Mt. Kilimanjaro -(Highest mountain in Tanzania)
Who says you can't celebrate your birthday all year long. As most of you know, I turned 40 this year. And as a present to myself I decided to hike to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. I took the Machame route, also known as the "Whiskey route", and the hike took 6 days. I decided on the Machame route as I have read that it is a bit more scenic than the Marangu route, and I was very happy with my decision. We slept in tents and stayed at fantastically located camp sites and the trails offered fabulous views all along the way.
The hikes were easy ones however the hike to the summit was a difficult climb for me. I did fine with the altitude...however it was the cold that really got to me and caused me the most problems. I can say, without any doubt, that this was the coldest I have been in my entire life! I made it up to Stella Point for the sunrise views and since I could not move my fingers at this point in the climb I do not have any photos. But thankful for solar heat, I did thaw out after an hour in the glorious sun and got back to the task of the day - the top of Uhuru Peak! From Stella Point it was about a 45 min hike to the top and the views were spectacular due to the great weather. The wind that had tormented me just hours before had subsided and we stayed at the top for about 30 minutes enjoying our reward.
The hikes were easy ones however the hike to the summit was a difficult climb for me. I did fine with the altitude...however it was the cold that really got to me and caused me the most problems. I can say, without any doubt, that this was the coldest I have been in my entire life! I made it up to Stella Point for the sunrise views and since I could not move my fingers at this point in the climb I do not have any photos. But thankful for solar heat, I did thaw out after an hour in the glorious sun and got back to the task of the day - the top of Uhuru Peak! From Stella Point it was about a 45 min hike to the top and the views were spectacular due to the great weather. The wind that had tormented me just hours before had subsided and we stayed at the top for about 30 minutes enjoying our reward.
Photos during the hike up the mountain:
Morning tea in the tent at Shira Camp with Kilimanjaro in the background.
View from the Shira Camp of the afternoon clouds coming onto the Shira mountains.
View from the Shira Camp of the afternoon clouds coming onto the Shira mountains.
Me with the peak of Kilimanjaro in the background.
Our guide Rasta and me in a forest.
Views from the top of Uhuru Peak - Mt. Kilimanjaro:
Glacier with Mt Meru in the distance.
I was happy to see the many glaciers at the top of Kilimanjaro.
On top of Africa - Uhuru Peak 19,340 ft.
On top of Uhuru Peak with Mt Meru in the distance.
Mt. Mawenzi, the second highest summit of Kilimanjaro @ 16,889 ft
