Summit on the Summit
Index
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SUMMIT ON THE SUMMIT: The 19,340 ft Website
We climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro to fight the global clean water crisis. Climb up the 19,340 ft website to see what happened on the climb.
THE MOUNTAIN: MT. KILIMANJARO, TANZANIA
The Roof of Africa
Overview
Mount Kilimanjaro is the world’s highest freestanding mountain as well as the largest volcano to ever burst through the Earth’s crust. Throughout the ascent, climbers experience every planetary ecosystem, including savanna, tropical jungle, alpine moorland, deserts, snowfields and glacial landscapes. Our goal is to summit the highest peak, Uhuru, at 19,340 feet above sea level. The climb isn’t easy. After 10,000 feet, the risk of altitude sickness increases, and fatigue sets in. The symptoms vary from headache, dizziness and nausea to lethargy and euphoria, keeping many from reaching the summit. The last day, in subzero temperatures and at the highest elevation, will be the hardest. While the SUMMIT team will extensively train and prepare for the ascent, there are no guarantees that everyone will reach the peak. The climbers will struggle just to breathe and maintain enough strength to meet the challenge—but they will do whatever it takes to raise awareness for the clean water crisis. 19,340 Feet 8 routes 5 climate zones
MARANGU ROUTE
MANDARA HUT CAMP
8,858 FT
days: 6-7
climate zone: Forest 40-80 F
Madara Hut Camp: End of day 1 on the Marangu Route The Marangu Camp is in a clearing in the rain forest climate zone. The temperature varies between 40 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, with up to 6 feet of rain annually, supporting a variety of plants and wildlife. Also known as the “Coca-Cola route,” Marangu is the easiest and by far the most popular route to the summit of Kilimanjaro. It offers climbers the relative luxury of being able to sleep in huts along the entire route. All your equipment and supplies are portered, and a cook prepares all your meals. Mineral water, soft drinks, chocolates and beers are sold at all the camps on this route.
MACHAME ROUTE
SHIRA CAMP
12,598 FT
days: 6-7
climate zone: Moorland 30-60 F
Shira Camp: End of day 3 on the Machame Route The Shira Camp is in the moorland climate zone, following a day’s trek through the rain forest. It offers the first peek of the summit, still five days ahead, and a view across the expansive Shira Plateau. There may be frost overnight. The Machame route is scenically beautiful and varied. It circles halfway around the mountain with great views from all angles, including the Shira Plateau, an optional scramble up Lava Tower, a climb up the Great Barranco Wall, and a traverse underneath Kilimanjaro’s southern ice field. The route is usually completed over seven days, so acclimatization is easier, and the success rate is fairly high.
LEMOSHO ROUTE
BARRANCO CAMP
13,000 ft
days: 6-8
climate zone: Alpine Desert 30-40 F
Barranco Camp: End of day 5 on the Lemosho Route Around this point, some climbers will start to feel symptoms of breathlessness, irritability and headaches. Before descending to Barranco Camp for acclimatization, the route ascends to over 15,000 ft in the semi-desert rock landscape surrounding the Lava Tower. The Lemosho Route is the most scenic Kilimanjaro route, from the first day to the last. It’s the longest of the six routes, granting panoramic vistas on various sides of the mountain, and also provides the most time for acclimatization. Groups may be accompanied on the first day by an armed ranger, as the forests around the Lemosho Glades are rich in buffalo, elephant and other big game animals.
RONGAI ROUTE
MAWENZI TARN CAMP
14,206 FT
days: 6-7
climate zone: Heath/Moorland 20-30 F
Mawenzi Tarn Camp: End of day 3 on the Rongai Route The Mawenzi Tarn Camp is situated spectacularly beneath the towering spires of Mawenzi, the second highest summit of Kilimanjaro. It’s reached after a steep climb up grassy slopes, with superb views of the moorland wilderness area, characterized by heath-like vegetation and abundant wild flowers. The Rongai Route ascends Kilimanjaro from the less-forested northeastern side of the mountain, along the border between Tanzania and Kenya. This remote and less frequently used route retains a sense of unspoilt wilderness. It’s probably the only route where seeing wildlife in the first days is possible.
UMBWE ROUTE
CRATER CAMP
18,700 FT
days: 6-7
climate zone: Arctic 1-15 F
Crater Camp: End of day 4 on the Umbwe Route The Crater Camp, situated on the crater rim with an astonishing view of snow and glaciers, precedes the summit attempt, starting at 4:00 a.m. Characterized by ice and rock, there is virtually no plant or animal life at this altitude. Nights are extremely cold, and the day’s sun is powerful. The oxygen level is half that of sea level. The Umbwe Route is the hardest but most spectacular and direct way to reach Uhuru Peak. Due to the fast ascension, this route does not provide the necessary stages for altitude acclimatization. Although the traffic on this route is very low, the success rate is also very low.