A reader has sent me an article from their local newspaper - the Rapid City Journal - about 83-year-old Bernice Buum who back in September of this year managed to climb to the top of Kilimanjaro! In doing so, I believe that Bernice has become the oldest woman to get to the summit.
Bernice, who was accompanied by her niece and long-time trekking companion Judy Myers, took six days to complete the trek - four up, two down. She began her training by climbing the 10 flights of stairs at the Rapid City Regional Hospital at the hospital where she volunteers. She described her experience as the 'adventure of a lifetime' - but won't be hurrying back anytime soon, though will continue to hike around the US and near her home.
Congratulations Bernice - climbing Kilimanjaro is some achievement at any age!
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Scientists warn of the dangers of altitude
Posted by Henry at 11:44 am, October 28th 2010.
A few newspapers in the UK recently carried a report on a study done on Kilimanjaro by researchers from the University of Edinburgh. It makes for worrying reading.
In it, they suggest that many people who climb Kilimanjaro are unaware of the dangers of altitude. They tested 200 people on the mountain and found that 47% of people were suffering from altitude sickness before they had reached the summit, and the majority of climbers were climbing too far too fast.
Stewart Jackson, who conducted the study that was initially reported in the journal 'High Altitude medicine and biology' said "We found that many climbers knew little or nothing about altitude sickness. Undertaking an acclimatisation trek before attempting to summit Mount Kilimanjaro offers climbers the best chance of a safe, successful summit."
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Climb to raise money for two rape charities
Posted by Henry at 12:23 pm, October 7th 2010.
On 17 July next year, Faye Wilson will be travelling to Tanzania to climb GOd's greatest mountain. In doing so, she will be raising money for two charities: Rape Crisis Scotland and Corrieneuchin Aberdeenshire. Both charities help children and adults who have been raped and abused. As a a rape survivor herself who only went public this year, Faye knows how important these support charities are and is climbing Kilimanjaro in order to raise awareness of the issues around these topics and encourage others to use these services.
If you wish to support Faye in her endeavours then you can contact her directly at fayewilson@ymail.com
We do of course wish Faye every success.
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Posted by at 9:34 am, September 29th 2010.
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Climb in aid of Australian Cancer Relief
Posted by Henry at 8:57 am, September 29th 2010.
On 21 December 2009 2009 Robert (Bob) Short lost his four year fight against Cancer. Exactly one year later, on 21 December 2010 her wife, Karen and daughter Debbie will begin an ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro, both in memory of their husband and father and to raise funds for the Australian Cancer Research Foundation.
Though they have only been fundraising for a few short months, they have already reached their target of AU$10,000 (at the last count they had reached AU$10,400). That does not mean they have stopped raising money for this most worthy of causes, however - and you can contribute by visiting the webpage they have set up for this purpose at
http://www.mycause.com.au/mycause/raise_money/fundraise.php?id=4918
We do of course wish both Debbie and Karen well in their adventure and hope to bring you an update on their progress at the end of the year.
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The sky at night from Kilimanjaro
Posted by Henry at 6:43 am, August 11th 2010.
If there is one thing that everybody remarks about on Kilimanjaro, it is the amazing number of stars people can see at night while climbing it. Unaffected by the light pollution that blights the Western World, the sky at night on Kilimanjaro is truly one of the great – and unsung- attractions of climbing Africa’s highest mountain.
Those in the US who want to know a bit more about what it is they are actually seeing up in the sky while climbing should get hold of a copy of September 2010’s Sky and Telescope magazine (http://www.skyandtelescope.com/). Shawn Quinn, the author, climbed the mountain in June of last year via the Lemosho/Western Breach trail and lugged some rather nifty astronomy equipment (including a tracking mount) with him in order to capture some beautiful images of the stars along the way.
Do check out the magazine and Shawn’s article – it’s just beautiful!
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Brit becomes officially the oldest person to climb Kilimanjaro
Posted by Henry at 7:59 am, August 3rd 2010.
Following on from our report back in July, we are pleased to be able to announce that grandad George Solt, a retired professor from Olney in Buckinghamshire, has become officially the oldest man to reach the summit of Africa's highest mountain, Kilimanjaro.
Mr Solt, who is 82, reached the peak with the help of his daughter-in-law Hillary, and three of his grandchildren.
Nice one George!
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Brit tries to become officially the oldest person to climb Kilimanjaro
Posted by Henry at 8:39 pm, July 5th 2010.
Next Friday George Solt, from Maidenhead in the UK, will begin his attempt to be officially recognised as the oldest man ever to stand at the summit Kilimanjaro.
Mr Solt, who is 82, will be climbing on the Machame Route and taking 8 days in total to reach the summit and descend again, will be accompanied on his climb by five members of his family.
Those Kilimanjaro-buffs among you will note that Mr Solt is in fact five years younger than Valtee Daniel, the mysterious Frenchman who at 87 is accepted by some as the oldest man on the summit. But Mr Daniel's climb has never been recognised by the Guinness Book of Records, who insist on certain rules being followed in order for a climber's claim to be accepted. In particular, the record attempt has to be verified by independent witnesses, must be filmed and photographed as well as meticulously documented in a log book.
As such, they currently have American Carl Haupt as the oldest man, as he reached the summit aged 79 back in 2004.
We do of course wish Mr Solt every success and hope to bring you news of his attempt as it happens.
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4wheelbob is gunning for Kilimanjaro
Posted by Henry at 10:46 am, July 2nd 2010.
In another of our very occasional bulletins on extraordinary people attempting to overcome insurmountable obstacles to climb Kilimanjaro, news has reached us that Bob Coomber, aka 4wheelBob, has set his sights on climbing Africa's highest mountain. As you may have guessed from his moniker, Bob is wheelchair bound, having developed juvenile diabetes in the 1970s, when he was still in his twenties.
Bob as a bit of previous in this field: in 2007 Bob he was the first person in a wheelchair to conquer California’s third highest peak, White Mountain (14,246'). Bob has also navigated his chair up two other Californian peaks, Mt. Diablo and North Peak, as well as Mission Peak in Fremont. In October of 2010, Bob plans to move things up a gear by tackling Kilimanjaro.
The Kilimanjaro trip is being sponsored, with the money raised going towards distributing 200 wheelchairs in Arusha, in partnership with The Wheelchair Foundation of Danville.
There are a number of ways you can keep up with Bob's project and see how his preparation is going:
Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/mkwc2010
Blogtalkradio Interview:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/joehackman/2009/12/10/mt-kili-in-a-wheelchair
Hiking Report Site:
http://www.ebparks.org/bobcoomber
We do of course wish him the very best of luck, and will hopefully let you know how he gets on during his expedition. Good luck Bob!
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Climb for Autism
Posted by Henry at 12:02 pm, June 14th 2010.
I have received a poignant email from a lady who is climbing on behalf of autism this year. In a break with tradition, rather than paraphrase her email I have decided to print it as it was received this morning:
" My name is Jackie Knechtel. I am a speech pathologist in NYC. A year ago I lost my brother. This was a catalyst for me to live my dream and now I am currently traveling around the world for a year and seeing and doing everything I can and living life to the fullest!. For the last leg of my journey I am gearing up to head to Africa! For the past few weeks I have been training body and mind to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro the tallest free standing mountain in the world and the tallest mountain in Africa:19,340 feet (5,895 meters) for a cause very close to my heart. For the past 10 years I have dedicated my life to working with children with Autism. I climb for them. I am new to climbing and suffer from altitude induced asthma. What I will put myself through is nothing compared to the challenges that families with children with Autism face on a daily basis.
Autism is the second most common developmental disorder in the United States affecting one in every 110 children born today. 1 in 100 births in Australia. It is an epidemic all across the globe. Despite some promising discoveries, the cause of autism is unknown and a cure does not exist. Research is crucial. Every 20 minutes another child is diagnosed with autism. Not only must we find ways to improve the quality of life for children and adults with autism, but we also must find a cure, and soon!
My goal is to raise much needed funds for Autism Speaks. I am nearly a quarter of the way to reaching my goal of $10,000! If just 75 people each contribute $100 I'm there! Please contribute whatever you can; no amount is too large or too small. Every donation received is will help motivate me to reach the summit!
Check out my interview in the ASHA Leader !!:
http://www.asha.org/Publications/leader/2010/100518/Kilimanjaro-Climb.htm
Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support Autism Speaks:
http://givenow.autismspeaks.org/climbingforacause_jackie
Thank you for taking an important step in the fight against autism. A special thanks to those who have already donated! Please pass this email on to anyone you know and contact me if you have media connections so together we can reach as many people as possible!"
We wish Jackie every success with her climb and will let you know how she gets on with her climb.
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Want to climb for the good of Tanzania?
Posted by Henry at 4:11 pm, June 1st 2010.
A charity group has recently been in touch asking for people to consider their cause when it comes to choosing a charity to climb for. The Touch Foundation. We are involved in helping to strengthen Tanzania's health system via a variety of private/public partnerships and developing a model that can be replicated throughout Africa to provide a sustainable solution to the current health care crisis in sub Saharan Africa. You can find out more about their work at www.touchfoundation.org .
They are now launching a new project called "Climb for Health" campaign in which climbers will raise awareness and money for Touch's work in Tanzania while attempting to summit Mount Kilimanjaro. Unlike many of the charity treks featured on this site, we are not doing it on a set date with a group of people, but are looking to give individual climbers (who would be coming to Kilimanjaro anyway) a chance to climb for a cause. You can read more about their campaign at http://whocarescampaign.org/images/ClimbforHealth_TouchFoundation_28.pdf
Interested? Then contact Joshua Doying at Joshua_Doying@external.mckinsey for details.
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Fancy climbing for Children Today?
Posted by Henry at 7:40 am, May 26th 2010.
A British charity is looking for climbers to join them on a sponsored trek up Africa's highest mountain. The charity, Children Today, is a small British charity founded in 1994 to help disabled children and young people up to the age of 25 enjoy a better quality of life by providing them with the specialised equipment they need.
The provision of equipment and aids is vital in helping children and young people overcome their disabilities and enable them to lead full and active lives with their families and friends.
They have alreay organised a climb for September this year. This is, alas, now full so they are now looking for people to join their climb on the Marangu Route between March 4-11 2011.
To find out more about the charity and their climb, visit http://www.children-today.org.uk
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Want to know how you'll fare at altitude?
Posted by Henry at 3:05 pm, May 4th 2010.
Last week I was fortunate enough to be shown around London’s Altitude Centre (www.altitudecentre.com).
Set in the heart of Covent Garden on Drury Lane - at an altitude of approximately 25m above sea level - those clever people at the Altitude Centre are able to recreate the lack of atmospheric pressure present at high altitudes.
While the centre was set up initially with an emphasis on helping athletes to conduct high-altitude training while never leaving the capital, the service they provide is of course of great interest to those about to head to very high altitudes – such as those about to climb Kilimanjaro!
Indeed, a visit to the Centre is perhaps the most reliable way of checking to see if you are likely to suffer from altitude sickness or not. And if it should transpire that, according to their assessment of you, they predict that you are likely to succumb to altitude sickness, then they have a training program that, if carried out a few weeks prior to your departure, should help you to acclimatise more efficiently on the mountain.
So how does it all work? Well the altitude centre is equipped with several clever contraptions called a hypoxicator. Place the mask over your mouth and nose, and the air you breathe will contain less oxygen than the 20.9% present at sea level – and thus mimics the effect of being at altitude.
(Pedants will point out that at altitude the level of oxygen present in the air remains at 20.9% - it is the atmospheric presure that changes. Nevertheless, the effect of reducing the amount of oxygen in the air has the same effect on the body; and by steadily reducing the amount of oxygen that one breathes, the hypoxicator can thus mimic the conditions present at ever0higher altitudes).
Before being strapped to one of these machines, however, first-time visitors to the centre receive an hour-long consultation about altitude and its potential effects on the body. They are then asked to put on the hypoxicator mask and a series of tests are run in order to see how the person may react to being at altitude.
If it transpires that the person is likely to fare badly when taken to altitude, then the centre offers the chance for people to acclimatise before heading off to Africa. By training for about two-three weeks prior to the trek while on a hypoxicator, a person can increase the number of red blood cells (which take about 15 days to grow, and remain for about 3-4 months) – the essential component in acclimatisating to altitude.
All very impressive, of course, and we really think there are major benefits available from using the centre to those about to climb Kilimanjaro. However, there is of course a price for all this high-tech: the initial one-hour consultation is £99. While a 15-day course to help you acclimatise costs £299.
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Kilimanjaro GPS waymarks now online
Posted by Henry at 12:12 pm, May 2nd 2010.
We have finally published our GPS waymarks online. These waymarks, or waypoints, have taken by us over the past few years and cover all the routes on the mountain.
The relevant webpage is http://www.climbmountkilimanjaro.com/on-the-mountain/gps%20waypoints/kilimanjaro%20gps%20waypoints.html
The waymarks, which were previously available only in our book (and thus were not downloadable), are saved as .gdb files. The format we have used for these waypoints is known as UTM and the map datum is WGS 84 (37M) - though you can change both of these on a Garmin GPS by going to ‘Units setup’ on the ‘Settings’ menu, then changing the position format and map datum as necessary.
By downloading them onto your computer and then uploading them onto your GPS unit, you should have a fairly decent plot of your trek.
Note that those on our Unique Rongai Route can email me for GPS waypoints of this route.
Any comments on these waypoints and their accuracy will be gratefully received. Thanks.
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Climb for Diabetes
Posted by Henry at 11:20 am, April 14th 2010.
