Mount Kilimanjaro
In July, 2015 I climbed Kilimanjaro via the Lemosho & Western Breach Route.
Watch the episode below.
Watch the episode below.
The Western Breach, Mount Kilimanjaro - Ends of the Earth episode
Mount Kilimanjaro
It stands majestically at 19,341′ and has enticed climbers for centuries. Kilimanjaro, or Kili, is the highest peak on the continent of Africa and is therefore one of the “seven summits” of the world (7 continents, 7 highest peaks). This huge, snow-capped mountain rises dramatically above the vast plains of East Africa. In East Africa, there is a country called Tanzania and in Tanzania is a city called Arusha and near Arusha is where my trek to Kili started.
Climbing Kilimanjaro, experiencing the many ecological zones, suffering through the high altitude and overcoming the physical and mental challenges are all part of the legendary adventure of Kili. Climbing one the 7 summits was on my top 10 this year, so I’m totally stoked to have completed this important mission!
Why the $#%* did I try this?!
It’s irresistible, it’s a great way to suffer and it’s a perfect gateway to bigger things. I have a special place in my heart for Africa + I love to climb and hike. Climbing the highest peak in Africa just made a whole lot of sense to me. The world is a playground, so you should play in the best, highest, weirdest and craziest there is.
My Top 10, 2015, here.
What I did to prepare? (In short…)
Logistics
I had a really great lil team of people that helped me plan and prepare. Dennis Stolen, Itael Maeda and his crew in Tanzania helped with route planning, gear planning and what to expect etc. There’s more about them below.
Physically
I have an active life where I rock climb at least twice times a week, I gym once a week and I run every other day. To be honest, the hiking wasn't difficult. Where your training will come into action is on your summit day when the altitude and lack of oxygen start to kick your ass. You're concentration will be needed to deal with the mental exhaustion, hopefully your physical will take care of itself.
Gear and money and stuff
Kili is a very expensive endeavour. Unlike most other mountains, Kili requires you to have guides, porters, pay park fees - the list goes on.
It's very doable to climb Kili without guides or porters, but the rules and regulations are in place, so there's not much you can do. Prices start at $1500 and go all the way up from there. I've heard of people paying up to $10,000. Yikes!
I hired a guide and did the climb solo (solo as in I didn't go with any other climbers), so my cost experience was different than normal.
Typical Cost Breakdown:
Flight from North America - $1500
Accommodation in Arusha - $500
Kili Expedition including tipping - $2500
My Pack & Gear List – From steamy jungle to blizzard snow fest…
I will post gear reviews, post climb, to all the regular channels as per the uge.
Kilimanjaro has a hot steamy jungle, a desert, a snowy summit cap and brutal sun exposure. It’s all the things, which can make it a bit of a nightmare to pack for. Here’s my plan so far, but I will post my actual pack w/video when it comes down to it.
Travel Docs:
Passport and visa
iphone digi docs
Immunization Card (Yellow fever)
2 extra Passport pics
High Altitude Gear:
Waterproof, breathable & windproof down jacket (outer wear like Ventex, GoreTex or Jeantex)
Waterproof, breathable & windproof pants (outer wear)
Polar fleece (middle layer)
Thermal underwear (wool/polyester/wick band)
Thermal Long Sleeved (wool/polyester)
Thermal Short Sleeved (wool/polyester)
Gortex Gloves
Thermal socks ((Hollofil®, Thermax®, Thermastat®)
Balaclava (face protector)
Gaiters
Hiking Gear:
Convertible Shorts/Pants
T-shirt (Capilene or polypropylene)
Raincoat (Laminates: Gore-Tex PacLite; Gore-Tex Pro; Gore-Tex Active; eVent; MemBrain etc)
Dirtbag hikin’ hat! (brim/bug and sun resistant)
Collapsible walking poles
Sunglasses, good quality dark lenses for the climb, with a securing strap.
Halogen Head lamp, good strong one with spare batteries and an extra light bulb
Water bladder 3L
Halogen Water bottle – 3-1L
Camping Gear:
Therm-A-Rest Pro Lite Mattress
Sleeping bag -15
Overbag -15
Tent – Itael and I will figure out when I arrive.
Footwear:
Water resistant, semi – stiff hiking boots. Looking at you Keen!
Shoes for overnight camps – Something airy and comfy. Keen!
Thermal Socks – (polypropylene and CoolMax®)
Liner socks – to keep your feet dry and limit the risk of blisters
Personal Items:
Bathroom kit (Hand Sany, tooth brush, wet wipes for showers. Yes, for showers)
Towel and Wash Cloth (quick dry)
Sun screen and lip protection, SPF 30+
Insect Repellent
Medical and First Aid Supplies:
Diamox – Altitude sickness
Imodium – Ahem..
