preparing
candy and i
Thursday, May 26, 2011
preparing!!!
"Youve got to walk incredibly slow, imagine an arthritic 90 year old walking backwards-thats probably too fast"
"Pole pole" - typical local saying=slowly slowly
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7919100.stm
"Pole pole" - typical local saying=slowly slowly
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7919100.stm
on route and day one!
This was a really hectic morning, beginning at 6:30, with us sorting out our clothes to be left at the hotel. We packed our remaining clothes into plastic bags to prevent them getting wet on the climb. Candy and i rented a safe deposit box to secure all our belongings-which was more than most backpackers!!! So passports and money were secure--- with slight hesitated we left it all. We bought 4 huge bottles of water at hugely inflated prices, and awaited the cooked breakfast that we had been promised! As usual, and like most brits it wasnt the full English as imagined, but the Tanzanian version, chippilata sausages, boiled eggs and toast !
So with water purifying tablets at the ready, a tanzanian breakfast on board and stacks of bottles water to weigh us down we were set for the 2 hour journey to the bottom of the mountain.
Friday, April 23, 2010
surroundings
The climb has been something in the pipeline for me for the last 3 years, it was always one of my many goal stones ...
Having arrived in Cape town in August 2007 meeting up with a university friend who had recently completed kilimanjaro, the furnace began to burn- the wheels and motivation spiralled from there. wow, what an achievement this would be, and now the time has eventually arrived- 24th-29th April 2010, i will be stopping off in Zanzibar on the journey home from Moshi -flying out from the captial -Dar es Salaam...hopefully after summiting on the 29th April. 3 days in Zanzibar should be adequate time to perhaps relax and get back to reality.
Having arrived in Cape town in August 2007 meeting up with a university friend who had recently completed kilimanjaro, the furnace began to burn- the wheels and motivation spiralled from there. wow, what an achievement this would be, and now the time has eventually arrived- 24th-29th April 2010, i will be stopping off in Zanzibar on the journey home from Moshi -flying out from the captial -Dar es Salaam...hopefully after summiting on the 29th April. 3 days in Zanzibar should be adequate time to perhaps relax and get back to reality.
Questions that people have been asking me
As i have been doing my researched here is some info i have discovered :
Will I See Wildlife?
Although the elephant, buffalo and rhino have long left the southern slopes of Kilimanjaro, (elephants and buffalo can be found on the northern slopes) wildlife abounds throughout the climb, especially in the tropical forest belt from 6,000 to 9,000 feet.
Black & white Colobus monkeys and Sykes monkeys rustle in the upper canopy, while tropical boubous call from tree tops. As you turn in on the first evening, you may hear jackals barking and tree hyraxes calling one another. You will likely spot signs of smaller antelopes such as the bushbuck and duiker, and perhaps will see their hoof prints on the trail. Around the river gorges in the lower forest grow sycamore figs, whose fruits draw Hatlaub's turacos and hornbills.
Into the heath and moorland, there are not many large animals, though on the Shira Plateau there have been infrequent sightings of eland, buffalo, klipspringer, and even lions. Smaller animals are more abundant, such as the four-striped grass mouse and other rodents. Civets, serval cats and leopard prey on these animals, and you may find their fur-filled droppings along the trail. The more common birds in this zone are the gregarious alpine chat and the sparrow-like streaky seed-eater, while augur and mountain buzzards soar overhead.
The highland desert is quite inhospitable to most species; only the hardiest venture into this zone. The white-naped raven is often seen scavenging around campsites in this zone.
The summit is characterized by arctic conditions. This, combined with high radiation and low oxygen, is completely inhospitable to wildlife. In 1926 a German missionary named Reusch found a leopard frozen in the snows of the summit.
What Is Your Success Rate for Summiting?
Our success rates are phenomenal in relation to the overall success rates for all climbers who attempt to reach the top. Our success rate (reaching Uhuru Peak) is over 90% overall, and over 95% on our 9-day Western Approach Route. The average on the entire mountain is less than 50%. Our Kilimanjaro program is designed for success and safety, which is purely a factor of dedication, experience, and a commitment to providing the best services.
How Many Miles Will I Trek Per Day?
Most Tanzanians measure distances by the amount of time it takes to get from point A to point B, but we estimate that the 9-day Western Approach Route covers about 55 to 60 miles (over 9 days), and 60 to 65 miles on the Umbwe Route (over 6 days).
The Western Approach route is a gradual ascent, which requires some rock-scrambling, but overall the Umbwe Route is more physically taxing and more difficult because it does not allow as much time for acclimatization and it requires an overnight summit bid.
The trekking times below will give you a good idea on the distribution of those miles, though they are skewed by the descent, where about a third of the total miles are covered in the last two days
What if I Can't Make it to the Top?
Some climbers may fall short of Uhuru Peak, but not at the expense of their overall experience. There are many wonders on Kilimanjaro, and the experience is rewarding even for those who never reach the top.
