Mt. Kilimanjaro Routes
Learn everything you need to know about all the different routes up Kili.
Moir to Lava Tower
You generally don’t see this Kilimanjaro picture angle. It’s on the route from Moir Hut to Lava Tower, coming from the west. This is typically Day 4 on a Lemosho Route climb.
Date: March 31st, 2008 |
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Adventure on Kilimanjaro- Western Breach Combined With Crater Camp
I had a couple young guys call me the other day, and said they wanted to take an “adventurous” route up Kilimanjaro - and avoid all the crowds on the mountain. They were curious of the various options. I told them the most adventurous way would be to do 8 or 9 days on the Lemosho route and plan to spend one night at Crater Camp. Crater Camp is the highest camp on Mt. Kilimanjaro and is probably visited by less than 5 percent of the people climbing Kilimanjaro. Crater Camp sits at 5,790 meters on Kilimanjaro, and you actually …
Date: February 14th, 2008 |
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Kilimanjaro Traverse - Lemosho and Mweka Trails - Part Seven
Millennium Camp 12.500 ft., one night
It took five days to ascend the distance we now covered in five hours.
Much of our descent was running down the scree slide and it did not take long for us to appreciate the increase in oxygen.
Millennium is an hour or so further down the mountain from Mweka camp and looked to me like it was less crowded. Nestled into the edges of the rain forest, we found the addition of green and the smell of Cedar almost a re-birth.
We were reunited with our complete team as only half of them went …
Date: December 22nd, 2006 |
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Kilimanjaro Traverse - Camps of the Lemosho and Mweka Trails - Part Five
Arrow Glacier Camp – 15,925 ft., one night
When the Western Breach was open only 5% of the annual trekkers used this route and camp. Closed in January 06, I recon very few souls will ever see it again.
Situated on the flanks of a gigantic debris field at the foot of the Breach, This camp, like no others we visited, had a transient and nomadic feel to it.
After less than two hours journey from Lava Tower, we dropped our gear and followed our guide, Stephen, up about one third of the Breach to continue our acclimatization process. …
Date: December 20th, 2006 |
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Kilimanjaro traverse - Camps of the Lemosho & Mweka Trails - Part 3
Moir Camp – 13,650 ft., two nights
Moir is one of the least visited camps on the mountain nestled between very black and spherical, volcanic topography. The location treats you to stunning sunsets overlooking the Shira Plateau. The 7 hour ascent from Shira 1 took us to new altitudes (for the Cheeseheads) and through flora right out of a Dr. Seuss book.
Sand and dust begin to dominate albeit; with stunning sunshine…we were still 6 days from the next shower.
There is a pile of elephant bones in camp that reminded us we were certainly not in Wisconsin. About …
Date: December 18th, 2006 |
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Western Breach Opened
It has been a few years since the landside on Mt Kilimanjaro that claimed the lives of a few people on the Western Breach. The breach opened up a few months ago, but I had not heard reports of any companies leading climbs up it - until today.
Apparently a father and daughter team, organized by Mountain Maddness who contracts with a local company (African Environments, I think), climbed the mountain without any problems.
I imagine now that more guiding companies will start climbing the Western Breach again and bring back the most adventurous route on Kilimanjaro. I can’t wait to get …
Date: March 4th, 2008 |
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Climbers Account of Kilimanjaro Attempt
I always ask people to write about their experiences on the mountain, so I can publish them on this blog. I just received this email, from a guy who asked me loads of questions about climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. As you can see, he opted to attempt Kilimanjaro with a five day climb. Out of 11 people, four made it to the summit. Companies should not sell five days climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro. It’s not smart to climb over 19,000 ft/596 meters in five days.
Steve Hansen wrote:
Dear …
Date: April 24th, 2007 |
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Kilimanjaro Traverse - Camps of the Lemosho and Mweka Trails - Part Six
Crater Camp – 18, 370 ft., one night
Getting to the crater ascending the Western Breach with my son will remain as awesome a task as I have ever completed. The Breach is closed now but there are some outfitters that will guide you to Crater Camp climbing during the day from Barafu camp. Anyway you get there is well worth the experience.
As a flatlander and student of climbing history, I had to experience camping at 18, 370 ft. Peering from our tent at the frozen glaciers can hardly be put into words but seeing them illuminated in …
Date: December 21st, 2006 |
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Kilimanjaro Traverse - Camps of the Lemosho & Mweka Trails - Part Four
Lava Tower Camp – 14,950 ft., one night
Made famous by the IMAX movie, this iconic stopping point was the first time I really noticed the clouds drifting by below us. Because we were climbing the Western Breach, scrambling to the top of the tower was mandatory…our final test if you will. Had we failed, the suggestion would have been to climb the “normal” route through Barafu Camp. The frightened Cheeseheads from flatland, however, negotiated the pitch with sufficient alacrity to earn the privilege to climb the Breach.
The camp was comfortable, beautiful and relaxing. As with every morning, …
Date: December 19th, 2006 |
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Kilimanjaro Traverse - Camps of the Lemosho & Mweka Trails - Part 2
Shira One Camp – 11,500 ft., two nights
We spent the day climbing up and out of the rain forest through the heather region onto the alpine meadow of the Shira Plateau. I spent most of our noon break finding places to hide the lunch I wasn’t hungry for. After negotiating the last valley ridge we could not only see our next camp but there stood Kibo (the massif of the central volcano that, combined with Shira and Mawenzi, create Kilimanjaro) standing, indifferent, 22 miles away with the, now closed, Western Breach flirting in our direction. …
Date: December 15th, 2006 |
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