Water purification tablets
Antiseptic cream
(I’ve decided not to take Malaria medication)
Digi Gear:
GoPro Hero 3
iphone (pics – Instagram etc, tunes, podcasts)
Nikon D40 (RAW, long exposure)
Mini tripod
Helmet Cam (Go pro)
Selfie Stick (not lame..frig off!)
Headphones
Batteries
SD Cards
Packs
Ibex 80L Expedition Pack
Equipment costs depend on what you already own and what you don't. Below is the equipment pack I brought and estimated cost if I had to buy all of it from scratch.
Trekking Route, Itinerary & Map
Climbing Kilimanjaro, experiencing the many ecological zones, suffering through the high altitude and overcoming the physical and mental challenges are all part of the legendary adventure of Kili. Climbing one the 7 summits was on my top 10 this year, so I’m totally stoked to have completed this important mission!
Why the $#%* did I try this?!
It’s irresistible, it’s a great way to suffer and it’s a perfect gateway to bigger things. I have a special place in my heart for Africa + I love to climb and hike. Climbing the highest peak in Africa just made a whole lot of sense to me. The world is a playground, so you should play in the best, highest, weirdest and craziest there is.
My Top 10, 2015, here.
What I did to prepare? (In short…)
Logistics
I had a really great lil team of people that helped me plan and prepare. Dennis Stolen, Itael Maeda and his crew in Tanzania helped with route planning, gear planning and what to expect etc. There’s more about them below.
Physically
I have an active life where I rock climb at least twice times a week, I gym once a week and I run every other day. To be honest, the hiking wasn't difficult. Where your training will come into action is on your summit day when the altitude and lack of oxygen start to kick your ass. You're concentration will be needed to deal with the mental exhaustion, hopefully your physical will take care of itself.
Gear and money and stuff
Kili is a very expensive endeavour. Unlike most other mountains, Kili requires you to have guides, porters, pay park fees - the list goes on.
It's very doable to climb Kili without guides or porters, but the rules and regulations are in place, so there's not much you can do. Prices start at $1500 and go all the way up from there. I've heard of people paying up to $10,000. Yikes!
I hired a guide and did the climb solo (solo as in I didn't go with any other climbers), so my cost experience was different than normal.
Typical Cost Breakdown:
Flight from North America - $1500
Accommodation in Arusha - $500
Kili Expedition including tipping - $2500
My Pack & Gear List – From steamy jungle to blizzard snow fest…
I will post gear reviews, post climb, to all the regular channels as per the uge.
Kilimanjaro has a hot steamy jungle, a desert, a snowy summit cap and brutal sun exposure. It’s all the things, which can make it a bit of a nightmare to pack for. Here’s my plan so far, but I will post my actual pack w/video when it comes down to it.
Travel Docs:
Passport and visa
iphone digi docs
Immunization Card (Yellow fever)
2 extra Passport pics
High Altitude Gear:
Waterproof, breathable & windproof down jacket (outer wear like Ventex, GoreTex or Jeantex)
Waterproof, breathable & windproof pants (outer wear)
Polar fleece (middle layer)
Thermal underwear (wool/polyester/wick band)
Thermal Long Sleeved (wool/polyester)
Thermal Short Sleeved (wool/polyester)
Gortex Gloves
Thermal socks ((Hollofil®, Thermax®, Thermastat®)
Balaclava (face protector)
Gaiters
Hiking Gear:
Convertible Shorts/Pants
T-shirt (Capilene or polypropylene)
Raincoat (Laminates: Gore-Tex PacLite; Gore-Tex Pro; Gore-Tex Active; eVent; MemBrain etc)
Dirtbag hikin’ hat! (brim/bug and sun resistant)
Collapsible walking poles
Sunglasses, good quality dark lenses for the climb, with a securing strap.
Halogen Head lamp, good strong one with spare batteries and an extra light bulb
Water bladder 3L
Halogen Water bottle – 3-1L
Camping Gear:
Therm-A-Rest Pro Lite Mattress
Sleeping bag -15
Overbag -15
Tent – Itael and I will figure out when I arrive.
Footwear:
Water resistant, semi – stiff hiking boots. Looking at you Keen!
Shoes for overnight camps – Something airy and comfy. Keen!
Thermal Socks – (polypropylene and CoolMax®)
Liner socks – to keep your feet dry and limit the risk of blisters
Personal Items:
Bathroom kit (Hand Sany, tooth brush, wet wipes for showers. Yes, for showers)
Towel and Wash Cloth (quick dry)
Sun screen and lip protection, SPF 30+
Insect Repellent
Medical and First Aid Supplies:
Diamox – Altitude sickness
Imodium – Ahem..
