Kilimanjaro Day 7

This morning we descended from Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate (1641m) where we signed the summit register. We trekked through some beautiful, lush forest again. Giant ferns, wild impatiens and voluble birdsong all greeted us through this zone. Awaiting us in Moshi was a lunch of cheeseburgers, fries and Kilimanjaro beer. Ahh... a perfect end to an amazing experience.  Distance from Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate: 8.5km.

Kilimanjaro Day 6

At midnight we quit camp for the assault on the summit via Gilmanʼs Point (5708m). This night was very difficult - particularly the final 550m - and everyone needed to fight for the summit. Team Kilimanjaro instructions read: "You will inevitably feel like giving up and going to sleep. This is normal and can be overcome with perseverance. When resting please ensure you only stand or sit and do not lie down or close your eyes. Please trust your guide; he is very adept at judging whether your condition will allow safe progress or whether you have succumbed to a potentially dangerous condition and to proceed will not be safe.

Nausea and headaches are normal and around a quarter of climbers will vomit at or near Gilmanʼs Point. While very uncomfortable, these are not symptoms that are indicative of being at risk, per se."

We ascended from School Hut (4722m) via Hans Meyer Cave (5243m) and Gilmanʼs Point (5708m), to Uhuru Peak (5895m).The views here were spectacular and the ice fields/glaciers were unbelievably beautiful. 

From the summit, we departed from Stella Point and descended to Barafu camp, and then on to Mweka Camp (3090m) for overnight. It was a very long and challenging day but we all made it! 

Distances on summit day
School Hut to Summit via Gillmanʼs Point: 5.4km Summit to Barafu: 4.5km
Barafu to Mweka Camp: 6.3km
Total = 16.2km

Kilimanjaro Day 5

On day 5, we started the trek upwards from 3rd Caves Camp (3971m) to School Hut (4722m). This was a shorter distance than the previous 2 days, but involved 751m of height gain. Distance = 4.9km. Cora was very weak but, thanks to concentrated ORS and sugar tablets, was able to make it to base camp. We rested a bit in the afternoon and again in the evening, knowing we would wake up at 11 p.m. to get ready to start our ascent at midnight. 

Kilimanjaro Day 4

We started the trek clockwise around the northern slopes of Kilimanjaro from Moir Hut (4166m) to Pofu campsite (4040m). Distance = 9.3km. It was really chilly this morning and, as we climbed high up on a ridge over the campsite, we got some fabulous views of Mount Meru surrounded by an ocean of cloud. It was so beautiful. We ate lunch at Pofu Campsite and, by this point, Cora wasn't feeling very well. Shortly afterwards, as we began trekking from Pofu to 3rd Caves Camp (3971m), she became really ill and spent the afternoon battling a severe case of altitude sickness while continuing to hike. Distance = 6.7km. We were really glad to arrive at the 3rd Caves Camp, although Cora was sick right until 2 a.m. At the same time, two others from our group also became ill and spent the night unzipping and zipping tents. Upon waking, it was clear we were camping above the clouds; it was a surreal and gorgeous setting.

Kilimanjaro Day 3

We trekked from Shira 1 Camp (3508m) to Moir Hut (4166m) across the Shira Plateau before rising along the flank of a re-entrant. Height gain was 658m. Distance = 9.4km.
We also did a sunset acclimatisation hike to a 4305m ridgeline before dinner. It felt like we were definitely getting closer to the peak today and the campsite was absolutely beautiful. At this point everyone still felt good and no one felt ill. Spirits were high.