Kilimanjaro: Hahn & Entire Team Reach Uhuru Peak, Summit of Kilimanjaro
We are back down in the forest at 10,000 ft. Mweka Camp. But not that long ago we were up at the highest point in all of Africa Our wake up target last night was 11:30 and after a light midnight breakfast we got walking at 12:40 AM. Against all odds, it was a perfect night for climbing. After so much cloud yesterday and swirling gusts blowing the tents around for the last couple of nights, it was a surprise to have such a calm and clear sky as we got climbing by headlight. The stars and planets and the moon were awesome, but we really didn’t have time for stargazing... there was a lot of uphill work to be done. The team was absolutely up to the challenge. Nobody seemed to mind the cold all that much (and it got good and cold before sunrise at 19,000 ft) and everybody kept right in step with our local guide Philbet’s good and steady rate of ascent. There was plenty of snow on the upper part of Kibo from storms a few weeks back and the track was consequently a bit trickier than it might have been. But that didn’t stop us from hitting the crater rim at Stella Point by 5:45 AM. The sun came up through a lower cloud deck as we were midway around the crater on the way to the summit. The colors of the first rays and the Kibo shadows cast in the western sky had us mesmerized. As we marched to Uhuru, the high point. We reached the top at 6:50 AM and spent just over a half hour on the summit. Things warmed up nicely for our descent. We did our fare share of scree skiing as we rapidly dropped altitude. Our guides and staff were a huge help to the team on the trip down. We came back to Barafu at 10:40 and enjoyed a sumptuous brunch in the dining tent. While we were in, clouds came over camp and a rainstorm began. None of us minded the prospect of a wet walk down to Mweka after we’d gotten so spectacularly lucky on the summit weather. We packed up and got walking at 12:40 PM in full rain gear. Sure enough the trails below 12,500 ft were slimy and treacherous, but we kept making careful steps down the rocky track until we came into Mweka Camp at 4 PM. Things are damp down here, but the air is thick and we’re all looking forward to our last dinner in the dining tent and a good rest through the night.
Best Regards
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Listen to Dave's call from High Camp after returning from the summit.
RMI Guide Dave Hahn checks in from High Camp after summit.
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Comments (9)
congrats!!! and happy birthday Heather
Posted by: joe duty on
What a spectacular adventure and accomplishment! And you think we do fun trips ... LOL!
Enjoy the rest of the your experiences. We may have to plan a trip to CO to hear about it.
Posted by: Bob & Sandy Amory on
What a great feeling to have finally reached the top after so much practice. Well
worth the work you all did to reach this exciting moment. Thanks for taking us on
this adventure with you. Stay safe and continue to enjoy next adventure
Posted by: dick and kay seubert on
Hell yes, all (but especially the VandenBroeks), congratulations on summit day! Hooray! WHAT AN AMAZING WAY TO spend your birthday, Heather Bear! Cheers to you, my boo! xo
Posted by: Liza Odell on
Congrats to the entire group for reaching the summit! I’m sure there are no words to describe your accomplishment! Stay safe everyone as you come off of the mountain.
Posted by: Lori Orman on
Thanks Dave for your daily blogs. So exciting to read. Congratulations to the whole team. What an accomplishment. Memories to last a lifetime.
Julie
Posted by: Julie VandenBroek on
Congratulations to the team! I will miss reading the posts when you are finished DAVE.
Be safe
Aunt Vicki
Posted by: Aunt Vicki on
Congratulations to everyone for making it to the summit ! I am in absolute awe of you all! Well done! Thank you Dave, for getting the team there safely! Sounds a little sketchy coming down, be safe, thought and prayers coming your way!!
Posted by: Jean Lebo on
Woohoo! Congrats everyone! I can’t even imagine how awesome that must have been.
Cheers!
EO
Posted by: Erin on