Kilimanjaro 2004

In the summer of 2004 my friend Jacque and I traveled to Africa and climbed 19,340-ft. Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.   The climb took seven days to complete, with our summit day beginning at 11:00 pm on the fifth day.   We made new friends in Omar, Amy, and James. And our African guide and porters did all the things that help make such a climb successful.   Our route took us up the Western Breach wall, a route that was closed for a time in recent years due to its dangers. This section of the climb was an exhilarating nighttime adventure. The temperature was around 9° Fahrenheit, but a stiff wind made it much colder. Never have I been so cold on a climb.

We reached Kilimanjaro's famous crater just after sunrise, and I was greeted by a glacier over 50 feet in height just beyond the crater edge. The views of the surrounding African plains were stunning in the early morning light. We then accompanied Ean, our guide, on up the final 1,000 feet to Uhuru Peak, the highest point on the African continent.