In June of next year Bruce Fraser will be aiming to climb Africa's Highest Mountain, Kilimanjaro, in aid of Diabetes UK.
Bruce decided to take the plunge and attempt the climb after his son, Kris, was diagnosed with diabetes in 2007. Diabetes is a growing condition as more and more people develop it, especially Type 2, or "late onset" as it's otherwise known. The charity is world-reknowned for its research and support to diabetics, its website being particularly well-developed and informative.
As if climbing for this worthwhile charity wasn't reason enough to tackle Kili, Bruce is also going to be celebrating his 51st birthday in Tanzania.
You can donate to Bruce's climb at http://www.diabeteschallenge.org.uk/challenge/brucefraserkilimanjaro
He has also set up a blog about his preparations for the climb at http://www.raven-wilderness.blogspot.com
We d of course wish Bruce every success and will keep in touch with his progress throughout the next year.
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Spectacular conditions on Kilimanjaro
Posted by Henry at 8:33 am, March 30th 2010.
A few of our clients who have come of the mountain in the past few days have talked about the terrible weather currently hitting Kilimanjaro. Bad weather at this time of year is, of course, nothing unusual - it is, after all, the start of the main rainy season and April/May are often difficult times to climb, so the fact that the end of March is also tough is no great surprise. What is surprising is just how bad they are, with snow strecthing down below Horombo and very wet conditions at the bottom. Indeed, one of our guides, Freddie Achedo, was saying that he had never seen such bad conditions - and he has climbed over 320 times!
One of our trekkers, KK Condon, has kindly agreed to allow people to see her photos that she has put onilne.
The address is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kkcondon/sets/72157623732799478/
The photos on this Flickr site don't look too bad - at least until Kibo, when the snow suddenly seems very heavy and covers the entire summit! But suffice to say that it did make trekking a very difficult affair - KK explained that it took the three of them twelve hours to get from Barafu to the summit (it should take about six) - and they believe they were (unsurprisingly) the only people on the summit that day.
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Climbers wanted for Kujali International charity climb
Posted by Henry at 10:05 pm, March 28th 2010.
We've received an email from Sarah Lowe of Kujali International requesting that we put out an advert for trekkers, who are needed for their fundraiser challenge to finish building a secondary school outside of Dar es Salaam by organizing a climb of Mt Kilimanjaro in August.
According to their website, www.kujali.org, those interested will need to sign up by the end of March - and have to commit to raising US$10,000 (!)
Further details are available on the website, where you can also find a link to a promotional video they have made (the video is at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oF7sSVfsNc).
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Climb for Brain Tumour Research
Posted by Henry at 9:47 am, March 24th 2010.
In September this year two plucky young Brits will be taking on the challenge of climbing Africa's highest mountain in aid of Brain Tumour Research.
Kelly Jo Hearsey and her friend Mandy Bocker were inspired to climb Kilimanjaro after Kelly's son's classmate, Taylan, died aged 7 from a rare form of brain tumour.
They have set up a justgiving page to help them collect the £7000 they are hoping to raise in sponsorship money. You will also find on this site links to their weblogs, which they are producing for every stage of their preparation and climb.
The address is www.justgiving.com/KellyMandjaro - which is just about the cleverest 'justgiving' webpage title I've seen.
We do of course wish them both well - and will keep you updated on their progress and how they get on when they're actually on the mountain.
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Climb for Generosity Water
Posted by Henry at 11:07 am, March 20th 2010.
In January next year Heidi Hurst will be climbing for Generosity Water, an organization dedicated to helping end the world water crisis. The goal is to raise enough to fund at least 10 clean water wells in needy third-world countries (approx. $90,000).
Heidi has created a website to advertise her climb and allow people to follow her progress: www.justaddwaterproject.org
We do of course wish Heidi well and will let you know of her progress in the months leading up to her trek.
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Mauly Tours greatly improved say KPAP
Posted by Henry at 8:44 am, March 11th 2010.
I have just received an email from Karen Valenti, 'boss' of the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project that fights for the rights and welfare of porters on God's Greatest Mountain.
In the email, Karen, surprisingly for those who know the previous reputation of the company, praises the Moshi-based trekking agency Mauly Tours.
As Karen writes: "I would like for you to know that Mauly has taken major steps to be in compliance with KPAP's guidelines. These include the weighing procedures, [and] use of tipping sheets and salary records in which each of the crew sign for the payments.
"I honestly am quite impressed with their current performance. We will need to monitor their activities the remaining of the season, particularly with porter interviews. But I do see that they have a very good potential of becoming a Partner for Responsible Travel soon."
This is very good news, particuarly as previously Mauly had been renowned as one of the worst performers when it came to porter welfare. We would like to offer our congratulations to Mauly for the steps they have taken - and to KPAP, of course, for persuading one of the larger operators on Kilimanjaro to improve its treatment of their staff.
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We're travelling around Tanzania!
Posted by Henry at 10:47 am, February 13th 2010.
Just a quick note to say that we will be travelling around bits of Tanzania over the next couple of weeks. As such, do please be patient if you haven't had a response to any emails you send us over the next fortnight. We will, of course, answer all emails as soon as we are able.
Thanks for your understanding!
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Microsoft executives to climb Kilimanjaro for Africa
Posted by Henry at 7:53 am, February 12th 2010.
At the end of this month Microsoft Africa executives will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with the intention of raising funds for Miracle Corners of the World (MCW). The funds raised by Microsoft employees, partners and customers will be used to help build learning centres in African countries, as part of Microsoft Africa’s broader initiative to support educational development on the African continent, giving back to the communities within which it operates.
MCW is a non-profit organization founded in 1999. Its vision is Local Change Through Global Exchange and its mission is to empower youth to become leaders of change. Please visit www.miraclecorners.org to donate to the initiative.
We wish them all the best on the mountain - and will let you know how they get on!
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Climb for Muscular dystrophy and Out of Afrika
Posted by Henry at 8:55 am, February 11th 2010.
In September of this year Jude Mahoney, along with friends Peter Glenn and Jia Yan Gu, are climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for two charities, the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign and Out of Afrika - a charity founded in the UK that works at grass roots level with communities in Kenya to promote education to orphans and disadvantaged children to increase self-sufficiency and long term sustainability. We're looking to raise £15,000 - an ambitious amount by anyone's reckoning - which is why they have begun to advertise their climb 8 months in advance; and wy they've got in touch with us to help them in their fundraising. Which we are of course happy to do so.
Theire website is www.kjaro.co.uk.
We do of course wish them well in their endeavours.
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Climb to to raise awareness of pulmonary hypertension
Posted by Henry at 9:37 pm, February 9th 2010.
On February 19-26, pulmonary hypertension (PH) specialists and Pulmonary Hypertension Association Scientific Leadership Council members, Drs. Ray Benza and Robert Frantz, along with Jessica Lazar, PA, will know firsthand what it means to be breathless. For in a joint effort to raise global awareness of PH - a condition which occurs physiologically while ascending to high altitude), they will tackle the ultimate challenge - climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain!
In addition to raising awareness of pulmonary hypertension, they also hope to raise $100,000 for PH research.
They have set up a website about their expedition at: http://www.phassociation.org/pathtoacure/
They have also set up a training blog at www.pathtoacure.blogspot.com
We do, of course, wish them well in their climb - and will hopefully let you know how they get on!
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Third Edition of Kilimanjaro guidebook here at last!!
Posted by Henry at 11:48 am, January 25th 2010.
We're delighted (well, relieved more than anything) to be able to annunce that the long-awaited third edition is finally - FINALLY! - here. We received a boxload this morning, and presuably they'll be in the shops ery shortly too.
We do apologise to everyone who's been waiting, particularly those who've written to me wondering where they can get hold of a copy - plus, of course, those who are climbing with us and who hae been (patiently) waiting for their complementary copy too. I will personally be sending those out over the next couple of days. I will also be sorting out the Amazon links (right) so that you can once more buy the book through this website.
Once again, thanks for patience over the past few weeks.
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Third edition on its way!!
Posted by Henry at 12:05 pm, January 2nd 2010.
The third edition of our bestselling guide to Kilimanjaro is finally on its way back from the printers and should be in your shops in the next month. I have seen a copy now – so I know it exists! – and it should be in the shops soon.
I notice that Amazon.com (ie the US) are estimating that they will have the book available for sale on Feb 23 but I think they are being a touch pessimistic.
If it’s not already on general sale, then perhaps one of the best ways to get hold of a copy is at the Adventure Travel Show at the Royal Horticultural Halls at Victoria, London, 29-31 January 2010.
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Fifteen Welsh rugby captains to climb Kilimanjaro
Posted by Henry at 12:45 pm, December 3rd 2009.
In September 2010 15 Welsh rugby captains will be climbing Africa's highest mountain in aid of Velindre Cancer Centre's Stepping Stones Appeal. The climb was inspired by Sue Evans, the wife of Huw, the official photographer to the Welsh Rugby Union, who was diagnosed with lung cancer last year.
Among those taking part are euan Evans, Gareth Thomas, Scott Gibbs, Scott Quinnell, Garin Jenkins and Rob Howley, as well as the current Wales coach Warren Gatland. The aim of the climb is to raise 1m for the charity, which conducts research into lung cancer. Interestingly, one in five people who contract lung cancer don't actually smoke - including Sue herself.
We do of course wish the expedition well and will keep you up to date with their progress over the coming months leading up to the climb.
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The melting glaciers of Kilimanjaro – an update
Posted by Henry at 4:08 pm, November 27th 2009.
An article in this month’s Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has confirmed that Kilimanjaro will shortly be free of glaciers – for the first time in approximately 12,000 years.
Even more depressingly, contrary to recent science they have confirmed many people’s worst fears – that the blame for their disappearance can be aimed squarely at humanity and our deleterious effects on the world’s climate.
Scientists have been measuring the decline of Kilimanjaro’s glaciers since the milennium, and have recorded the decline of both the mountain’s Southern Icefield – which lost 5.1m in height between 2000 and 2007 – and the Furtwangler Glacier, which had shrunk by 4.8m (almost 50% of its depth) over the same period.
According to the article, the mountain has never before suffered such a decline in its icy summit – not even during a 300-year drought around 4200 years ago. It is this fact in particuar that led scientists to conclude that, while drier conditions regionally could lead to some loss of ice, the fact that so much ice has been lost recently suggests that the overall rise in world temperature must be at the main reason why Kilimanjaro is slowing losing its snowy mantle.
The scientists behind such gloomy forecasts are Professor Lonnie Thompson and Dr Doug Hardy, the leading lights in a team of climatologists from the University of Ohio whose work on Kilimanjaro and other glaciers around the world has done much to increase both our knowledge of the mountain and the long-term effects of climate change.
Currently, scientists reckon that Kilimanjaro's summit will be entirely free of ice around 2040 - though some put it as soon as 2020.
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Snake coughs up new species for scientist
Posted by Henry at 3:29 pm, November 26th 2009.
As you know, in addition to writing on all-things Kilimanjaro we also like to report on Tanzanian topics that, though only tenuously linked to the mountain, are diverting enough to mention anyway. In this instance, a new species of chameleon has been discovered in the southern mountains of Tanzania after it was spat up by a snake at the feet of a researcher.
Dr Andrew Marshall, a conservationist from York University, was actually s in the Magombera forest to survey the monkeys there, when he came across a twig snake in the undergrowth. Dr Marshall's astonishment was as nothing to the snake's, which sicked up the chameleon out of sheer terror before fleeing deeper into the forest. Rather than giving the snake's 'gift' a wide berth, the good doctor did what every decent scientist would and took photographs to send to colleagues, who confirmed that it was a species previously unknown to science.
The events described actually took place in 2005 but it is only now that the creature has been recognised as being a new species - with chameleons, given their changing colour it's difficult to actually make sure that a new discovery is just that, and not merely an unusual example of a known species.
This chameleon has been christened Kinyongia magomberae, after the forest in which it was found. Dr Marshall is hoping that the discovery of this chameleon will be enough to convince the authorities to provide some sort of official status to this as-yet unprotected forest.
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Solar eclipse will be visible from Kilimanjaro
Posted by Henry at 3:20 pm, November 20th 2009.
As if the thrill of climbing Africa's highest mountain wasn't exciting enough, word has reached us that a solar eclipse in mid-January 2010 will be visible from Kilimanjaro.
The eclipse is due on the morning of 15 January. The eclipse is one of only four that will be happening across the globe this year, and is known technically as an annular eclipse because it is one that occurs when the Moon covers the centre of the Sun, but not its edges, leaving a ring (or annulus) of the Sun visible around its edges.
Though Kilimanjaro lies just too far to the south of the 300km-wide trail across Kenya along which it is possible to see the entire annular eclipse, those in northern Tanzania and on Kilimanjaro will witness a partial eclipse. The phenomenon will occur at around 8.30am, when presumably a few stragglers will be making their way around the crater rim. Indeed, it may even be worth delaying your final climb to Uhuru Peak to coincide your arrival there with the eclipse.
So if you're toying with the idea of a Kilimanjaro climb, but weren't sure when, this could just be the incentive you need! (Though if you head to Kilimanajro at this time, make sure you take suitable protection for your eyes and don't look direcctly at the sun at any time.)
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Female paraplegic to climb Kilimanjaro
Posted by Henry at 3:05 pm, November 11th 2009.
