Kilimanjaro: Hahn & Team Move into Karanga Camp
All agreed that it was a pleasure to wake this morning in the garden-like Barranco Valley. The clouds, which had overtaken camp yesterday evening, had dropped far below by daybreak. When the sun hit, mid-breakfast, and our dining tent began to rain down condensation, our alert and resourceful staff simply picked the whole tent up and moved it as we sat buttering toast. We were left at our table for an unexpected but quite pleasant picnic in the great outdoors. The team's eyeballs kept wandering over to the shadowy Barranco Wall and the stream of several hundred porters working up its ledges and paths. We joined the snakelike line and got our hands on the rock only to discover that the wall was pretty fun climbing. We went up about nine hundred vertical feet over a fairly short distance. At the top of the wall, we celebrated with a rest break, along with about a dozen other teams of happy trekkers. Then it was back to business as clouds had formed up again. We traversed a few valleys without great difficulty and then we could see Karanga Camp perched on the opposite side of one last steep-sided gorge. We dropped down through a forest of heather and rest-stepped right back up the other side, making it into camp in early afternoon with the march having taken just under four hours. Miraculously, our staff had once again managed to have a perfectly constructed camp up and ready for us. Within moments they invited us to lunch -spaghetti with red sauce- which all enjoyed. We spent a pleasant and quiet afternoon reading, napping, eating and drinking as clouds came and went. We occasionally got full and majestic views of Kibo's icy flanks hiding up in the cumulus. It is all starting to seem a bit more familiar and accessible. We'll be up there soon.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
On The Map
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Comments (5)
Jason & Jasna what a grand adventure. Have fun & b safe!!! Love, Dad & B
Posted by: Lee Pittman on
Wow. You guys are amazing!!! Have fun and come home safe!!! Love
Posted by: Jane zielinski on
Ben and Kate, What an amazing trek. Just reading Dave’s blog makes everything sound so beautiful. Can’t wait to see pictures. Continue with your safe travels. Love mom and Ted.
Posted by: Janet and Ted Armentrout on
.Kate and Ben- It has been so much fun following your adventure (thanks to Dave Hahn).
We look forward to seeing your picture at the summit. You guys are amazing! Love, Dad and Weezie
Posted by: Louise Spina on
Kate and Ben- It has been so wonderful to see pictures of your journey- thanks to Dave Hahn. We hope all is well and when you visit us for Christmas in Florida- we will celebrate your amazing adventure. Love to you both- Dad and Weezie
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Posted by: John and Louise Spina on