OUR ITINERARY

By Nathalie Roussin

DAYS 1 and 2 - MOSHI

3251 ft / 990 m

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport we transfer to our hotel. We spend two nights in Moshi to recover from our journey and meet the team who will be accompanying us on the mountain. After breakfast, a tour of Moshi is planned, including the markets, and we'll be able to absorb some local color.


DAY 3 - MOSHI to LONDOROSSI PARK

2360 m   -   1-2 hours trek

As soon as we arrive at the Kilimanjaro National Park, we register at the Londorossi entrance on the west side of the mountain. The day's walk is relatively short as we have a 4 hour drive to the start of the track. We spend the night at a camp in the depths of the tropical forest.


DAY 4 - LONDOROSSI PARK to CAMP MKUBWA

2900 m    -    2.1 miles/ 3.4 km    -    3-4 hours trek

Today we trek along a little-used path through the forest. In places, the vegetation is so dense that it covers the track. It is richer in flora and fauna than the other more popular routes. We camp at Camp Mkubwa (Big Tree).


DAY 5 - CAMP MKUBWA to CAMP SHIRA-I - PLATEAU

3500 m   -    5.6 miles/ 9 km   -    7-8 hours trek

This is the last day in the jungle. The climate and temperature change near the end of the route. We reach the Shira Plateau and find a drastic change in the vegetation. The sky should be fairly clear all day,  giving us a view of Kenya and several neighbouring summits.



DAY 6 - CAMP SHIRA-I to CAMP SHIRA-II

3840 m    -    2.5 miles/ 4 km   -    3-4 hours trek

After breakfast, we leave the forest glades and cross the Shira Caldera, a bare, high altitude plateau, a complete contrast to the tropical forest. Shira is the third largest volcanic crater on Kilimanjaro, filled with lava from the Kibo peak. The elements and volcanic action have destroyed the rim of the crater. Today we have our first close-up view of Kibo.



DAY 7 - CAMP SHIRA-II to CAMP BARRANCO VIA LAVA TOWER

3950 m   -    7.8 miles/ 12.5 km   -    8 hours trek

Today is one of the most difficult as a good part of it is uphill. We enter the Lava Tower area which is spectacular. We reach the highest point of the day at 4630 m, before coming down again through the Giant Senecio forest to Camp Barranco for the night. It's an important day for acclimatising ourselves to the conditions. Here is where the Machame and Lemosho routes converge.



DAY 8 - CAMP BARRANCO to CAMP KARANGA

4023 m   -    3.1 miles/5 km   -   5 hours trek

Our biggest challenge is climbing the Barranco wall, a 500 ft stream of lava. Once at the top, the trek gets easier with a fantastic view over the rocks and crevasses of the broken Kibo peaks on the left. Eventually we descend the Karanga valley on the other side where we camp for the night. The sunset is spectacular as are the views of Mounts Meru and Kilimanjaro.



DAY 9 - CAMP KARANGA to BARAFU

4633 m   -   3.1 miles/5 km   -   4 hours trek

"Barafu" means ice in Wahili. The slopes are very rocky and abrupt at Camp Barafu and the wind reminds us that we're at a high altitude. There's excitement in the air as the climbers near the great day. The clouds shift constantly, umveiling the eroded Mawenzi crater, colored by the African sun. No doubt about it, this is the most beautiful camp.



DAY 10 - CAMP BARAFU to UHURU PEAK and back to CAMP BARAFU

THE SUMMIT: 19340 ft/5895 m   -   3.8 miles/6 km   -   6-8 hours trek

The day starts before sunrise. We pack everything we need for the day and push on towards the summit. During the climb, we have an unbeatable view of Mawenzi, Kibo and the plains. Progress is slow but steady. Once we get to Stella Point at 5685 m, we can almost taste victory. There's only about 1 hour to go before touching the famous sign at the SUMMIT. Afterwards, we descend slowly for 3½ hours along rocky outcrops and across scree until we reach our camp where welcome mugs of hot tea await us.



DAY 11 - CAMP BARAFU to CAMP MWEKA

3170 m   -   3.75 miles/6 km   -   4 hours trek

Another day starts in this paradise. We take time to soak up the scenery of the summit before descending to Camp Mweka where we make the most of our last night on Kilimanjaro.