In January of next year, Erica Davis is aimng to become the first paraplegic female - and only the second paraplegic ever - to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Erica has been paralysed since 2005 when a microscopic bleed in her spinal cord called a Cavernous Hemangioma which left her paralyzed from the chest down. Since then, however, she has competed in seven triathlons, over ten cycling races, and a few half and full marathons - most of which she won. She has also trained at two of the USA Olympic Training Centers and hopes to officially be on the USA Paralympic team in 2012.
On her climb she will be climbing with Tara Butcher, who lost her left leg below the knee in 2005 following a car accident.
A documentary, "Through the Roof", is being made that follows Erica and Tara's progress towards the summit. The aim of the climb and the documentary is to benefit the Challenged Athletes Foundation, an global charitable organization that assists challenged athletes achieve their athletic dreams.
For more information on the charity and the climb, please visit fit4kili.com.
We do, of course, wish both Erica and Tara every success with her expedition, and will let you know how they get on in due course.
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More information on the first paraplegic to conquer Kilimanjaro
Posted by Henry at 4:31 pm, October 6th 2009.
It appears that the news that a paraplegic has reached the summit of Kilimanjaro is true! On September 30 2009 Chris Waddell, a paralympian skier from Park City, Utah, who had previously earned renown as the most decorated male skier in Paralympic history, winning twelve medals over four winter games (as well as participating in three summer games too), reached the summit via the Marangu Route with his One Revolution team. Waddell thus became the first paraplegic to complete the climb all the way to the summit, beating fellow American and army veteran Darol Kubacz who (contrary to previous reports) in October 2008 made it not to the summit but to an altitude of 18,400ft (around 5608m) before having to turn back through exhaustion.
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Paraplegic conquers Kilimanjaro!
Posted by Henry at 5:22 pm, October 2nd 2009.
Reports are coming in of a successful attempt on the summit of Africa's highest mountain, Kilimanjaro, by Chris Waddell, from Utah, a paraplegic who made it to the top using a specially designed bomba bicycle. Mr Waddell, who broke his back 21 years ago while skiing, is used to a lifetime of overachieving, having won 12 medals in downhill ski racing over four Paralympic Games, made it to the top on Wednesday according to reports. And though he may not be the first paraplegic to make it to the summit - Darol Kubacz, also from the US, is said to have reached the crater rim in October 2008 - he is nevertheless said to be the first to reach Uhuru Peak.
We will bring you more news about Chris' climb as soon as we get it.
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Climb for British Heart Foundation begins today
Posted by Henry at 8:42 am, September 26th 2009.
As I write this, Aman Modi from the UK will be just setting out in an attempt to reach the top of Kilimanjaro. In doing so, Aman hope to raise money for the Britisih Heart Foundation. It is a charity that is particularly close to Aman, after their father passed away through heart disease last year.
If you wish to sponsor Aman's efforts to reach the top of Africa's highest mountain, you can do so by visiting the justgivin page as follows:
http://www.justgiving.com/Aman-Modi
We wish Aman every success in the climb.
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Climb for children's village
Posted by Henry at 9:39 am, September 23rd 2009.
Between October 7-13 this year Hussein Alidina and friends Christina, Farhad and Paula will make a charity climb in aid of the SOS childrens village in Arusha. We have an ambitious target. They are hoping to raise the ambitious target of CA$15,000, which they estimate will be enough to enable 5 orphans in Arusha to have a home, an SOS Mother, food, clothing, school & medical care for a year.You can find out more about SOS by visiting http://www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk .
We think it's a very worthy cause; if you'd like to donate, you can visit their donating page at http://www.canadahelps.org/GivingPages/GivingPage.aspx?gpID=5091
We wish them all well in both their fundraising and their trek.
> http://www.canadahelps.org/GivingPages/GivingPage.aspx?gpID=5091 [1]
>
> Many thanks and keep up the great work.
>
> Best Wishes,
>
> The reaching new heights team - Christina, Farhad, Paula and Hussein
> http://www.canadahelps.org/GivingPages/GivingPage.aspx?gpID=5091 [2]
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Climb for MacMillan Cancer Relief
Posted by Henry at 11:11 am, September 19th 2009.
in Oct 2010 Maria Munro from the UK will be attempting to climb Kilimanjaro in aid of Macmillan Cancer. The charity is particularly close to Maria's heart, for in 2005 Maria's mum was diagnosed with brain cancer. Maria's stated aim is to raise £4000 for the charity, which to judge by her efforts so far will be a breeze: in the past month she has already raised £758 by hosting a women's 'Pamper' evening and a gig by local ban The Locks.
You can follow Maria's progress both in raising sponsorship money and training for the climb by visiting her weblog http://mariaclimbsmountkilimanjaro.blogspot.com/ . You'll also find details there on how to sponsor her, or you can go straight to her justgiving page at http://www.justgiving.com/mariamunro/.
We do of course wish Maria every success in raising cash and, of course, in getting to the summit. GOOD LUCK MARIA.
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Roman Abramovic's climb - the truth (well, as far as we know)
Posted by Henry at 11:09 am, September 15th 2009.
As you are all probably aware, billionaire and Chelsea owner Roman Abramovic recently failed in his attempt to conquer Kilimanjaro. There are tabloid papers in the UK that are running pictures of Roman on the mountain today.
To be honest, some of us are relieved that a high-profile climber didn't manage to reach the top: following Comic Relief's successful climb in which all nine climbers were said to have reached the top (though we have heard reports from some people who were closely associated with the climb who say that this wasn't the case anyway), at least Roman's experience proves that it is not as easy as the Comic Relief climb would have you believe. We received a rash of 'I want to climb Kilimanjaro' emails from people following the Comic Relief climb, but it was clear that a lot of them were from people who had no idea what it entails, nor how difficult it is, but who had been inspired by seeing Chris Moyles et al make it to the top.
Anyway, reading about Roman's climb in the Sunday newspapers, we have been made aware of a few inaccuracies in the reports. So here is what we believe to be an accurate summary of the climb.
Roman climbed as part of a group of six, together with a crew of around 113. The company he used was African Environments. Contrary to earlier reports, he did not climb via the Western Breach but instead took the Lemosho Route via Barafu. And it was at Barafu that he decided to stop after consultation with his doctor, having suffered from a bad cough since the first day of the trek. Apparently there was a strong possibility that he could have made it, but it was decided in the interests of safety not to go any further.
It was not the altitude and a lack of acclimatization that prevented him from attempting the summit climb.
The rest of his party continued the climb and made it to the top. Hopefully, the experience hasn't put Roman off and he will make another attempt on the mountain soon.
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Chelsea owner climbing Kilimanjaro
Posted by Henry at 9:25 am, September 6th 2009.
As I write this, the owner of Chelsea Football Club, billionaire Russian Roman Abramovic, is currently attempting to reach the top of Africa's Highest Mountain.
Abramovic, in Tanzania on a private visit, is making the assault together with six friends and bodyguards. He is hoping to reach Uhuru Peak via the 8 day Shira Route on the western slope of the mountain, via the Western Breach Wall.
Before the climb, Mr Abramovic arrived on a Boeing 747, a 200 seater jet for just his entourage, and stayed at The Rivertrees Inn, which was sealed off to outsiders during his residence.
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The best website on Kilimanjaro's changing climate - bar none
Posted by Henry at 3:25 pm, September 4th 2009.
Just thought I would point you in the direction of a superb weblog site by Dr Doug Hardy, one of the meteorological team from the University of Massachusetts that has done so much since 2000 in explaining the disappearing glaciers on Kilimanjaro and other natural phenomena. The weblog can be found at:
http://kiboice.blogspot.com/
In it you'll find all the very latest info on their research, as well as links to papers they have had published recently (and those boys clearly work hard, to judge by the amount of articles, interviews and papers they publish each month).
Really, if you have any interest in Kilimanjaro's climate and glaciers, this is definitely the first place to look. It's just wonderful.
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New record for youngest girl to climb Kilimanjaro
Posted by Henry at 8:36 pm, August 24th 2009.
Tanzanian Silipa Swai, daughter of Cuthbert, the boss of Moshi-based trekking agency Ahsante Tours, has broken the record for the youngest female to climb Kilimanjaro. She reached the summit on 20 August 2009 at 3.06pm, which means she was 10 years, 1 month, 1 day and 22hrs when she reached Uhuru peak, the summit of Kilimanjaro and the highest point in Tanzania.
She beats the previous record, held by Kaylee Moniz of the USA who was 10 years and 3 months old when she reached the summit on June 20, 2008
We do, of course, congratulate Silipa Swai - and her dad! - on her remarkable achievement. Fantastic!
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New blog on Kili
Posted by Henry at 7:44 am, August 23rd 2009.
We've just been sent details of a new blog on Kili. www.5895.co.uk is names after the height of Kili, as we're sure most of you know. It's written by David Dean and is about his climb with two friends on Kilimanjaro in aid of diabetes UK. It's not a large blog and is amusingly written, so if you fancy getting a trekkers' eye view on the climb, this is a diverting website.
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Macmillan's Mr Challenge attempts fourth expedition on Kilimanjaro
Posted by Henry at 2:50 pm, August 20th 2009.
Next October David Knight will be climbing Kilimanjaro with Macmillan Cancer Support. Nothing unusual in that, of course, except that this will be the fourth time that he has undertaken one of the cancer charity's challenges, having previously 'done' the Inca Trail in Peru in 2004, the Grand Canyon Hiking Challenge in 2006 and the Nepal Hiking challenge in 2008.
If you want to sponsor David in his endeavours next year you can visit his JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/David-Knight
We do, of course, wish David every success in what he admits will be his toughest challenge yet.
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Jack's very own justgiving webpage
Posted by Henry at 2:29 pm, August 11th 2009.
Following on from the news this week of Jack Harley-Walsh's record-breaking climb, I have been advised by his handler/agent/mum that he has his own justgiving webpage, should you wish to donate to his charities.
The address is www.justgiving.com/JacksAmazingAfricanAdventure
I hope to have more details of his climb soon.
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Ten-year old Jack Harley-Walsh successful in his climb!
Posted by Henry at 2:18 pm, August 10th 2009.
I have just received a couple of pictures - no text, just pictures - that proves that Jack Harley Walsh has successfully summited in his attempt to climb Kilimanjaro. I have no details yet, but I think this makes Jack the youngest Brit to successfully scale Africa's highest mountain.
Will bring you more news when we get it. Until then - NICE ONE JACK!
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Ten year old climbs Kilimanjaro for charity
Posted by Henry at 6:53 am, August 5th 2009.
As I write, a ten-year old boy from Berkshire is attempting to become the youngest Brit to conquer Africa's highest mountain.
Jack Harley-Walsh, of Ascot, is trekking with his mum. He's already given himself the best possible chance by conquering the neighbouring peak of Mount Meru - the perfect acclimatizqtion trek for Kili.
Jack is collecting for two charities, the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust and Sebastian's Action Trust; the latter is a small local charity that was set up in memory of Sebastian Gates, from Binfield, near Wokingham, who died of cancer in 2003 aged nine. The trust runs a holiday home where sick children can visit with their families.
You can sponsor Jack and donate to his worthy causes by visiting his justgiving.com webpage at www.justgiving.com/jackharley-walsh
We do of course wish jack every success with his climb and will let you know how he gets on.
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We're on the mountain again
Posted by Henry at 10:32 am, July 25th 2009.
Just to inform everyone that we are going back on the mountain from tomorrow until the 2 August. Please do keep on sending in your emails as usual: your photos for the Hall of Fame, your experiences and anecdotes about your time on Kilimanjaro, your news about forthcoming climbs and your enquiries about climbing with us - and I promise we'll answer them all as soon as we return back down to Earth.
Thanks for your patience over the coming week or so. Look forward to reading all your emails when we return!
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Blind climbers reach summit of Kilimanjaro
Posted by Henry at 5:52 am, July 17th 2009.
After a year of intense training, a group of blind climbers along with sighted guides from Phoenix-based non-profit Foundation for Blind Children, reached the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa on Monday, June 29, 2009 via the Machame route.
The entire team of 25 hikers started the trek up Mt. Kilimanjaro on Tuesday, June 22, 2009, and was guided by Expedition Leader and Foundation for Blind Children board member, Kevin Cherilla, from KC Summits. The team consisted of 8 blind climbers and 17 sighted guides.
Reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro at 19,340 ft. is an incredible feat in itself, but climbing blind is an entirely different story. Indeed, as they themselves boast, there were some remarkable individual feats among their party. It is possible, for example, that one of their party, Thomas L. Hicks, was the first blinded US veteran to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro, or that another, Adam Messler, was the first albino to summit Kilimanjaro. It's also possible that a third member, Max Ashton (13), son of Foundation for Blind Children CEO, Marc Ashton, is the youngest blind climber to summit - though there are plenty of other rivals to that crown.
Nevertheless, their feats are astounding. As experienced Kili guide Nickson Moshi, who has guided over 200 groups to the top of Kilimanjaro, said: “This is very rare to have such a large group all summit, but to summit together with two children and 8 blind climbers. Truly remarkable.”
Full details about the entire climb can be read in the blog featured on www.SeeKiliOurWay.org.
Congratulations to everyone involved.
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9-year-old reaches Gillman's Point
Posted by Henry at 12:39 pm, July 13th 2009.
On July 2, nine-year-olld Parker Phillips from Sterling, Virginia, reached Gillman's Point on the crater rim of Kilimanjaro, an altitude of 18,638 feet.
While not the youngest person to reach the crater rim - Keats Boyd from Los Angeles reached Uhuru Peak, the actual summit of Kilimanjaro, on 21 January 2008 aged just 7 - it was nevertheless a good effort by Parker. As his father, Todd Phillips, who was also on the expedition, says, “It’s interesting to note that in climbing to Gillman’s Peak at 18,638 feet Parker has already climbed higher than the summit of Mt. Elbrus, Mt. Vinson, and the Carstensz Pyramid.”
