Mt. Kilimanjaro Mountain Warnings on Kili
Porter Safety on Kilimanjaro
In November of 2002, 3 porters died on Kilimanjaro because of lack of communication and inadequate clothing, all things which could have been prevented. Each year, a number of porters die (and tourists) - falling on the mountain, hypothermia, High Altitude Pulmonary Edema, and a myriad of other reasons.
This article, although a few years old, “Deaths on Kilmanjaro Raise Concern About Porter Safety,” really paints a picture on how and why porters end up in trouble. Ken Stober quote really sums it up, “If we can get everyone educated, then people will be policing themselves—like making sure your …
Date: March 18th, 2006 |
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Western Breach Investigation
Here are the details from the investigation of the Western Breach, which killed a number of people back in January.
KILIMANJARO SAFETY PATROL RECONNAISSANCE EXPEDITION
25th - 27th January 2006
An investigation to determine the cause of the Western Breach accident of 4th January 2006 and to offer recommendations for the way forward for this route.
Date: February 21st, 2006 |
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Ready, Aim, Fire - Bathrooms on Kilimanjaro
At each camp, all the way up the mountain, there are little wooden bathrooms that basically give you the privacy of going to bathroom. There is no toilet seat, just a typical squat and drop, with a small hole. Even though it’s sometimes difficult to use these, you should try. For others, it’s unpleasant to hike up the mountain, and see remants of peoples shit and toilet paper left over, floating down the mountain. Take a walk outside any of your camps, within a few hundred yards, and watch out for landmines.
The biggest issue with some of these drop holes …
Date: February 10th, 2006 |
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No Porters in Caves
Here is a sign at Shira Camp, usually on Day 2. There are a few caves around where some of the porters and guides used to sleep at night. Make sure your porters sleeps inside a tent or a mess tent with the rest. Ask the company before you climb where the porters are sleeping. They should not be sleeping outside or in any of these caves. It’s too cold and some have died.
Date: February 5th, 2006 |
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Perspectives and Advice on Altitude and Altitude Sickness
Altitude
• Climb high, sleep low
• Over 10k feet, 1-2k up per day, after 3k spend extra night
• Rest days, short hikes to higher altitudes
Generally, people start feeling the effects of altitude above 10,000 feet;
AMS — Altitude (Acute) Mountain Sickness
• headache, loss of appetite, tired, vomit, dizziness, sleep issues
• Descend, Diamox
HACE — High Altitude Cerebral Edema
• AMS first, severe headache, confusion, stumbling, behavior change, coma
• Descend, chamber, oxygen
HAPE — High Altitude Pulmonary Edema
• AMS first, easy tiring, dry cough, difficult breathing, lung crackles, death
• Descend, chamber, oxygen
Beside your normal 1st aid kit:
• Diamox (Acetazolamid) 125mg/day before ascent, 250mg/day upon start of …
Date: December 10th, 2005 |
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I Thought I Was Dead
This is one of those stories about Mount Kilimanjaro that you don’t want to read. It’s the almost tragic experience of someone who made one wrong move while climbing Kilimanjaro - and it almost cost him his life. The story is about pharmacist Steve Ziebell who had an accident on Kilimanjaro. Ziebell hit his head and fell into into a crevasse. Afterwards, he had a 16-hour trip down the mountain on a stretcher with a blood clot near the brain. He ended up having three surgeries in a Nairobi hospital.
Read the Ozaukee Press Story
Date: March 11th, 2006 |
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Duffel Bag Liner - Gear on Kilimanjaro
Just like your day pack, you can use plastic bags to line the inside of your duffel bag. Even if you have a waterproof duffel bag, you should create another waterproof lining to help combat the rain and elements.
Date: February 19th, 2006 |
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Cold, Wet and Pissed - Kilimanjaro Podcast
On Day 1 of our climb hiking up to Machame Camp, the rain started to pour. After an hour of solid rain, we ran into our first big issue on Kilimanjaro. It wasn’t with our group, it was another. There were two girls, wearing nothing more than shorts and tank tops, in the pouring rain. These girls didn’t even anything to keep them dry. There looked very upset, were soaked, a bit stressed out since there trip just started, and were trying to communicate with their assistant guide, who didn’t speak any English.
Listen to Donovan discuss what …
Date: February 9th, 2006 |
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Pee, Pee and More Pee
I know we have discussed this before in the article ” Taking a Whiz” but we can’t stress enough the amount that you should, and will, urinate on Mt. Kilimanjaro. It’s part of the process so just accept it. Both men and women should become very comfortable peeing around strangers, and at all points during the trip, because there isn’t always a rock or tree to hide behind, and there isn’t always a great place to stop. You will pee on the side of huge cliffs, a few steps off the main trail, just outside your tent at night …
Date: January 24th, 2006 |
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The Poor Porter
It’s kind of a tough mental debate when you are climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. You just bought your fancy new $150 jacket, an expensive sleeping bag, and paid a bunch of money to climb the mountain. Here is your porter, carrying your gear to the top of the mountain, for minimal wages. He is usually not dressed in mountain clothes, but more or less just regular cotton clothes, not made for the mountain . Sometimes he might be wearing just sandles and have no jacket.
After your climb, being a thoughtful person, you decide that you want to help out a …
Date: December 2nd, 2005 |
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