DAY 12 - CAMP MWEKA to MWEKA LOOKOUT and back to MOSHI

1700 m   -   5.3 miles/8.5 km   -   3-4 hours trek

This morning we have about 3 hours walking to get to the exit from the park. Our transport is waiting to return us to the hotel where everyone can enjoy a well-deserved shower and a good cold beer. Bliss....., you have my word for it. In the evening there's a special supper to celebrate our adventure. Other surprises are planned - we'll tell you about them when we get home.



DAY 13 - LAST NIGHT AT THE HOTEL

We make the most of the swimming pool and a well-deserved rest in our comfortable hotel. Tomorrow we leave on SAFARI.



Translated by Pamela Gauvin

SAFARI

By Nathalie Roussin

A five day adventure safari takes us to Tanzania's most beautiful wild regions. Lake Manyara is ideal for bird-watching, with hundreds of different species. Ngorongoro is the largest crater in the world and a unique wildlife reserve with elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas and rhinoceros.
Tarangire is a magnificent park whose vegetation includes baobobs and acacias. It's a good place too for photographing zebras, elephants, giraffe and antilope.
During our safari, we'll have the privilege and pleasure of visiting the SERENGETI - one of the most famous parks in the world.

Day 1 - From Moshi to Lake Manyara

Day 2 - Serengeti game drive (a tour in an open roofed 4 x 4!)

Day 3 - Serengeti game drive

Day 4 - Serengeti and Ngorongoro  - visite to a Masai village

Day 5 - Ngorongoro and Moshi - morning game drive to the Ngorongoro crater.

SAFARI  -  LET'S GO!!!

Translated by Pamela Gauvin

Mounts Jefferson & Washington - Part 2

By Isabelle Privé

Here's the second part of my article about our weekend on Mounts Jefferson and Washington.

Last night, after a huge meal, a lot of laughter and some great beer, we walked to the lodge at the foot of Mount Washington, ready for an early start. A quick shower then bed!

I'm up at 6h30 and join the others in the dining-room where a good breakfast awaits us. I realise that I'm not the only one to have discovered new muscles!

We're all a bit anxious as we still feel tired from yesterday. Although Mathieu our leader told us that the climb would be " less technical" than Mount Jefferson, I have a feeling "less technical" doesn't necessarily mean "easier".

Whatever .... we're off!

After walking for 10 minutes, we start to climb. Up and up and up! After a few hours, I start hearing  muttering.... "I'm sick of climbing"...."Me too".... "I thought it was supposed to be easier"......"Sure"....

Happily, a few minutes later, we come on an incredible panorama!

Another half hour and it's the lunch break. What a magnificent view. Honestly, when you see all that, you feel privileged to be able to experience it with your friends.

Off again!

We take a rocky path, often on the edge of a precipice. We're still climbing but the path isn't as steep as Mount Jefferson. Our goal isn't to reach the top but, rather, to go round the ravine then come down. Nevertheless, it's a much longer hike than yesterday.

The sky is beginning to cloud over. Never mind, we're prepared, with our "Goretex" coats and pants. We're cheerful and optimistic. All is well.

Suddenly we come on an area covered with little piles of stones left by other hikers over the years. They're everywhere - it's magnificent. Yet again the scenery enchants us.

Then I hear... "I just felt a spot of rain"...."Me too" from someone else.

We don't have time to say any more before the rain pelts down.  A real cloud burst! No time to put on our coats or pants. The wind has got up and buffets us mercilessly. In no time at all, my boots are full of water. The wind is so strong that we can't tell if it's rain or hail that's stinging our faces.

Important lesson: raincoats and pants should be easily accessible!

Mathieu doesn't hesitate and decides to turn back as we're on a part of the mountain that can be dangerous in bad conditions.

When the rain stops, we rest long enough to dry ourselves a bit, change our socks and put on a tuque (yes, a tuque) because the wind is strong and it's cold.

We take a shorter route for the return. Shorter also means steeper than the ascent and, unlike yesterday, the rocks are wet and much more difficult to negotiate.

We descend for about a kilometer, in groups of 4-5 again. We encourage, help and wait for each other and laugh in spite of everything, But we're finding it really hard.

At last, we get to more level ground along a dried-up river bed. We still have to be very careful on the large stones that go on for 5 km.

Personally, I find this part of our return harder than anything that went before. My muscles have had enough and my feet are so sore.