We congratulate Parker on his achievement.
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Cerebral palsy sufferer to climb for SCOPE
Posted by Henry at 4:11 pm, June 26th 2009.
On Jan 28th 2010 Steve Curtis-Read of Thatcham in Berkshire will be embarking on, in his words, 'an epic fundraising challenge' (ie climb to the summit Kilimanjaro) in an attempt to raise money for the British charity SCOPE.
As many of you will know already, SCOPE help and support young children and their families who suffer with Cerebral Palsy. And it's a chairty that's particularly close to Steve's heart - he was born with the condition.
Steve's first aim before he even gets onto the mountain is to raise the minimum sponsorship of £3250 - not easy given today's financial situation. However, as Steve says, if everyone gives what they can it'll soon add up -- allowing him more time to 'concentrate on the training.'
If you wish to help Steve in his attempt to raise money, you can donate via his justgiving.com webpage at: www.justgiving.co.uk/stevecurtisread . You can also search for Steve's group's facebook page: Steve Climbs Kilimanjaro.
We do of course wish Steve the best of luck with his endeavours, and hope to be able to tell you of his successful climb next January.
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Climb for clean water in Kenya
Posted by Henry at 11:25 am, June 22nd 2009.
In September 2009 Americans Lisa and Gary Bagwell from Bend, in Oregon, are hoping to reach the summt of Kilimanjaro in their quest to raise funds for Nomad Charities.
According to the charity's website, "Nomad Charities is both a registered NGO in Kenya and a registered non-profit in the US that seeks to improve the quality of lives of adults and children who are homeless, exploited and orphaned by the devastation of the HIV/AIDS crisis in Kenya, through programs and services, so that they may realize their full potential in society".
Lisa and Gary's mission is to raise money and awareness to help tackle the need for clean drinking water by raising funds to help construct a large water project within the district of Kibwezi, Kenya. The project includes the drilling of a borehole, the construction of a centrally located water tower, which will be powered by solar energy and an intricate layout of pipes which will be linked to five water kiosks throughout the community of Kibwezi.
As Lisa says in her email, "The Kibwezi Water Project will benefit thousands of community members and provide a means for farmers to increase their crop output as well as provide clean drinking water for local families."
Gary and Lisa will be climbing on the lovely Lemosho Route for their climb. You can sponsor them by visiting the Nomad Charities website http://www.nomadcharities.org where you’ll find links to their adventure.
We do of course wish them well, and will update you on their progress when they update us!
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Two brothers climb Kilimanjaro in their fight against malaria
Posted by Henry at 9:52 am, June 19th 2009.
In July this year two brothers from America are going on an epic adventure in order to raise both awareness about, and funds to fight, Africa's number one killer: malaria.
The brothers, Greg and Brandon Bargo, are both mountain guides, and in July of this year they will lead a team of seven climbers on Kilimanjaro's Umbwe Route.
But their adventure doesn't end there, for after the climb the two brothers will be mounting their bikes and cycling to Mount Kenya, where they will attempt to conquer Batian Peak. From there, it's back on the bikes to cycle to Lake Victoria, before swopping pedal power for paddle power as they attempt to kayak to Uganda, in order to cyce to and then climb Mt. Stanley and summit Margherita Peak.
As Greg explains, during their epic odyssey they hope to "stop off at villages to build relationships with the African people and help educate them about malaria." They also hope to raise about US$15,000 for tested and reliable malaria medication.
This is of course a major undertaking and you can follow their progress and donate to their cause by visiting their website at www.onebloodinitiative.org .
We do of course wish the brothers well, and hope to be able to report on thier progress through the summer.
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eight blind Americans in attempt to climb Kili
Posted by Henry at 1:57 pm, June 18th 2009.
On 23 June this year, eight blind students from the Foundation for Blind Children, along with 16 guides, will make the trek to summit of Kilimanjaro. Their goal is to raise $500,000 for Foundation for Blind Children programs.
The team will spend eight nights on the mountain, climbing via the Machame Route and summiting on the seventh day. They have set up a website to promote the climb, www.seekiliourway.org/, in which you can learn more about their climb, the training they have undergone - as well as read a little on the background of each of the participants involved.
In addition to the climb they are also hoping to visit a school for the blind in Arusha, their trip culminating in a safari.
This really is a worthy cause. If you wish to learn more - or to donate to their charity - then please visit www.seekiliourway.org/. As their website says, "Help us make a difference, and See Kili Our Way!"
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Charity climb for Cerebral Palsy
Posted by Henry at 4:46 pm, June 13th 2009.
In January 2010, two brave souls will be pitting themselves against Africa's Highest Mountain in aid of cerebral palsy. Robert Hawlor and Dawn Jones, from Wakefield, are hoping to raise £7000 for their exploits.
As I'm sure most of you are aware, this is a very worthwhile cause. Every 6 hours a child is born with cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is the most commonly diagnosed physical condition in the UK, and occurs around the time of birth when part of the brain fails to develop properly. It can happen to any child. Scope is the largest charity in the UK working with people with cerebral palsy, their families and carers.
Robert and Dawn have certainly gone to great lengths to promote their climb in their attempts to raise such an ambitious amount. There are three websites dedicated to their climb The first is a Wordpress blog (http://kilamanjaro2010fundraising.wordpress.com/about/) that keeps readers up to date with their progress both with their training - and their attempts to raise sponsorship. They have also set up a justgiving.com (http://www.justgiving.com/roberthawlor) page to help them collect sponsorship online, and a facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=110501095588&ref=ts).
We do of course wish them both well - and will let you know how they get on in January.
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Climb Kilimanjaro for Amani!
Posted by Henry at 3:54 pm, June 8th 2009.
One of our favourite Tanzanian charities, Amani, the children's orphanage in Moshi at the foot of Kilimanjaro, are offering trekkers a chance to climb Kilimanjaro FOR JUST £10!
Bruce Thew, one of Amani's long-time suppiorters, is hosting an Amani Children's Home Golf Day for the second year in a row this September. Intrepid Guerba, is offering two free treks up to the Roof of Africa as a raffle prize for Bruce’s event, while Bruce’s company, Activenes Consultancy, will contribute £500 per person towards the costs of flights. Every cent raised in the raffle will go to help the Amani children.
Whether you have an adventurous spirit – or want to make a difference with your feet firmly on the ground – this is a great opportunity. Last year the climb raffle raised nearly £5000, sending 53 children to primary school for an entire year. With your help we can make it possible to give more children the opportunities that an education brings.
Visit http://www.justgiving.com/brucethew1 to buy your raffle tickets today!
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More celebrities to climb Kilimanjaro
Posted by Henry at 11:23 am, May 6th 2009.
Following on from March's successful expedition by a group of British celebrities, squeaky-voiced singing sensation and Britney Spear's ex, Justin Timberlake, is planning to climb Kilimanjaro with his mate, hip-hop artist Lupe Fiasco, in the autumn. They will be joining Ethiopian-born singer Kenna on the climb, which has been arranged to raise awareness of the worldwide water crisis.
In an interview with Elle magazine, Kenna explained his reasons behind organising the expedition: "My dad almost died as a child from waterborne diseases in Ethiopia, and he had talked to me about digging a well there, and I thought, 'I have too many friends who would be concerned with the subject of clean water. Maybe I can help out."
We do of course wish them well on the trek and will keep you informed of their progress as they prepare for the climb.
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Climbers wanted for Autism trek
Posted by Henry at 2:16 pm, April 28th 2009.
On the 20-29 November around a dozen brave souls will be pitting themselves against Africa's highest mountain in aid of the South African chairty Autism Western Cape - and you have a chance to join them.
Gerhard Pieterse has written to tell us that, though there are 11 on the climb, there are one or two spaces free for those who want to climb for this charity. However, as Gerhard says, while he would welcome other climbers 'if someone is going to join it would be on the basis that the individual understand he/she will be expected to raise funds for Autism and not join the trek because it’s a life dream to summit Kili.
To find out more about the charity, visit www.autismwesterncape.org.za , while for details on the trek itself visit http://www.zoopy.com/awckilimanjaro . Gerhard would welcome emails from both potential trekkers and, of course, donors.
We do of course wish Gerhard and friends well on their trek, and will let you know how they all do in due course.
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Women climbers in their sixties wanted for magazine article.
Posted by Henry at 6:55 am, April 16th 2009.
I have been contacted by Emma Pritchard who is looking for women in their sixties (or older) who have climbed Kilimanjaro recently for charity. She would like to interview somebody who fits this description for a magazine article she is writing for July's issue of Women & Home.
If this sounds like you - or someone you know - we'd be very grateful if you could get in touch with us here at the usual address (postmaster@climbmountkilimanjaro.com) and I'll pass on your details to Emma.
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Donations - and climbers! - required for Canadian MS chaity climb
Posted by Henry at 3:08 pm, April 9th 2009.
Belinda Lamoca, from Toronto, Canada, has written to tell us of an unusual charity project that raises money for a Canadian Multiple sclerosis charity.
In September 2008 23 climbers raised more than CA$155,000 by completing the Inca Trail, the first leg in a five-year project aiming to raise more than CA$1 million. The second leg is scheduled for October this year when climbers will be attempting to climb Kilimanjaro, with each member of the group charged with raising CA$10,000.
As Belinda says: “The vision of MS Climb is to raise awareness and support for Canadians living with MS, but more specifically it is to change the experience for people newly diagnosed with MS and to put a 'new face' on it for them so they can be confident they will lead an active life with the disease, and know that they can achieve their goals through perseverance and action. Proceeds support the MS Society of Canada which enables people affected by MS by enhancing their quality of life, providing them hope for the future through research seeking treatment and a cure, and through assistive services.”
Expeditions planned for future years include Everest Base Camp, the Great Wall of China and Canada’s very own Kilkoot Trail.
If you would like to sign up for the Kilimanjaro trek this year, or indeed any of the future MS climbs, you can visit their website at http://www.msclimb.ca/ . They also have a site that is supported by the Canadian MS Society who have details about their project at https://msofs.mssociety.ca/2009MISC/Sponsor.aspx?&PID=1067233&L=2 .
We wish Belinda and all members of MS Climb the best of luck on Kilimanjaro – and wherever else the project takes them.
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December climb for South African cancer charity
Posted by Henry at 12:37 pm, March 24th 2009.
In 2007 Candice Devlin from South Africa was diagnosed with having breast cancer. A little over a year later, and having successfully conquered the disease, Candice is now looking to scale Africa's highest mountain this December in order to raise funds for the Moments in Time project that helps cancer sufferers.
As Candice writes, she was lucky in one sense as at least her medical insurance paid for all the treatment she required. For one reason or another others, of course, don't have this sort of insurance and have to pay for all these expenses themselves. Which is where Candice's chosen beneficicary, Moments in Time, come in. Their charitable trust helps cancer sufferers to pay for their oncology treatment and provides other forms of support for those who have fallen victim to cancer.
You can find out more about the Moments in Time project by visiting www.momentsintime.co.za . While to find out more about Candice's climb, including details on how to sponsor her, visit www.doit4charity.org.za where you can find her climbing page.
We do of course wish Candice every success with her climb - after conquering cancer, climbing Kilimanjaro will surely be a doddle! - and will of course let you know how she gets on.
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Photographs of Kilimanjaro huts required
Posted by Henry at 2:07 pm, March 21st 2009.
An unusual request this one: one reader, a Phil Davis from Inverness in Scotland, has written in to ask if anyone could supply him with photographs of the ccommodation huts on Kilimanjaro back in the 1970s. Apparently, Mr Davis climbed the mountain back then but all his photographs from his climb have gone missing. He is particularly interested in any shots readers might have of Mandara, Kibo and the now defunct Peters Huts. One imagines that Kibo Huts will not have changed that much - certaintly the original building is still standing - but if anybody has shots of any of them, please do get in touch with us here and we will forward your details or photos onto Phil. Thanks.
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East Africans triumph at this year’s Kilimarathon
Posted by Henry at 7:44 am, March 16th 2009.
As is usual, the annual Kilimanjaro marathon was dominated by the East Africans last week. Kenya’s Johnston Kibet won the top prize of 3 million Tanzanian shillings in 2 hours, 15 minutes, 24 seconds, pipping local boy Patrick Nyangero by just ten seconds, while another Kenyan, Julius Kilimo, was third, just one second further back.
The women’s race was a similarly East African affair, Kenyans Jane Nyambura, Sally Lagat and Leah Kusar filling the top three places.
The half marathon competition was also dominated by East Africans, with Samuel Shauri winning the men’s race in 1 hour, 3 minutes ad 46 seconds, and Kenyan Hellen Mungo winning the women’s race in 1:17.14. The disabled half-marathon was won by Maulid Juma in 1:42.14.
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Comic Relief's Kilimanjaro celebs all safe and sound
Posted by Henry at 8:27 am, March 14th 2009.
As everyone in the UK is no doubt aware - and those outside of the UK won't care, as they won't know who these people are - the 9 celebrities who climbed Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief are all back in the UK. Indeed, they've even had a reception at Number 10, as a reward fo their efforts.
The 9, who include Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles, a couple of members each from Take That and Girls Aloud, singer Alesha, and TV presenters Fern Cotton, Ben Shepard and Denise Van Outen, all successfully made it to the top, though one or two needed the help of an injection of dexamethasone. Nevertheless, as anybody who's climbed the mountain before will agree, this was a fantastic achievement and all are to be congratulated.
