Chalk Cliffs
The Downs Way
Next stop is hiking in the South Downs this weekend. I’ve got to get used to this whole walking thing, and it seemed like an easy place to start. This is scenic and apparently quite flat, not far from London, it should be a nice escape from the city.
I haven’t found the perfect hiking boot yet but am getting there.
We have to carry all our stuff - which sounds tiring if you ask me but it should be fun - unless its pouring with rain of course!
10 days/ 9 nights
Introduction
The highest freestanding mountain in the world, Kilimanjaro is also the highest mountain on the African continent at 5896m. Its snow-capped summit rises high above the dusty African plains; huge permanent glaciers flow down from the summit, spectacular views and beautiful ice formations are the reward for pushing your limits both physically and mentally. Our trek takes the less-trodden Machame route, allowing us to camp and fully appreciate the splendour of our surroundings and the clear night skies. The terrain changes as you ascend the mountain, passing through thick forest, moorland and scree en route to the highest point of the crater, Uhuru Peak. This is a challenging trek at altitude, climbing one of the most impressive and well-known mountains in the world.
Itinerary
Leave London Heathrow for Kilimanjaro International airport.
Arrive Kilimanjaro International and transfer to Moshi town, where you can admire the views of Kibo, the youngest of Kilimanjaro’s cones. Time to sort out our kit for tomorrow.
Night in hotel.
A one-hour drive from Moshi lies the gate to the Machame route, where we complete park formalities, meet our crew of porters and start to climb! The first section of the route climbs steadily and involves real jungle bashing through magnificent forest. This path is less well trodden so it can get somewhat overgrown in places and it is often wet and muddy underfoot. We camp at Machame camp, 3100m
Walk 5-7 hours, approx 18km.
The route continues on up through the forest until we are at the steep ascent on to the Shira Plateau, where there are rewarding views of the mountain. Looking back, you will be able to see Mt Meru rising high above Arusha town. We camp at Shira caves, 3840m.
Walk 4-6 hours, approx 9 km.
Walking now on high moorland, the landscape changes the entire character of the trek. We traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the Western Breach and finally reach camp at the Barranco Hut (3900m), a tin shack where we pitch our tents. The day has been spent at altitude (up to 4600m), but we have followed the mountaineering code of ‘walk high, sleep low’ to avoid altitude sickness by aiding our bodies acclimatisation.
Walk 6-7 hours, approx 15km.
We start the day by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply, up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It’s a climb over rock, not technical but long and tiring. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we head towards the Karanga valley, which is our last water stop before the summit. Scree now forms the terrain as we walk through arid and desolate land towards Barafu camp (4600m).
Walk 7-9 hours, approx 18km.
We avoid walking too long in the heat of the sun today by starting early, and walk steeply upwards to the Summit glaciers. You will be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours but you gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5750m) as the first rays of the sun hit us. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround us and the views to Mawenzi and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour’s walking takes us to the summit Uhuru (5896m), the highest point; Uhuru means freedom in Swahili. We begin the descent by returning to Stella Point (5750m) and then descending on scree slope and track back to Barafu Camp for breakfast and a rest before finally heading down to Millenium Camp (3,000 metres) for a well earned rest. On our descent we have fabulous views of the plains and Mawenzi, Kilimanjaro’s secondary but more technical peak.
Walk 10 - 12 hours, approx 20km, 7km climb.
A gentle trek takes us down through the rainforest to the Mweka Gate, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates of ascent which you can hang up with pride! We are then met by the vehicles and we drive back to the hotel in Moshi where you can treat yourself to a welcome shower (and a cold beer or two!). Celebration meal.
Walk 5 hours, approx 10km.
Free day, allowing you to explore Moshi, where there are some good markets, and relax with your fellow achievers. We return to the hotel mid afternoon in time to transfer to the airport for our international flight home. Lunch and dinner not provided.
Arrive UK
My training…
I’ve signed up with an online trainer, Nathan. He’s great. Tough, but great. As my online trainer, Nathan skype chats with me and sets me up with a programme on the internet (which has pics, videos and explanations of each exercise) and I log my results each day.
I currently am in “Body Conditioning” phase, whatever that means! All I know is that I go to the gym, lift weights and am sore all over afterwards. Then other days I go running or swimming until I am completely out of breath and about to faint. You would think that on the flat plains of London taking a short jog would be simple but it seems I’m not quite as fit as I thought. I am up to 40mins jogging on this flat terrain (nothing like what Kili will be like) and about 40 lengths of the pool. I do about 5 days of exercise of some sort, working a lot on my core muscles to reduce the risk of back pain - constant problem I’ve had for a few years now.
I feel somewhat stronger but still know I’m not even close to where I need to be. I was reading some American man’s blog the other day and he is doing a 2 year training regime to be able to climb Kilimanjaro - that kinda freaked me out, but surely I’m much younger and have better willpower than him??
My diet…
The only other most despairing thing is that I now have to write a Diet Log for my trainer…so consummation of copious amounts of chocolate and cakes now has to be recorded in writing and shown to him!!! SO not fair. I’m pretty much off the chocolate and some of the carbs and am trying to eat better for my training. Apparently “fitness is all about diet”. I’m not sure what to believe but I’ll go with it and see if it works. Admittedly, I am no expert on these matters.
Today…
I almost collapsed after todays run, had to stop off at a friends place for a glass of water and to sit down and recover. Body hurts, head hurts, no time for anything but Kili - but this is good for me right?
Thanks for listening to my rantings, more postings to come. Feel free to send tips!!! I need all the help I can get.
Kath
