Expedition Dispatch: Days 5 and 6
The following journal entries are apart of a series which will offer day-to-day accounts of the RMCC Expedition Club’s recent 2011/12 Kilimanjaro Expedition to East Africa. Click here to read the full expedition article.
Day Five 02 January 2012
25037 OCdt (III) Nicolas Métayer
0700, le groupe ce lève complètement racker de la première journée. Nous prenons un petit déjeuner et ramassons le camp Baranko pour ensuite partir pour une autre grosse journée de marche. Très vite, le climat changea avec l’altitude ce qui nous permettait d’avoir des vu très impressionnantes avec la taille des arbres réduites.
Les guides nous ont informé que nous devrions marcher pendant 6 heures. Après 2h de marche, nous pouvions enfin apercevoir le sommet, il semblait tellement loin encore ! C’étais une journée beaucoup plus facile que la veille étant donné que nous savions ce qui nous attendait et avec un petit 10 livres de moins de nourriture. Plusieurs passages nécessitaient une chaîne humaine pour monter les sacs. Ces parois étaient très abruptes, mais l’Élof Robb, Kisielus et Métayer ont décidé d’y aller pour de l’escalade improvisée avec les sacs. Selon moi, c’étais mon point marquant du jour.
Durant le diner, nous avons brièvement parler à un randonneur qui devait descendre d’urgence à cause de problème pulmonaire. Cette rencontre nous a une fois de plus rappelé ce que le propriétaire de l’hôtel nous avait dit : «respecter la montagne». Personne n’était a l’abri des symptômes que pouvaient causer l’altitude. La journée continua et finalement après 9 heures de marche, nous sommes arrivés au camp ou toutes les routes ce rejoignaient. Nous avions enfin fini avec la route Umbwe !
Day Six 03 January 2012
25820 OCdt (III) Jennifer Allan
On Day 3 the RMC Expedition Crew awoke to a blazing sunrise at Camp Baranco. The towering cliff faces magnified the warmth of the morning rays, making breakfast a pleasant affair. But as the group packed away the tents and equipment, their eyes were often drawn to the impressive rock wall that dominated the camp. The cliff face provided striking contrast to the long colourful train of trekkers and porters that were winding their way up the near-vertical slopes.
Firmly gripping their hiking poles and cinching the straps on their rucks, the crew stepped off. As they drew closer to the base of cliff it cast a shadow over the group, however spirits remained high. The terrain that followed was some of the most challenging encountered by the group thus far. Initially the chief guide, Charles, demanded that packs be removed and passed up by skilled porters, however the group insisted on proving their strength. Noting their success, the guide acquiesced. Scaling rocks and inching their way along convenient crevasses, the group slowly made its way to the top and enjoyed a dizzying view of the valley and tiny climbers below. The cliff marked 300m of elevation and an impressive start to day 3.
Almost immediately the trail dipped into the depths of another valley. The terrain was riddled with glacial rivers trickling through the gravel. As the group climbed up and over the far side of the valley they were greeted by the eerie sight of Uhuru Peak shrouded in clouds. The terrain changed to that of a high-altitude tundra; the vegetation was sparse and low clouds drifted across the landscape. The terrain dictated a change in the attitude in which the climbers approached the hike; the guide was able to provide landmarks and destinations to show progress, as opposed to abstract timings. This differed from the never-changing vegetation seen in the rainforest.
In the final approach to Camp Karanda the crew had to navigate a series of vast slippery slopes, cross a small river and ascend a final slope underneath an immense overhanging rock. As the Kili Crew finally hefted their packs into camp, they were greeted by looks of admiration from porters and fellow hikers. These simple acknowledgements served to boost group morale and a tangible feeling of accomplishment pervaded the camp that evening.
Camp amenities included spectacular views of Kilimanjaro snowy peak and as the group readied for bed, there was much excitement at the thought of the coming summit bid.
To read previous dispatches click here.