I was on the mountain myself last week (which is why we're a bit late with this news) and there seemed to be a lot of sneering from other trekkers about the support team that the celebrities had. Which is a bit of a shame really, because as anybody who has climbed Kili will know, it doesn't matter how much of a back-up team you have - it's still a bloody hard mountain to climb; and anyone who successfully does so has my respect, and deserves all the plaudits that come their way.
I believe the documentary on their climb went out last night on British TV. Hopefully it gave a fair balance of what it's like to climb Africa's highest mountain - and also provided a massive boost to the fundraising efforts of Comic Relief.
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We're on the mountain again!
Posted by Henry at 6:18 pm, March 5th 2009.
Just to inform you that we are off on the mountain again from today, 6th March, until the 12th March. For this reason we will not be able to answer your emails until the 13th.
I hope you will bear with us during this time, and we promise to answer all your correspondence as soon as we get a chance. We will also bring you all the latest news from Africa’s greatest Mountain, including the latest reports on the Comic Relief Celebrity climb. (Latest reports: all made it safely to Karanga Campsite. Alesha was the first to fall over, and Gary Barlow is still having trouble with his back.)
Thanks for your patience over the coming seven days.
Enjoy your week,
Henry Stedman and the Climb Mount Kilimanjaro team
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The 2009 Kilimarathon
Posted by Henry at 6:54 am, February 26th 2009.
The Kilimanjaro marathon is here once more. This Sunday, 1 March, runners from all over the world will be racing round the 26-mile course in the shadow of Kilimanjaro.
As you may well know, however, the actual marathon is only part of the whole competition, for many of the runners taking part in Sunday's race will also be taking part in the Kiliman competition. This begins a couple of weeks before when competitors climb Kilimanjaro, before taking part in a round-Kilimanjaro bike race (for safety reasons the climb of Kilimanjaro is the only event that is not actually a race, it of course being unwise to try to climb Africa's highest mountain as quickly as possible). The person who makages to scale Kilimanjaro, then completes the bike ride and marathon in the fastest time, will be crowned Kiliman 2009!
The marathon itself begins at the stadium in Moshi before heading up to the Kilimanjaro village of Mweka, before turning round and heading down back towards the town. A half marathon has also been organised for those who don't fancy the whole course.
More details about the event, as well as previous year's results, can be found at http://www.kilimanjaromarathon.com/aboutfrm.htm .
We wish all the competitors the best of luck in what is surely one of the planet's toughest competitions.
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Gary Barlow in back spasm shocker!
Posted by Henry at 6:32 am, February 25th 2009.
One of the celebrities who will be climbing Kilimanjaro for the UK charity day Comic Relief, pop star Gary Barlow of former boy band Take That, has put his back out and may have to withdraw from the trek.
Mr Barlow, who along with eight other British celebrities was due to fly out to Tanzania this Friday, has been seeing a specialist for what has been described as a 'minor injury'.
A spokesman, however, has said that there is no cause for concern and the singer should be available for the trek after all.
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Fire damage on Kilimanjaro - an update
Posted by Henry at 4:43 pm, February 23rd 2009.
Earlier this month I finally managed to see for myself the damage caused by the latest fire to hit Kilimanjaro. The fire, which blazed for a couple of days on the mountain last October, effected a huge swathe of the heath and moorland zone on the Marangu Route, beginning soon after you leave the forest and continuing until about two thirds of the way to the Horombo Huts. As a result, a large portion of the second day's walking on this route is now conducted along a trail
Nobody is quite sure how the blaze started, though the usual suspects have been identified: honey collectors (who smoke out the bees from their hives in order to collect the honey), a discarded cigarette, and KINAPA themselves (the park authority), who may undertake this kind of 'arson' in order to regenerate the vegetation.
The swathe of charred heather and blackened shrubbery on this route now matches a similar scene of devestation on the other side of the mountain on the rongai Route, where once again on the second afternoon of that awlk, if you are taking the Mawenzi Tarn side-trip, much of the vegetation on that day is still blackened by a fire that took place about 18 months ago.
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Climbing Kilimanjaro - in Danish
Posted by Henry at 6:14 am, February 14th 2009.
Just before our recent trek up the mountain (Rongai Route, seven days, with nine out of ten trekkers making it to Uhuru; the tenth, and youngest, a 19-year-old from the UK, had to retire after 4 days with suspected appendicitis - further evidence that the older you are, often the more chance you have of making it to the summit!), we received an interesting email from Martin Fehr. Martin, from Denmark, who climbed Africa's highest mountain a while ago now, and has a couple of recommendations for us to put in the new edition of the book.
Rather than wait for the third edition to be published (September ths year), I thought I'd share Martin's thoughts with you here.The two main recommendations Martin makes are as follows:
* Advise people to bring "entertainment" for the trip. Many nights we regretted that we didn't bring books and magazines. We were lucky to have brought cards, and my portable speakers we of joy every single night - especially the night before the final climb, where we arrived at Barafu hut quite early in the afternoon and needed to waste time somehow.
* Don't be afraid to recommend climbing the mountain in end-April. Our porters were so happy to have work in low-season, we didn't get a lot of rain, and there were absolutely no climbers on the mountain besides us, which made our climb exceptionally great! Plus the top of the mountain was all covered in snow - a challenge, but soooo beautiful (it was great to be able to "sleigh" down the mountain as well)
While we do encourage people to bring entertainment for the trip already, the second point he makes is an interesting one, particularly as most agencies discourage climbing in the wet season and many even close their offices at this time. But as Martin rightly points out, you may get lucky with the weather - and the porters will certainly appreciate the work at this time of the year.
Martin has written about his experiences on Kili online. The only trouble is, it's all in Danish, though as Martin says, there are some pretty pictures to look at. The URL is:
http://martinfehr.blogspot.com/2008/04/so-whats-it-like-at-5895-m-above-sea.html
If anybody else has any other recommendations about climbing the mountain that they think are worth putting into the next edition, please do not hesitate to send them in!
Enjoy your weekend everybody,
Henry
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We're all on the mountain!
Posted by Henry at 5:38 am, February 5th 2009.
Please note that Henry and the team will be on the mountain from the 6th to 12th February. We will thus be unable to answer any correspondence during this time. However, please be assured that we will - Tanzania's internet connection willing - endeavour to answer all your emails as soon as we return.
Thanks for your patience - and have a good week.
Henry
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A Climb for British Soldiers
Posted by Henry at 10:04 am, February 4th 2009.
At the end of July this year Claire Cruddas, from Surrey in England, will be climbing Kilimanjaro on behalf of the Army Benevolent Fund. The climb is a lengthy 8 days – thereby giving her the best possible chance by giving herself time to acclimatise – and will be on the popular Machame Route.
The UK charity she is climbing for is commonly known as the “Soldiers’ Charity”, and helps both servicemen and former servicemen in times of need. This help can take many forms, from providing wheelchairs and stairlits to those injured in the line of duty, to providing holidays to full-time carers of former soldiers. You can find out more about the charity by logging on to www.armybenfund.org/index2.html
If you want to sponsor Claire’s climb for this worthy cause, please get in touch with us here at Climb Mount Kilimanjaro and we’l put you in touch with Claire.
We wish Claire the best of luck in her endeavours!
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Celebs on Kilimanjaro
Posted by Henry at 1:07 pm, January 29th 2009.
As just everybody (at least in the UK) already knows, a bunch of celebrities are due to climb Kilimanjaro next month. Wading through the bulletins on various websites, it's difficult to pin down who is actually taking part in the charity trek, which is being organised in aid of Comic Relief. However, the same names do seem to be cropping up. They include Radio 1's Chris Moyles, singers such as Take That's Gary Barlow, Girls Aloud's Cheryl Cole, Alesha Dixon, Ronan Keating and Kimberley Walsh, presenters Fearne Cotton and Denise Van Outen, and, errr, a journalist from The Sun called Gordon Smart.
You can check on how Chris Moyles' preparations for the climb are going by listening to his breakfast show, where it is frequently mentioned (a number of his studio bods are climbing with him, apparently, and much of the morning banter is taking up with descriptions of their inoculations, climbing equipment etc).
No doubt those of you in the UK reading this will be hearing plenty more about the success (or otherwise) of their trek in every newspaper, website and TV station throughout the land.
Suffice to say we wish them luck and hope they all make it to the top - and come back safely too!
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Climb in aid of breast cancer
Posted by Henry at 12:24 pm, January 19th 2009.
Two women from Britain are about to embark on the adventure of their lives in aid of Breast Cancer Care UK.
Friends Hannah Birch and Lynsay Kilbane will be climbing God's Greatest Mountain on our Unique Rongai Route in all-pink outfits - pink being the colour ofthe charity. Their trek will begin on 20th February, meaning that they will, hopefullyl arrive around five-and-a-half days later at the top of Kilimanjaro.
Their reason for choosing to climb for Breast Cancer is obvious: breast cancer is a tragic disease and causes over 12,000 deaths in the UK every year. As they write on their webpage, the disease "affects so many women and their families and by doing this we aim to help them. This is an amazing cause and its something we have a possibility of getting when we're older. Breast Cancer Care rely on the kindness of people and the donations they make so please sponsor us now!"
In order to find out more about their climb or to sponsor them, just visit their webpage at www.justgiving.co.uk/kilimanjarointhepink
We do of course wish the girls every success with their climb - and will let you know how they get on next month.
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Climbing for the breakfast club
Posted by Henry at 11:44 am, January 17th 2009.
Next week Majka Serafini, based in the UK but of Polish extraction, will be climbing to the roof of Africa to help raise funds for the hungry and needy school children of Tanzania.
Majka's climb was prompted by some horrifying statistics published by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) that showed that a child dies from hunger every few seconds, even though there is supposed to be enough food in the world for everyone...
Surprisingly, for such a beautiful, friendly and peaceful nation, Tanzania is among the countries that suffers the most from child malnutrition. Indeed, in the developing world as a whole, over 400 million children suffer chronic hunger, 59 million go to school hungry and many others are currently not receiving any form of assistance.
As Majka says, "It only costs 7GBP pence or 11US cents a day to feed a child, so no contribution is too small to make a big difference in the lives of hungry children".
You can help Majka raise money for her cause by visiting her justgiving webpage in support of Breakfast Club of Tanzania: http://www.justgiving.com/majkaserafini
We of course wish Majka every success in her endeavours on the mountain, and will let you know how she gets on in due course.
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Two men sharing an awful lot on Kilimanjaro
Posted by Henry at 2:19 pm, January 5th 2009.
Last week I received an email from a Mike Mullaney that caught my eye. Mike climbed Kilimanjaro in February 2007 with his friend Ken Page. What makes their achievement unique, however, is that Ken was walking with one of Mike's kidneys, which he had donated to Ken back in 2003.
Mike was writing to ask if they were the first recipient/donor pair to make it to the summit. To be honest, I have no idea. I have certainly never heard of such a feat before, though it wouldn't surprise me if there had in fact been other similar 'couplings' before.
To read more about their climb you can visit their weblog at http://kili-summit-2007.blogspot.com/
While if you know of any other climbers who have swopped organs and climbed together to the highest point in Africa, do let us know!
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Amputee in new record attempt on Kilimanjaro
Posted by Henry at 11:44 am, December 23rd 2008.
In January this year a young woman will be aiming to become - as far as we know - the first person to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro on crutches and without an artificial limb. Sarah Doherty has something of a track record in such achievements: in 1984 she was the first amputee to climb Mt Ranier using crutches, and the following year she became the first to reach the summit of Mt McKinley, the highest mountain in North America.
For her Kilimanjaro attempt she will be using specially designed 'sport' crutches that Sarah herself helped to design, together with a team from the University of Toronto.
You can follow Sarah's progress by visiting her blog at http://sidestix.wordpress.com/ , while further information about her climb and the crutches she will be using can be found at http://www.sidestix.com/ .
We do, of course, wish Sarah every success and will endeavour to keep you informed of her progress.
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Can vertigo sufferers climb Kilimanjaro?
Posted by Henry at 10:50 am, December 9th 2008.
Yesterday I received an email from a reader who wanted to know whether it was possible for vertigo sufferers to climb Kilimanjaro. The correspondent described her question as a 'silly' one; but I have to say I think it's anything but. I receive emails similar to hers every couple of months or so and it is of course an entirely sensible question: one associates mountain climbing with sheer drops and vertical slopes, and though Kilimanjaro is, of course, a 'walkable' mountain, that doesn't mean to say that there won't be certain places where the drops are steep.
So what's the answer? Well, those who are afraid of heights will be pleased to know that in my opinion suffering from vertigo is no bar to getting to the top of Kilimanjaro. Despite it being the highest mountain in Africa, I can only think of one or two places on any of the main routes up the mountain where the trail is possibly steep enough to give one vertigo.
One of those places is the Barranco Wall (now more commonly called the Breakfast Wall) on the Machame Trail. This climb is the one place on any of the official trails where the path is steep enough that one has to use one's hands to haul oneself over the odd boulder. Even then, though it is steep, I think most people - even those afraid of heights - should be able to overcome that obstacle. To be honest, I too am not that good with heights, and have been scared on occasions when I've been on a roof or ladder - and yet I never felt at all frightened on the Barranco Wall.
The only other place that I'd avoid if I were a vertigo sufferer is the Western Breach/Arrow Glacier trail to the summit - but this is not a popular trail (indeed, it's the least popular of the three that lead up the sides of Kibo to the very summit). And even then, it's no worse in my opinion than the Barranco Wall.