Water purification tablets
Antiseptic cream
(I’ve decided not to take Malaria medication)
Digi Gear:
GoPro Hero 3
iphone (pics – Instagram etc, tunes, podcasts)
Nikon D40 (RAW, long exposure)
Mini tripod
Helmet Cam (Go pro)
Selfie Stick (not lame..frig off!)
Headphones
Batteries
SD Cards
Packs
Ibex 80L Expedition Pack
Equipment costs depend on what you already own and what you don't. Below is the equipment pack I brought and estimated cost if I had to buy all of it from scratch.
Trekking Route, Itinerary & Map
This is the route I took.
My schedule was 5 days to the summit, instead of 9
Lemosho - Western Breach
My Schedule:
Day 1 - Forest Camp
Day 2 - Shira Camp
Day 3 - Moir Camp
Day 4 - Arrow Glacier Camp
Day 5 - Summit
My Schedule:
Day 1 - Forest Camp
Day 2 - Shira Camp
Day 3 - Moir Camp
Day 4 - Arrow Glacier Camp
Day 5 - Summit
There are about 15 combinations of routes to summit Kili. After doing extensive reading, harassing guides and also thinking about what I wanted out of this, I honed in on a few guidelines to help pick my route:
1) Difficult, technical and direct. Kili doesn’t get very technical, but this is probably the most technical route, one of the most difficult and one of the most direct (Western Breach).
2) Beautiful and diverse. The routes vary in this way and I really wanted something I could photograph and video well. Something different every day. There are 6 ecological zones and a cray cray crater on the summit. Kili is a dormant volcano.
3) No tourists!! I’m a tourist, but you know what I’m talking about. I was pretty sure, that (1) (above) would take care of that problem. You’re a tourist when you visit a place you’re not from, no doubt, but it’s better when travel is sacred. For me, that can only happen when you’re IN IT, ya know?! You have to be just out there doing it on your own. Getting dragged up a mountain with a million porters with tents, mattresses, waffle makers and artisan coffee isn’t doing much for me. To each their own, but I wanted a small crew of dudes that were IN IT on a route that we’re inspired to do.
Lemosho & Western Breach Route
Lemosho
The Lemosho Route is considered to be one of the most scenic routes on Kili. Starting in lush rainforest on its western side, we’ll hike through Kili’s six ecological zones. We traverse the Shira Plateau and the Southern Circuit, taking in views of Kibo and its incredible glaciers. This is an unspoilt, remote, less-used, and beautiful way up to the Shira Plateau. I will use this route to ascend to the start of my ascent show, the Western Breach.
Western Breach
The Western Breach is a gap, formed by lava flow, on the western outer rim of Mount Kilimanjaro’s main summit. It’s scenery is pretty amazing and unique and is one of the main reasons I decided to take this path . It was reopened a few years ago after an accident, so it’s a bit less travelled than some of the other options. The route is very direct to the summit, so it’s a bit of a challenge with acclimatization, but manageable.
1) Difficult, technical and direct. Kili doesn’t get very technical, but this is probably the most technical route, one of the most difficult and one of the most direct (Western Breach).
2) Beautiful and diverse. The routes vary in this way and I really wanted something I could photograph and video well. Something different every day. There are 6 ecological zones and a cray cray crater on the summit. Kili is a dormant volcano.
3) No tourists!! I’m a tourist, but you know what I’m talking about. I was pretty sure, that (1) (above) would take care of that problem. You’re a tourist when you visit a place you’re not from, no doubt, but it’s better when travel is sacred. For me, that can only happen when you’re IN IT, ya know?! You have to be just out there doing it on your own. Getting dragged up a mountain with a million porters with tents, mattresses, waffle makers and artisan coffee isn’t doing much for me. To each their own, but I wanted a small crew of dudes that were IN IT on a route that we’re inspired to do.
Lemosho & Western Breach Route
Lemosho
The Lemosho Route is considered to be one of the most scenic routes on Kili. Starting in lush rainforest on its western side, we’ll hike through Kili’s six ecological zones. We traverse the Shira Plateau and the Southern Circuit, taking in views of Kibo and its incredible glaciers. This is an unspoilt, remote, less-used, and beautiful way up to the Shira Plateau. I will use this route to ascend to the start of my ascent show, the Western Breach.
Western Breach
The Western Breach is a gap, formed by lava flow, on the western outer rim of Mount Kilimanjaro’s main summit. It’s scenery is pretty amazing and unique and is one of the main reasons I decided to take this path . It was reopened a few years ago after an accident, so it’s a bit less travelled than some of the other options. The route is very direct to the summit, so it’s a bit of a challenge with acclimatization, but manageable.
