This morning we woke up early at Shira 2 Camp to set off for Barranco Camp as today was our biggest day yet. Some of us were up at 6am, and when we first left we were pretty sleepy, which made the climb hard.
Today we spent the morning and afternoon hiking from Shira 2 to Barranco, with valleys and ridges going up and down. Traversing the two valleys was something many of us had never experienced before. You first go up to the ridge and then go down into the valley, followed by crossing a creek. We climbed up through moorland and, the higher we got, the climate changed to alpine desert. We walked past huge volcanic rocks and spent the whole day surrounded by beautiful views, often from the top of the clouds that scale Kilimanjaro.
For the first four hours we climbed up to about 4,400m. When we stopped for lunch we were far above the clouds. Lunch was delicious and the porters really outdid themselves. We were greeted by the cheery porters, who are so kind, and some of us even had a quick nap under the sun. A small breeze made it a bit chilly, but that’s ok.
As we climbed higher towards Lava Tower, the altitude became more noticeable. For some of us, headaches were the hardest part of the day. Personally, I found the altitude a challenge and definitely had to keep hydrated and take each step slowly. A constant phrase repeated by us and our guides is “Pole, Pole”, which in Swahili means “slowly, slowly” to help our bodies acclimatise and not burn out. Drinking lots of water, having snacks and taking time to rest helped us keep going.
“My number one lesson for the mountain is: drink up, eat up and pee lots” – Holt, USA
Despite the challenges, time passed surprisingly fast. Spending time with the other students really made the experience more enjoyable and we learnt a lot about new people. Some of us were amazed at how fully immersed in meaningless riddles we became as we walked. Getting lost in conversation made the trip more exciting, and many of us found it easy to pass the time talking to the people around us.
The views throughout the day were incredible. We got close to the peak and really saw the detail on the mountain. It’s full of different shades of brown with some snow. The mountain kept delivering surprises.
This afternoon we descended down to Barranco Camp. The hike down was tougher than expected for some of us, with loose gravel, moving rocks, and terrain that hurt our knees and feet much more than we expected. Following the guide and stepping where he stepped was a very good way to conquer those challenges.
As we approached camp, a large cloud was covering it. Walking through the cloud was something some of us never thought we’d do. It was humid and foggy and somewhat refreshing after the dry desert. As we walked further into camp, it was slowly revealed, along with some of the best views of the summit that we have seen so far. It surprised many of us just how impressive the view from Barranco Camp is.
Today was a long day, but everyone in camp seems to be in high spirits and excited for the days ahead. We have learnt that as a team, when we work together, we can all push much farther than we ever thought we could. Every day the views keep getting better.
“I have learnt that as a team when we work together, we can all push much farther than we ever thought we could, Despite being exhausted, I pushed through and made it to the end.” – Damian, Canada.
Tomorrow we climb Barranco Wall and head to the other side of the mountain. We’re looking forward to the incredible views, seeing more of the peak, getting closer and closer to summit night, and seeing Uhuru Peak.
by Kate, Indigo, Sophie, Damian, Holt and Noah