Please note that I would say that only those who suffer from ACUTE vertigo should be concerned about these two places. Nevertheless, given that these two places are the ones which could trigger a reaction in vertigo sufferers, this rules out a number of trails, including the Machame, Lemosho/Shira and Umbwe trails. It thus leaves vertigo sufferers with a choice of two trails: the MARANGU ROUTE (the most popular route and the only one where you sleep in huts rather than under canvas) and the RONGAI ROUTE. These are the only two routes that avoid both the Barranco Wall and the Arrow Glacier trail.
You can find descriptions of both of these trails in our book. And like I say, if you do suffer from vertigo and yet are persuaded to take another trail, don't be too worried - even the Barranco Wall is not, in my opinion, that scary, and I think you might feel the same if you had to tackle it.
Having said all this, I would welcome other readers' views and opinions, particularly those who are vertigo sufferers and have also attempted to climb Kilimanjaro. Thanks.
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Big Brothers climbing Kilimanjaro!
Posted by Henry at 2:15 pm, November 26th 2008.
In February 2009 a team of 24 from Canada, will be climbing Kilimanjaro as part of their effort to raise a whopping CA$100,000 for Big Brothers and In-School Mentoring Programs in Sarnia-Lambton. The team will comprise of people from all over Canada, including Vancouver, London, Bolton, Hamilton and Halifax. They have already held some events and these, combined with their online fundraising, means that they are well on their way to reaching the magic CA$100,000 figure.
If you would like to know more about their climb or even offer a donation towards their cause, please visit their website at www.MtKili.org .
We do, of course, wish them well and will keep you posted of their progress.
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Plane crash on Kilimanjaro - four tourists killed
Posted by Henry at 9:16 am, November 11th 2008.
News is coming in of a plane crash on Kilimanjaro that has claimed the lives of four tourists and left the pilot seriously injured.
Thoigh details are currently sketchy, the plane is believed to have crashed on Mawenzi Peak, the second summit of Kilimanjaro, which coincidentally had already been the location of a previous crash a few years ago. The nationalities of those who died are Italian, two of whom were women. The pilot, named as Marin Lunani, who was the only survivor of the tragedy, was Kenyan and the plane, a six-seater Cessna 206, was registered in Kenya and owned by Nairobi-based East African Air Charters. Conditions on the mountain on the Saturday morning when the accident happened were said to be cloudy. Nobody knows what the plane was doing flying over the mountain.
The injured pilot has been taken to the KCMC hospital in Moshi where he is being treated for his injuries. His condition is said to be stable. We will bring you more on this story as details emerge.
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Kilimanjaro Charity Christmas Cards on sale
Posted by Henry at 11:55 am, November 5th 2008.
The Amani Children's Orphange, lying in the shadow of Kilimanjaro just outside the town of Moshi, have brought out some lovely Christmas cards. Featuring God's greatest mountain in the background and some of the stars of the safari scene - lions, giraffes, elephants etc - in the foregorund, the cards are both cute and and ideal card for those who have just climbed - or are about to climb - to Africa's highest point. And best of all, all the proceeds go to the charity.
There are stocks of cards in the US and UK too, so you won't need to wait long to receive them. But that said, do hurry - stocks are limited! To order some, simply go to the Amani website at www.amanikids.org .
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One man's climb in aid of The Northern Ireland Children's Hospice
Posted by Henry at 9:30 am, November 3rd 2008.
Today, on 3rd November, 2008, Glenn Owens of Northern Ireland will be climbing on the Machame Route to raise funds, and public awareness of the fantastic work carried out at the Northern Ireland Children's Hospice. It is a charity very close to Glenn's heart, following the birth of of his third child in April 2006. Glenn's daughter was diagnosed with quite a rare genetic disorder, called Trisomy 18, or Edwards Syndrome. This syndrome is extremely life-limiting, and wee Keren was only alive for eight weeks, four days.
As Glenn writes, his daughter 'was cared for wonderfully in her short, precious life, by the medical staff in the SCBU in Antrim Area Hospisal, and also in the Causeway Trust Hospital, and we met many wonderful, caring people in these hospitals, that we will never forget.' But it is the The Northern Ireland Children's Hospice that is the focus of Glenn's fundraising efforts on this trek, because Keren spent her last week there, and the Hospice made such a lasting impression on the family, and, as Glenn writes, 'will always be remembered with fondness, for the outstanding treatment that our whole family received when we were there.'
As Glenn continues on his blog about the trek, (http://www.kilitrekker.com/node/110) 'The Northern Ireland Children's Hospice is an extraordinary place, totally funded by public donation. It really does a wonderful work, not just for the patients, but for whole families. The way they took our other two children under their wing, entertaining and helping them, was fantastic...it really was a "Home from Home". Lofty, the resident rabbit, is still remembered fondly! It is impossible to say, in a few words, how much the Hospice meant to us at that time, and ever since, but we are trying over the coming months, to relate some of our memories, and feelings on our website... www.KerenOwens.com; please feel free to visit, and browse around. You can read articles about wee Keren, and follow the training for Kilimanjaro, and I will be posting photographs, and info, in the weeks following our trek.'
Glenn has set up a justgiving page, http://www.justgiving.com/kerenowens, where you can donate to the charity and sponsor Glenn's climb.
We do, of course, wish Glenn every success, and I'll let you know how he gets on sometime over the next week or so.
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Can climbing Kilimanjaro make you go blind?
Posted by Henry at 9:14 am, October 19th 2008.
Dick Down a 65-year-old trekker (and conqueror of Kilimanjaro) has written to us with details of an unusual symptom of altitude sickness that he suffered while making his way to the top.
Mr Down reached the summit in September of this year, having climbed with the African Walking Company. As he reached Stella Point, Mr Down was advised to put on his sunglasses to protect his eyes from the glare. As he did so, he noticed that they were rather misted up, and it wasn’t until he tried to clean them that he realised that it wasn’t actually his glasses that were the problem – but his sight.
Losing one of the senses is not that unusual, of course: altitude sickness affects people in lots of different ways. However, the amount of time that it took Mr Down’s sight to recover is unusual.
As Mr Down explains: “It became apparent that my right eye had blurred vision (like wearing specs that have steamed up) and my left was the same but with no peripheral vision. I hadn't noticed this whilst climbing to Stella, concentrating on a small circle of illuminated ground at my feet for the most of the climb. One of our guides was also affected to some extent and I was told ‘not to worry, [as it will] disappear within a few hours as you descend.’ In fact, it took nearly 36 hours to get right.
As you can imagine, descending from Stella is difficult enough, but descending from Stella with no peripheral vision is even harder, and not a little bit dangerous too. As Mr Down describes: “I descended via scree directly to the Barafu campsite. At first I could manage since it was scree with few rocks but once it got rocky it was tough going. I could see the rocks and boulders but had no depth of vision and couldn't tell if it was a 6 inch or 2 feet step down. I stumbled and fell quite a bit and, eventually, had to be guided with a guide and pal at either elbow. Gradually it got better and I managed the walk to Millenium unaided but very slow. Only at the hotel the next morning was it back to normal.”
We decided to publish Dick’s story as this is no the first time we have heard of this particular symptom of altitude sickness; indeed, Dick says there was a 25-year-old girl in another group who had a similar condition. But Dick also asked us to publish this tale to offer comfort to those who will suffer this condition in future, and to tell them that it is temporary and a full recovery will normally follow.
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Climb in aid of Asthma and Breast Cancer charities
Posted by Henry at 7:20 am, September 29th 2008.
Two climbers from Britain will be climbing Kilimanjaro next month in aid of two charities. The climbers, father and daughter Neil Davies - who will be climbing for Breakthrough Breast Cancer, and Elizabeth Cheek, who will be climbing for Asthma UK, will be taking six days to reach the summit followed by a couple of days to get back down again! Unusually, the pair will be financing the entire trip themselves, and thus ALL the money raised will be going to the respective charities.
For details on their preparation for the climb, their progress so far - and even a weather report for Kilimanjaro, visit their website www.upkilimanjaro.com . This will also give you details about how to sponsor the pair.
Good luck Neil and Elizabeth - and do let us know how you get on!
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Charity climb in aid of Breast Cancer Foundation
Posted by Henry at 8:57 pm, September 10th 2008.
On the 1st October three plucky individuals from Perth will pit themselves against the mountain in aid of Breast Cancer Foundation of Western Australia. The trio - Jane Andrews, her friend Preet Grewal and Preet's son Sandeep - will be climbing with us on the Unique Rongai Route.
According to Preet, 36 women every DAY are diagnosed with breast cancer, and the foundation serves to provide personalised support and care to those affected by the disease. You can find out more by visiting www.breastcancer.org.au, and under Events and Supporter Events tabs you can get more information about their climb.
This really is a worthy cause and, as Preet is keen to point out, all donations in Australia above $2 are tax deductable! (For online donations a receipt will be issued by Breast Cancer Foundation WA, for any direct pledges the trio will arrange for a receipt to be issued once we collect the funds.You can donate online).
To find out more about their efforts and the climb, please visit www.climbkili.bigblog.com.au.
We do, of course, wish the three well, and I will personally be making sure they all make it to the summit! So please do give generously to their cause.
Thanks.
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More claims that Kilimanjaro’s snows will not disappear
Posted by Henry at 5:34 am, September 2nd 2008.
The Tanzanian Tourist Minister’s claims earlier this year that the snows of Kilimanjaro are not going to disappear – contrary to all current scientific thinking – has received support from a local academic.
Professor Ernest Njau, from the University of Dar es Salaam’s Physics Department, claimed that the scientists who thought they would disappear by 2020 were using reports and statistics that were outdated. In particular, the don suggested that these reports ignored the recently proveed relationship between terrestrial climate variations and olar cycles.
Instead, the professor claimed that recent sunspot-climate reports suggested that a global cooling trend of about 430 years in length would begin in 2060, when the ice on Kilimanjaro would grow again.
Professor Njau’s claims follow hot on the heels of a recent study by two researchers from Portsmouth University, who surveyed the mountain’s glaciers for eleven days and concluded that their decline was due to deforestation and had nothing to do with global warming.
Kili’s glaciers have shrunk from 12.5 square miles in 1889 to just over 1.5 square miles in 2003.
Whilst Professor Njau’s claims may be met with scepticism from the scientific world, we have to say that, having seen the glaciers at the summit several times this summer, we do thnik that they are looking bigger and healthier than we have seen them at any time since we started climbing the mountain in 2001. So maybe the tourism minister has a point after all?
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Help Malawian children by sponsoring this charity climb!
Posted by Henry at 2:51 pm, August 30th 2008.
On 1 October this year a group of three Americans will be climbing Kilimanjaro with me in aid of the unpronounceable but extremely worthwhile charity Kumphunzitsa-Ana. The charity, whose name means 'Teach the Children' in Malawian, aims to do just that by building primary education centres throughout that impoverished Central African nation, where the average annual family income is just US$495.
The three climbers, who hail from San Francisco, are Chris Baker, Michael Carvin and Ben Seelaus are hoping to raise US$19,341 - one dollar for every foot of elevation and approximately the amount of funding needed to build one school. The trio are taking our Unique Rongai Route to the summit, so naturally they will have no trouble making it to the summit... Nevertheless, we wish them well and will be making sure they get to the summit.
Please, please, please visit the thoroughly informative website they have built for their expedition - and any sponsorship you can give them will be much appreciated. Their website is: http://www.kumphunzitsa-ana.com/ . Note, too, that ALL the money you send will go straight to the charity - which is unusual, in this day and age.
Good luck gentlemen - and we look forward to meeting you next month.
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Is this a family record for Kilimanjaro?
Posted by Henry at 5:38 am, August 29th 2008.
We received a smashing email last month from a Mr Silverman who, along with a series of Kilimanjaro photos, recounted his family’s remarkable record on the Roof of Africa.
At 7.40am on the 19th June 2008 Gordon HF Silverman, aged 14 years and 8 months, of Phoenix County, reached the top of Kilimanjaro – and in doing so, he became the third generation of his family to do so. For in 1986 Gordon's grandfather Edmond W. Freeman III, his mother Gretchen Freeman, and two of his uncles, Andy & David Freeman, made it to Uhuru Peak. Part of a group from Pine Bluff, Arkansas. They summited at 9am on 12th September via the Marangu Route.
Thus Gordon is the fifth member of his family to make it to the summit and, perhaps more significantly, the third generation to reach the top of Africa’s highest mountain.
I have no idea if this is a record or not – maybe the family of one of our readers may like to challenge their claim – but nevertheless it’s a great story.
Our congratulations go to all the Silvermans and Freemans who made it to the summit – and our thanks go to them for alerting us to their story.
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Darol reaches 18400ft!
Posted by Henry at 7:03 pm, August 18th 2008.
Following on from yesterday's news, paraplegic Darol Kubacz eventually reached 18,400ft (a point a few hundred feet below Gilman's Point, as far as we can tell) before having to turn back, exhausted. You can read more about Darol's attempt on the blog at http://fflblogg.blogspot.com/2008_08_01_archive.html . Darol spent the day ascending and is now safely back at his Marangu hotel. We send our congratulations to Darol on a superhuman effort.
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Paraplegic record attempt on Kilimanjaro
Posted by Henry at 2:07 pm, August 17th 2008.
As I write this a team from the disabled charity Freedom for Life (FFL) expedition is attempting to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro. American Darol Kubacz, a paraplegic, is currently just 2000ft short of the summit and, according to the FFL blog, eager to go for that final push that will make him the first paraplegic to the top.