We're aching all over and the route seems endless. It's going on forever. The only thing that keeps me going is the company of my team-mates. I know I'm not alone. Special thanks to Lucie who sticks with me right to the end. And thanks to André who finds a spring to fill my water bottle.

I'm not ashamed to say that I broke down when I saw my friends who had arrived at the bottom already and were there to welcome us. The tears were spontaneous. Tears of exhaustion, of pride and of relief to have reached the end.

The second day was long.... and very wearing! But so very rewarding as well.

Later, Mathieu confided that we had just experienced something similar to the long days of walking that we'll be doing on Kilimanjaro.

Our adventure ended with another feast with the gang in a restaurant. We've passed our hardest test. Another successful step before the great adventure. The last important step before getting the plane to Tanzania.

I'm so happy to have been fortunate enough to have this experience and to have pushed myself beyond anything I thought possible. To have confronted my fears and to have surmounted them. To have seen such extraordinary scenery. And especially to have done it with my friends.

Kilimanjaro... here we come!

Translated by Pamela Gauvin

Mounts Jefferson and Washington - what an adventure! Part 1

By Isabelle Privé

We're now 50 days away from the great adventure.

I want to tell you about our weekend up Mounts Jefferson and Washington and, as I have lots to say, my article will be in two parts.



Climbing Mounts Jefferson and Washington two weeks ago was a test of endurance and mental and physical strength amid breathtaking scenery.

Up at 3h30 am to be ready for my lift to the meeting point. Everybody's there! Hugs all round. The whole gang together at last. Yes! Even Nadine is with us after a long convalescence following her knee surgery in January. Let's go Wong!

We leave in a procession of 6 cars - the journey begins.
We've known about this trip for over a year.

An hour's wait at customs - a drawback of going to the USA.

So, we get to Mount Jefferson at 11h00 and we're ready to set off.
Personally, I've no idea what's in store. Only one thing to say - it's steep! Very steep!

Mount Jefferson tests our muscles to the limit. I think about my trainers Hermann and Dany who made me suffer through boot camp and interval running and I'm so grateful because my muscles hurt so badly, worse and worse and, when I look ahead, I realise there's still a very long way to go. I'm pleased with myself too for training so hard and always pushing myself to do more. Learning to live with burning muscles and learning to trust your body has turned out to be a valuable lesson.

The mental challenge is just as daunting. When there are no more trees and you have to climb rocky mountain slopes. Our walking poles are no use and we have to depend on our hands and feet. You have to relax, breath and stay concentrated as you can always slip. You have to resist the instinct to look back and imagining what would happen if you fell.

Fortunately all that is offset by magic moments when you are absorbed by the beauty of the scenery - the Appalachians as far as you can see. You feel completely one with nature, with the beauty of the universe. It still gives me goose bumps!

On we go! Burning muscles. Concentrate. One step at a time. Another psychological hurdle: the mountain doesn't go up in a straight line with the summit always in sight. You think you see the summit - get that far and it's over. But -  as soon as you get there, there's another one. I think Mount Jefferson had 4 summits! Each time I had to dig deeper to find the energy to carry on.

Another thing I learn: you can actually talk to your muscles! Really! At the 3rd summit, my muscles have been telling me for a good hour that they can't go on any longer. I then realise that there's a 4th summit and maybe more after. So I get mad and say to my muscles "Just shut up and move!" Well, I could swear that all the pain went away. I believe that's what sportsmen call breaking through the wall. And that's how I got through mine.

At last  - the final summit! What joy! What pride! All the pain, the fear, the exhaustion are forgotten!
Victory!

Then you remember you have to come down again. Ouch!

If the ascent was difficult, the descent is just as bad. Perfect concentration is needed just to keep your balance on the rocks. Every ounce of strength and agility is essential for climbing from one rock to another all the way down.

That's when the collective strength of the team comes into play. We're in small groups of 2, 3 or 4. We encourage each other, saying that no-one is alone. We try not to show our exhaustion, knowing that everybody's just as tired. We laugh to take our mind off things, we encourage and support each other. I don't know why but the way back seems so much longer that the outward climb.

Finally - we're down! It's about 6 pm. We collapse and take off our boots. Oh for some flip-flops!

Next up - food!

Honestly, the best beer in the world is the one you drink after a day up a mountain.

That was just our first day. Mount Washington is still to come.......

Translated by Pamela Gauvin