If one or more members of a group decide they cannot continue, or if a guide deems it unsafe for an individual (or a group) to continue, they are escorted (laterally or downward) to the most convenient campsite or hut.
Our guides intimately know the network of shortcuts to escort climbers to safety, and they are trained to act quickly and calmly under any circumstance.
Will I See Wildlife?
Although the elephant, buffalo and rhino have long left the southern slopes of Kilimanjaro, (elephants and buffalo can be found on the northern slopes) wildlife abounds throughout the climb, especially in the tropical forest belt from 6,000 to 9,000 feet.
Black & white Colobus monkeys and Sykes monkeys rustle in the upper canopy, while tropical boubous call from tree tops. As you turn in on the first evening, you may hear jackals barking and tree hyraxes calling one another. You will likely spot signs of smaller antelopes such as the bushbuck and duiker, and perhaps will see their hoof prints on the trail. Around the river gorges in the lower forest grow sycamore figs, whose fruits draw Hatlaub's turacos and hornbills.
Into the heath and moorland, there are not many large animals, though on the Shira Plateau there have been infrequent sightings of eland, buffalo, klipspringer, and even lions. Smaller animals are more abundant, such as the four-striped grass mouse and other rodents. Civets, serval cats and leopard prey on these animals, and you may find their fur-filled droppings along the trail. The more common birds in this zone are the gregarious alpine chat and the sparrow-like streaky seed-eater, while augur and mountain buzzards soar overhead.
The highland desert is quite inhospitable to most species; only the hardiest venture into this zone. The white-naped raven is often seen scavenging around campsites in this zone.
The summit is characterized by arctic conditions. This, combined with high radiation and low oxygen, is completely inhospitable to wildlife. In 1926 a German missionary named Reusch found a leopard frozen in the snows of the summit.
What Is Your Success Rate for Summiting?
Our success rates are phenomenal in relation to the overall success rates for all climbers who attempt to reach the top. Our success rate (reaching Uhuru Peak) is over 90% overall, and over 95% on our 9-day Western Approach Route. The average on the entire mountain is less than 50%. Our Kilimanjaro program is designed for success and safety, which is purely a factor of dedication, experience, and a commitment to providing the best services.
How Many Miles Will I Trek Per Day?
Most Tanzanians measure distances by the amount of time it takes to get from point A to point B, but we estimate that the 9-day Western Approach Route covers about 55 to 60 miles (over 9 days), and 60 to 65 miles on the Umbwe Route (over 6 days).
The Western Approach route is a gradual ascent, which requires some rock-scrambling, but overall the Umbwe Route is more physically taxing and more difficult because it does not allow as much time for acclimatization and it requires an overnight summit bid.
The trekking times below will give you a good idea on the distribution of those miles, though they are skewed by the descent, where about a third of the total miles are covered in the last two days
What if I Can't Make it to the Top?
Some climbers may fall short of Uhuru Peak, but not at the expense of their overall experience. There are many wonders on Kilimanjaro, and the experience is rewarding even for those who never reach the top.
If one or more members of a group decide they cannot continue, or if a guide deems it unsafe for an individual (or a group) to continue, they are escorted (laterally or downward) to the most convenient campsite or hut.
Our guides intimately know the network of shortcuts to escort climbers to safety, and they are trained to act quickly and calmly under any circumstance.
The mountains facts...
Rising 19,340 feet above sea level, Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa and the world’s highest free-standing mountain.- Kilimanjaro lies 205 miles South of the equator and stands on Tanzania’s northern border with Kenya.- The structure is composed of 3 volcanoes: Kibo (19,340 feet), Mawenzi (16,896 feet), and Shira (13,000 feet).- Kilimanjaro supports 5 major eco-zones: rainforest, heath, moorland, alpine desert and glaciers.- With the exception of the summit zone, wildlife is potentially encountered throughout the lower parts of the climb. You may see elephants, buffalo, and eland on the northern slopes; black & white colobus monkeys, Sykes monkeys, and tropical boubou in the forest belt; and birds such as sun birds, augur buzzard, mountain hawk eagle, lammergeier and white-naped ravens.- The name Kilimanjaro has no certain origin, but one of the most popular theories is that it came from KILMA NJARO meaning “shining mountain” in Swahili. The shiny snow on the peak led nearby residents to believe that evil spirits guarded the mountain. This myth could also explain why some referred to NJARO as a demon that caused cold.- Because they saw fellow tribe members attempt the climb only to disappear or to return deformed from frostbite, the Chagga people—who live at the base of the mountain—for centuries had no desire to climb the mountain they believed was full of evil spirits. - In 1889, German geographer Hans Meyer and Austrian mountain climber Ludwig Purtscheller were the first to climb Kilimanjaro.- Today, about 15,000 people attempt to climb Kilimanjaro each year, as a spiritual journey or as a personal challenge.
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