It's not Darol's first time on the mountain. Two years ago, during his first summit bid, he got to within 3000ft before developing altitude sickness. For much of these last two years he’s trained and prepared for this second attempt. Accompanying him on this expedition is a team of some 20 porters, three other climbers and a film crew from Canada who will be recording his progress.
If Darol is successful, it will be only the second time that someone in a wheelchair has reached the summit of Kili, following Bern Goosen's two successful climbs in 2003 and 2007. (Bern suffers from cerebral palsy and is thus classified as quadriplegic rather than paraplegic). And where Bern was carried over certain sections of the trail (which, under the rules set by the Guinness Book of Records, is allowable as long as the total distance carried is less than 10% of the total climb), Darol on his last attempt in 2006 refused any help whatsoever, relying instead on huge inflatable wheels to prevent him sinking in the scree. He also had a winch fitted to the front of the chair to haul himself up the steeper sections.
You can follow Darol's progress on the FFL blog: http://fflblogg.blogspot.com/
We do, of course, wish Darol every success on his extraordinary attempt.
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Advice from Kili-conquering cystic fibrosis and multiple sclerosis sufferers required
Posted by Henry at 9:41 am, August 15th 2008.
We’ve just received an email from a Dido Panagiotopoulos which we thought we’d share with you. In September of this year Mrs Panagiotopoulos is climbing Kilimanjaro with two young people, Chris and Caroline, who have rather severe disabilities that will make their trek even more arduous than it is already. Chris, you see, has cystic fibrosis, while Caroline suffers from multiple sclerosis.
Dido has written to us as he is seeking advice from people with similar conditions who have scaled – or at least attempted to scale – Kilimanjaro (or, I presume some other big mountain).
As Dido points out, he has received many negative comments from non-supportive people (including some medical specialists) and was hoping to find people with either of these life-limiting diseases who could offer something a bit more encouraging.
We are thus writing this bulletin in the hope that somebody can help Dido, Chris and Caroline. If you can, perhaps the first step will be to visit their website at http://www.dido.org.za/html/dreamers.htm . Alternatively, get in touch with us at the usual address (postmaster@climbmountkilimanjaro.com) and I will pass your details on to them.
Thanks.
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Visa fee increases at airport
Posted by Henry at 7:01 am, July 25th 2008.
Please note that the price of a visa at Kilimanjaro International Airport (and presumably other Tanzanian airports too) has risen to US$100! This means that this is no longer the cheapest way to get a visa, but the most expensive way. Given that those visitors who have a Tanzanian consulate in their home country should, by law, really have obtained a visa before arriving in the country, it is no longer a good idea to wait until arriving before trying to buy your visa.
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Kilts on Kilimanjaro
Posted by Henry at 9:41 am, July 24th 2008.
In September this year 20 trekkers will be risking their dignity - and possibly a lot more - when they attempt to climb Kilimanjaro in kilts. The group, from Scotland (as if you couldn't guess) will be performing this stunt on behalf of the Aberlour Childcare Trust, a Scottish charity dedicated to providing both residential and community support for vunerable and disadvantaged children, young people and their families. The group will be attempting to reach the summit via the Rongai Route.
To find out more about their climb please visit their website: www.kilts2kilimanjaro.com
We wish them well and hope to keep you informaed as to how they get on.
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Don't Panic! Kilimanjaro is not losing its glaciers after all says tourism chief
Posted by Henry at 2:20 pm, July 5th 2008.
Tanzania’s Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Ms Shamsa Mwangunga, has taken the bold step of stating that, contrary to all popular scientific research, the snows of Kilimanjaro will be with us in perpetuity.
Whilst many of the leading experts on climate change have expressed an opinion that the glaciers on Kilimanjaro will have disappeared within the next twenty years, Ms Mwangunga has declared that, in fact, far from disappearing, recent evidence has suggested that the ice is in fact on the increase.
"Among the signs of more snow is the decrease in temperatures in areas surrounding the mountain, heavy rainfall this year and increased precipitation and spring water flow on the slopes of the mountain," Ms Mwangunga said.
Nor is she the first minister to hold these opinions. One of her predecessors, Ms Zakhia Meghji, expressed similar sentiments when she held office in 2002,
Despite her claims, the minister is not sitting idly by waiting for the glaciers to, errr, not melt. Instead, she announced a policy of tree planting around the mountain, with 4.8 million indigenous trees soon to be planted on the lower slopes and at the foot of the mountain to protect soil erosion and preserve water resources. Whatever your opinion of the minister's statement, this plan is entirely sensible, for it was recently estimated that out of every 1000 tonnes of water that comes from the mountain, 400 tonnes came directly from the ice cap.
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Is this the youngest female ever to climb Kilimanjaro?
Posted by Henry at 2:00 pm, July 4th 2008.
Mike Moniz from Boulder, Colorado has just written to me asking if his daughter qualifies as the youngest female ever to climb Kilimanjaro. The lady in question, Kaylee Moniz, reached the top on June 20 this year, having turned ten on February 13.
Kaylee didn’t travel the easy way,, either, climbing via the occasionally perilous Lava Tower Route, having ascended the lower slopes on the Lemosho Route.
This is certainly the youngest female that we have ever heard of to climb Kilimanjaro; although whether she is officially the youngest remains to be seen, the park authorities’ record keeping being somewhat less than comprehensive. So if any readers know of any female who was younger who made it to the summit, we’d love to know.
On the page on this site that is related to this article we will load up a picture of Kaylee at the summit. With her in the photo is her twin brother, Matt – who by coincidence (or perhaps not) is a friend of Jordan Romero who, until earlier this year, held the record for the youngest climber to reach the summit.
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Amboseli's lions could be extinct 'within a few years'
Posted by Henry at 1:05 pm, June 18th 2008.
Following on from last week's worrying news about the rhinos of Tanzania comes disturbing reports of the decline in the lion population at Kenya's Amboseli National Park. The park, which borders Kilimanjaro (and from which the best photographs of the mountain are usually taken) has seen a decline in the population of lions largely due to poisoning and spearing by the local Maasai population who live in the park. The Maasai see the lions as a threat to their livestock - and thus their livelihood - and many lions have been killed as a result. Indeed, there are now thought to be fewer than 100 lions in the 2200 square-mile park.
"The situation has reached a critical level," said Terry Garcia, executive vice president of the National Geographic Society. "Unless something is done immediately, there will be no more lions in this part of Kenya, which would be a tragedy."
To try to help the population, the society has offered an emergency grant of $150,000 to the Maasailand Preservation Trust. This money will go towards compensating those who have lost livestock to the lions. Similar programs in other parts of Kenya have succeeded in stabilising the lion population, and can only be hoped that such a tactic works here too.
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Tanzania's rhinos in critical decline
Posted by Henry at 2:00 pm, June 13th 2008.
Regular readers of this site will know that, whilst we concentrate on stories relating to Kilimanjaro most of the time, if something catches our eye and has a strong Tanzanian connection, we will write about it regardless of whether or not it is directly related to Kilimanjaro. So it is today with the Arusha Times reporting that the number of rhinos left in Tanzania is less than 50. The decline in their population is breathtaking, given that as recently as the 1960s there were more than 20,000 in the country.
The topic of the rhino's decline in East Africa (Kenya, to the north of Tanzania, is said to have even fewer) was brought to the attention of the public after it was revealed that the Tanzanian government is looking to bring back an unspecified number of rhinos that were taken to South Africa a few years back to live in an animal sanctuary there.
The animals are believed to cost in the region of $100,000 apiece, though added to that is the cost of hiring five large cargo planes in order to bring the rhinosceroses back to their native land.
Most of the remaining rhinos currently live in the Ngorongoro Crater, where 28 are said to survive, each tagged and fitted with a GPS system to prevent them being taken by poachers. The popularity of the beasts with poachers is largely due to their horns, which are used in Chinese medicine as well as handles for weapons in Yemen and the Middle East.
Though we would love to see the rhino population recover in Tanzania, we can only hope that, whatever the conclusion to the negotiations between the South African reserve and the Tanzanian government, the outcome proves to be the best for the rhinos themselves.
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Porter regulations cause disquiet amongst tour operators
Posted by Henry at 2:01 pm, June 10th 2008.
A recent declaration by Tanzania's Minister of Tourism has created a good deal of kerfuffle amongst the many tour operators offering treks up Kilimanjaro. Shamsa Mwangunga, one of the few female ministers in the cabinet, recently announced that all operators would only be allowed to use porters registered with the Kilimanjaro Porters Association (KPA). This, despite the fact that there are around half a dozen such associations, some of which, so it is claimed, operate far more efficiently and are a good deal more productive in fighting on the porters' behalf. Among the registered porters organizations are the Mount Kilimanjaro Porters Society, the largest with 722 members, the Mount Meru Porters Association and Arusha Porters Association.
It is not known why the minister chose to favour KPA, though the Executive Secretary of the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO), Mustafa Akonaay, who has received several emails complaining about the decision, initially tried to placate matters by suggesting that the minister had merely been misinformed about the porters and mountaineering issues at Kilimanjaro.
However, he then went on to pour scorn on the minister's announcement, explaining that there were 'four fully registered porters’ associations operating at Kilimanjaro', and that TATO "cannot allow just one of them to control the trade". He also explained the geographical bias such a step would involve, with the KPA operating "mostly at Marangu gate, but Mt. Kilimanjaro climbers use other routes such as Rombo, Machame, Nalemuru, Shira and Umbwe".
The pronouncement by the minister about the KPA, which was made during a meeting in Moshi, was accompanied by other directives. In particular, the minister declared that each porter should carry a load not exceeding 25 kilos and be paid US $ 10 per day, in addition to be provided with climbing gear, camping equipment, food and cooking utensils during expeditions.
Furthermore - and in an unexpected change to tradition - the minister would like to see porters supplied with rucksacks, so that they no longer needed to carry the luggage on their heads. (This directive would seem to contradict our own experiences on the mountain where porters, even when they are issued with a rucksack, still prefer to carry it on their heads anyway).
We shall wait and see whether any of the minister's pronouncements actually become law, and what this will mean for the climbing industry on Kilimanjaro as a whole; though expect prices for treks to rise if they do so.
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Stars to climb Kilimanjaro
Posted by Henry at 9:01 am, June 5th 2008.
As has been reported widely in the press, English football (soccer to our American friends) legend David Beckham, along with West Ham's goalkeeper Robert Green and some bloke called Bono are set to climb Kilimanjaro for charity. Few details, unsurprisingly, have been leaked to the press, though they are believed to be aiming to take 6 days to conquer the mountain, while UNICEF are said to be the beneficiaries of this football-and-rock-star largesse.
The biggest obstacle to this event actually taking place is the insurance for Mr Beckham, 32. It is believed that this will be the first time that the former England captain has visited the region in an official capacity, though Bono has already visited Arusha before, in 2006, as part of his charity work. It is believed to be his idea to climb Africa's highest mountain, an idea to which Beckham readily committed. It is hoped that, as the date for their departure nears, other celebrities will join the trek.
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Moshi triumphs in frisbee competition
Posted by Henry at 4:10 pm, May 17th 2008.
The Kilimanjaro town of Moshi was celebrating this week after their frisbee team, the Moshi Kili Killaz, won the national frisbee championships. After defeating their neighbours and fierce rivals, the Arusha Frisbee team 7-4 in the semi-finals, they went on to beat the Mwanza Tossers 10-6 in the final.
I am not making this up.
If you are interested in catching these national champions strutting their frisbee stuff, the team plays at the Gymkhana Football ground every Wednesday and Sunday at around 5pm.
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Moms on Kilimanjaro
Posted by Henry at 1:03 pm, May 9th 2008.
A reader has just sent in a link to a great account of a climb by twelve 40-something Canadian moms up Kilimanjaro. The article, while containing a few inaccuracies, is very entertaining and is one of the few I’ve read that truly drives home how hard and – occasionally – how awful that final nighttime push to the summit can be. But it is also good at conveying to the reader the overwhelming pleasure that comes from reaching the summit.
The article is by one of the climbers, a lady called Gayle MacDonald, and first appeared in the Life section of Canada’s Globe and Mail online newspaper. To read the whole article for yourself, follow this link:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080208.wlkilimanjaro08/BNStory/lifeMain/home
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Kilimanjaro Marathon results
Posted by Henry at 11:57 am, May 2nd 2008.
Tanzanian Jumanne Tulway is the latest winner of the Kilimanjaro marathon. Tulway, whose winning time was two hours 15 minutes and 37 seconds, beat last year’s winner, Andrea Silvin, into second place.
Tulaway was one of the participating athletes who will also feature in this year’s Olympic Games. His prize includes cash as well as a return ticket to South Africa so that he can compete in the Soweto marathon.
The women’s race was won for the second year running by Tanzanian Benuelia Briyiton in a time of two hours, 48 minutes and 47 seconds. She beat Kenyan Rysper Kimaiyo who came a distant second, almost 4 minutes behind Briyiton.
A full run down of the results can be found at http://www.kilimanjaromarathon.com/resultsfrm.htm.
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Tourists continue to flood into northern Tanzania despite rains
Posted by Henry at 10:53 am, April 16th 2008.
With the rainy season now well under way in northern Tanzania it's good to see that a flood of another sort is engulfing the region's international airport. Kilimanjaro International has reported no let-up in the number of tourists using the airport, despite the weather conditions not being condusive to either going on safari in the Serengeti or Ngorongoro nor climbing Kilimanjaro.
