It was a strenuous and cold, but non technical climb. Kim's hands got a little cold and my toes got a little cold, but other than that we wer pretty warm. The guides sang songs along the way to the summit. We made it to Gilmans Point just as traces of light could be seen on the horizon.

We made our way along the crater rim and inside the crater to Stella Point and saw the sunrise between Stella Point and Urhuru Point. We reached the summit at 6:55 AM. It was nice and clear at the summit and the sunrise was spectacular. We were well above the clouds. This was the forth highest I had ever been and Kim's highest.

After enjoying the summit, we descended to Kibo Camp. After getting to GiIlmans Point, the rest of the route went faster. We took a rest at Kibo Camp before heading down across The Saddle to Horombo Camp. The cook made us a cake for summitting and we shared it with the guides and porters. It was a long and tiring, but rewarding day. It rained pretty hard much of the afternoon and evening and some water got inside the tent.

May 28

Today we descended from Homboro Camp all the way to Marangu Gate. We woke up at 5:30 AM and headed down the mountain after breakfast. The vegetation was neat through the moorland and the rainforest was thick below this. We saw a tree hyrax and lots of blue monkeys. We also saw a few nice waterfalls.


We reached the gate at 1:00 PM and got some group photos. During lunch some local school girls wanted their photo taken with us.

It was a nice climb. I have climbed a lot of mountains harder than Kilimanjaro, but Kim hasn't climbed as many and said she was glad she did it, but that she wouldn't do it again.

Andinistaloco

Andinistaloco - Jul 15, 2022 8:34 am

Long slog but great views  Sucess!

Up the Rongai - nice, less traffic - and down the Marangu (more crowded). Guides are required of course, and they treat you like an English lord (or lady) on holiday... but that's the only way to do the mountain. Killer views and Mawenzi is beautiful too.

montanajames

montanajames - Apr 6, 2022 10:33 am Date Climbed: Jan 4, 2022

Sunrise Summit  Sucess!

On top at sunrise with my brother!

Sushil Dawka - Apr 6, 2022 7:37 am Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2012

Rongai Route: Rimli and Sushil  Sucess!

To the summit of Africa...

ASliceOfLife

ASliceOfLife - Oct 29, 2021 9:00 am Date Climbed: Aug 23, 2021

Lomosho Route in summer of 2021  Sucess!

A phenomenal first climb above 4300 meters. What a trip. My full trip writeup via about 30 journal entries can be seen on Instagram on the account @jasonsummits

Larry Laverty

Larry Laverty - Aug 27, 2021 1:11 pm Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2021

Northern Circuit Route  Sucess!

Following months of my life out surveying and photographing elephants in surrounding countries, this year I finally committed to visiting the summit of this iconic mountain, including a good look at a few of the surviving glaciers.

Neufy

Neufy - May 1, 2021 8:29 am Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2003

A dream - this is only the start  Sucess!

Perfect weather, great company, and our guide, James Lyimo was energy unmatched. Though more of a trek than a climb, this trip was a big goal for me and a catalyst into mountaineering.

Tracy

Tracy - Aug 27, 2020 11:27 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2020

with Frankie & Godfrey from Zara Tours & Adventures  Sucess!

summitted before Sunrise and then met some fun climbers still coming up on our way down. We would later cross paths with them at dinner at the hotel and again on safari.

I am proof that someone with Parkinson's Disease (8 years now) approaching age 60 (next year) can still do this if paired up with the right guides. Thank you Cathy at Zara Tours & Adventures! and "asante san a" to Frankie and Godfrey

berlindx

berlindx - Jul 23, 2020 10:54 am Date Climbed: Jan 29, 2020

Successful summit but lot of rain  Sucess!

8 Days on the Lemosho Route. We got tons of rain, but thankfully not on Summit day. Lots of clouds so limited views but it was still an amazing trip. Full trip report here: https://flagtails.com/2020/06/25/lemosho-route/

jboldt1971

jboldt1971 - Jun 24, 2020 12:29 pm Date Climbed: Jun 10, 2018

Machame route  Sucess!

What a day!

Wandering Yooper

Wandering Yooper - Jan 16, 2020 10:58 am Date Climbed: Feb 1, 2012

Western Breach, self-supported  Sucess!

Hired a guide to make it legal (no porters), but didn't let him do anything but point out the way. Carried all of my own food, gear, medical etc. on climb. Took long Lemosho route and took extended trail via Moir Hut, Lava Tower and Arrow Glacier camps in route to climbing the Western Breach, spending the night on top at Crater Camp. Awesome way to climb the mountain. Actually made it feel like real mountaineering, unlike the standard experience on the mountain.

Rapparee

Rapparee - Dec 29, 2019 12:46 pm

Machame

Great trip and I was lucky not to be hit by the altitude too badly. Summit day is a long one but worth it once you reach the roof of Africa. We climbed with Kilimanjaro Brothers, a local company.

Smokieshiker

Smokieshiker - Aug 6, 2019 1:49 pm Date Climbed: Jul 14, 2019

Kili via Lemosho  Sucess!

Go with Baraka Trails for the best possible experience on this mountain. I have used many services across the globe and they are the very best and super affordable. I have posted a complete trip report here. http://southernhighlanders.com/new/2019/07/29/mt-kilimanjaro/

english1969

english1969 - Jun 4, 2019 3:41 pm Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2018

Needed Crampons!  Sucess!

Made it to the top in the one of the deepest snows on Kilimanjaro in the last ten years. Needed crampons to get up the last bit to stella point and then down again. Did the lemosho route with Zara Tours.

Viewing: 1-20 of 308
Return to 'Kilimanjaro' main page