Trekking operators usually use the 'long-rains' period between April and June as a time to regroup, fix their equipment and sort out their operations before the next tourist high season begins. Though it is possible to climb Kilimanjaro at this time - and many do - it is not the best time of year to do so. The rains mean that visibility is fairly low and the chances of getting rained upon are high. Similarly, going on safari at this time is not so rewarding with many roads through the national parks impassable and visibility low. Furthermore, many creatures have no need to visit watering holes at this time - for this is one time when the water comes to them!
Nevertheless, visitor figures remain high - with local operators suggesting that the reason for this is the improved road surfaces in the national parks, which allow visitors to go on safari despite the monsoon showers. The problems in Kenya may also have had a positive effect on the figures, as tourists looking to go on safari this year opt for Tanzania rather than its unsettled neighbour.
Tanzania's Northern Circuit - the tourist route that encompasses Kilimanjaro, Serengeti and Ngorongoro, as well as smaller parks such as Lake Manyara - is by some distance the most popular part of the country. Of the 523,966 visitors who came to Tanzania in 2006, for example, some 80% of them visit the Northern Circuit. Of these, some 350,000 visit the Ngorongoro Crater, 250,000 or go on safari in the Serengeti, and 40,000-plus climb Kilimanjaro. This compares to around 115,000 who visit Zanzibar annually.
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African Spoonbill Tours change of address
Posted by Henry at 10:06 am, April 8th 2008.
One of the many Tanzanian companies that offer treks up Kilimanjaro, Moshi-based African Spoonbill Tours and Safaris, have written in with details of their new contact numbers and address. It is as follows:
African Spoonbill Tours and Safaris Ltd
P.O.BOX 1474
MOSHI -TANZANIA
TEL:+255-27-2753011
FAX: +255-27-2753011
Res +255-27-2752746
MOBILE +255-713-408291
Their office is on Rindi Lane, adjacent to the Stan Bic Bank.
We will be updating the Moshi chapter in our guide - and, indeed, the rest of the guide - this summer; and will, of course, provide a review of Spoonbill and all the other agencies in Mosh, Marangui and Arusha.
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Another boy gets to the top of Kilimanjaro
Posted by Henry at 3:48 pm, April 7th 2008.
In what seems to be becoming an almost weekly event, yet another child has manged to climb to the summit of Kilimanjaro.
Following on from the exploits of the remarkable Keats Boyd, who last month stood on the Roof of Africa at the age of just seven, comes news of South African Christiaan Vivier who, on Saturday April 5, reached the summit of Kilimanjaro aged 10 years and 5 days.
While Christiaan can't quite claim the record of being the youngest person ever on the summit, he does have a record of sorts, being the youngest person to conquer the mountain and obey the park authorities' stipulation that climbers be at least ten before making an assault on the mountain.
So congratulations to Christiaan are still due; after all, it is one hell of an achievement, at whatever age, to reach the highest point in the whole of Africa.
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Disaster at Kilimanjaro's Tanzanite mine - 70 feared dead
Posted by Henry at 6:58 pm, April 4th 2008.
Up to 70 miners are feared to have died in a disaster at the Mererani mine, 16km south of Kilimanjaro Airport, on Friday of last week.
A combination of floods and a mudslide are believed to have killed the miners, who were trapped in a series of pits underground. Survivors have talked how they saw a river coming down like a waterfall and were unable to do anything about those trapped in chambers up to 200m underground.
It is not the first time the Mererani Mine has witnessed disasters, with a similar tragedy occurring in 1998. Back then, around 100 people were said to have perished.
Rescuers have tried to search for any survivors and to reach the bodies of those who perished but, due to the danger, have so far been unable to bring many of the bodies back to the surface. Only thirty corpses have so far been recovered, largely from a mudslide which has so far blocked off any attempts to reach those in the underground chambers.
According to the authorities there are currently 67 registered miners unaccounted for, though the actual death toll may be far higher as often hordes of youths sneak into the mines unregistered.
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'Flycatchers' banned from streets of Arusha
Posted by Henry at 11:48 am, March 26th 2008.
It's the news that many, many tourists - and many of those working in the tourist industry too - have wanted to hear, but nevertheless it's caused a great deal of unrest in Arusha. 'Flycatchers' - the touts who hang around street corners in the centre of Arusha, pestering tourists to visit a travel agency and book a trek or safari - have been banned from the streets of the city.
Many felt that something had to be done about them; I myself regularly receive emails from disgruntled tourists who have had their time in Arusha ruined by the constant pestering of these flycatchers, who can be both persistent and, often, slightly menacing too.
But the flycatchers themselves - who are said to number around 60 - have protested against the ban, claiming that what they do is a perfectly legitimate way to earn a living. Indeed, they even claim it's a public service, enabling tourists who have yet to book a trek or safari to discover cheap and reliable agencies that they would otherwise overlook.
Instead, the flycatchers blame the curio and batik peddlers who also harrass tourists around the centre of Arusha. Furthermore, the money they earn (from commission paid by the tour companies) enables them to feed their children and put them through school. Take away their right to earn a living, they say, and they will have to find another - and possibly illegal - way to raise money.
Whilst one can see the flycatchers point of view, there is no doubt that many people's experiences of Arusha hae been tainted by the relentless hassle of the flycatchers, and something did need to be done. It is hoped, however, that some sort of compromise can be reached that avoids taking away the only way many of these touts have of making a living.
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Lost camera on Kilimanjaro
Posted by at 11:20 am, March 16th 2008.
A heartfelt plea arrived in our inbox this morning. Aleks Ozerov, who successfuly reached the summit on 21 February of this year, managed to lose his camera at some point during the descent. He realises that it is probably a forlorn hope, but wrote in to ask whether we could put a bulletin on our news site requesting the return of the camera, should somebody by some miracle come across it and read this website. We are happy to do that. If anyobdy does come across the camera, please write to us at postmaster@climbmountkilimanjaro.com and we'll put you in touch with Aleks. Thanks.
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It's official - Keats Boyd is the youngest person ever to climb Kilimanjaro!
Posted by Henry at 11:20 am, March 6th 2008.
Well, we had our doubts at first but it turns out to be true! Somehow, Keats Boyd from Los Angeles has managed to break the rules regarding the minimum age for climbing Kilimanjaro (which is set at ten) and has successfully hauled his seven-year-old body to the very summit of Africa's Highest Mountain - and in doing so, has become the youngest person ever to reach the top.
Details are still a bit sketchy at the moment - indeed, we haven't seen any photos of the climb, or of Keats at the summit - but we have found out that he climbed with Thomson Safaris and reached the summit on 21 January 2008. He prepared for the climb by hiking five miles a day in the Hollywood hills with his father, Bryan, who also accompanied him on the Kilimanjaro climb, which was conducted in poor weather conditions including hail and snow.
Interestingly neither his dad nor his mum, Dana, have any sort of background in mountaineering. Instead, Keats got the idea of climbing Kilimanjaro after seeing a program about the mountain, 'Volcano above the Clouds', on television.
After much pestering, his father eventually relented, agreeing to allow Keats to attempt the climb but only on the condition that he did so for charity, so that the whole expedition didn't become one enormous vanity project for Keats. To this end, Keats did his climb for the Kids of Kilimanjaro charity, part of the Jane Goodall Institute.
It goes without saying that we here at www.climbmountkilimanjaro.com are in awe of Keats' achievement and offer our congratulations to Keats on what is a monumental achievement. We shall put up further details about the climb when we find out more about it. Until then, the best place to look for information is Keats' own website, www.climbavolcano.org/, which should have further details of his climb over the next couple of weeks.
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The youngest person to climb Kilimanjaro?
Posted by Henry at 10:14 am, March 3rd 2008.
News has reached us of a 7-year-old boy who, on January 21st this year, made it to the summit of Kilimanjaro and, in doing so, became the youngest person ever to climb the mountain.
I hesitate to tell you too much about this child's exploits at the moment, simply because we are at present unable to verify that he did actually make it to the summit. One of the many obstacles that would prevent the boy making it to the summit - quite apart from the fact that it's one heck of a climb, as many of you will be able to vouch - is that the legal minimum age for climbing the mountain is ten, so it would be against KINAPA's rules that the boy was allowed on the mountain in the first place. We have also yet to see any other evidence - photos of the boy at the summit etc etc - that would help to prove that he did indeed make it to the top.
We will let you know more about this story as soon as we hear more about it.
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Kilimanjaro Skydiving crash
Posted by Henry at 11:32 am, February 28th 2008.
News has just reached our office of a fatal crash of one of the planes owned by Skydive Kilimanjaro, a company that operates skydiving trips to tourists from Moshi Airstrip.
The aircraft, a Cessna 172, crashed soon after take-off on the 13th February. The pilot, Capt. Baraka Lutwaza, and the videographer, Hayden Rowan, were both killed in the accident. Two other passengers, Sian Bolton of the UK and tandem master Izak Snyman from South Africa, were both badly injured in the accident. After both being initially rushed to the KCMC Hospital in Moshi, Sian has since been transferred to Nairobi where she is in intensive care. Izak remains in the KCMC where he is being treated for multiple fractures to both femurs as well as concussion.
The Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority are now conducting an investigation into the cause of the crash, while Skydive Kilimanjaro have suspended their operations for the time being.
Our thoughts are with the families of the deceased and we hope both the injured parties gain a speedy and full recovery.
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Carbon offsetting and Kilimanjaro
Posted by Henry at 5:25 pm, February 19th 2008.
According to the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), over 85,000 flights take off from airports around the world every single day. Those flights burn 130 million tonnes of fuel annually, a figure that is projected to rise to 300 million tonnes by 2015, and 450 million tonnes by 2050. As everybody knows, this consumption is having a negative impact on our environment, particularly the carbon emissions that contribute directly to global warming. And with Al Gore and others now pointing to the reduction of glacial ice on the summit of Kilimanjaro as one of the most obvious manifestations of the negative impact of global warming, the subject seems particularly pertinent to Kili climbers.
These days, many people are looking to reduce their own 'carbon footprint' - and inevitably a whole industry has emerged to help people do just that. The rise of carbon offsetting companies is the most obvious manifestation of this: companies that, for a fee, will balance the environmental cost of your flight by investing in a 'green' scheme such as the planting of trees. For example, somebody who takes a long-haul flight may choose to offset the extra carbon emissions their travel has produced by paying one of these carbon offsetters, who will put your money into some scheme - such as growing trees, for example - that will counterbalance the damage caused by these extra emissions.
Carbon offsetting sounds like a reasonable enough and simple system in theory but it does also give rise to a whole host of other questions - not the least of which being the question of whether these offsetting schemes are effective, or little more than a soothing balm to the troubled consciences of international travellers. Unfortunately, the answer is not a simple one, for there are a lot of cowboys when it comes to carbon offsetting, largely because gauging carbon emissions is an uncertain science, but also because there are currently no regulatory standards for the industry as a whole.
The picture is further confused by the different schemes adopted by each of these carbon offsetting industries. Schemes have included the planting of trees - a natural way to counter the effects of global warming (trees of course act as a sponge for carbon dioxide, so tree planting provides a direct counter to the effects of global warming. Unfortunately, tree-planting brings with it its own issues, , not the least of which is the delay between planting a tree and the time when it is large enough to actually trap a significant amount of carbon dioxide; trees are, of course, not exactly quick growers.
Furthermore, tree growth and health is dependent on location, fertilizers and pesticides, with the latter two burdened with their own environmental cost. The disruption of local water supplies and the eviction of local communities from land designated for tree-planting are other issues.
Other schemes have included the introduction of cooking stoves used in some communities in lesser developed countries so they emit fewer emissions, or the distribution of free energy-saving lightbulbs in Africa. The first scheme, however, was criticised for its lack of any rigorous studies into the benefits of distributing these new energy-efficient stoves, while it transpired that the lightbulb scheme was merely duplicating the work of the local government which was already distributing these bulbs, drastically reducing the impact of this particular offsetting scheme.
So what can one do about offsetting or reducing the carbon emissions from your flight to Kilimanjaro? The following are a few suggestions:
1) When booking your flight, try and get as few flights to your travel destination as possible
2) Short flights, typically within country, have a particularly bad carbon footprint. When travelling, try exploring the local area thoroughly, and try other forms of transport other than flying if you want to cover bigger distances. See Ed Gillepsies ‘slow travel’ for some ideas [http://www.lowcarbontravel.com ].
3) A little studying will reap great benefits when it comes to choosing a carbon offsetting firm. The best we have heard of so far is Carbon Clear http://www.carbon-clear.com/ , which for as little as £15 (around US$30) will help you to counterbalance the environmental damage caused by your trip to Tanzania.
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The 'ethical' issues of climbing Kilimanjaro
Posted by Henry at 1:09 pm, February 16th 2008.
I get quite a few emails from readers asking about how they can climb Kilimanjaro 'ethically'; that is to say, what social and environmental issues are raised by opting to climb Kilimanjaro, and how can climbers do their bit to minimise their impact on the environment and contribute towards helping the underprivileged locals who live and work on the mountain
In the book we give a lot of coverage, deservedly, to KPAP, the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project, who do sterling looking after some of the poorest and most vulnerable workers on the mountain. We urge you, if you're staying in Moshi, to call in at their office in the centre of town to see what projects they are currently running and see, too, if there is any way you can help. (Don't worry, often this will involve doing nothing more than filling out a form to help KPAP assess the treatment of the porters by your trekking agency on your climb.) They can also advise you on what to look out for regarding the mistreatment of porters on the mountain, and gifts of any trekking gear that you no longer need are always welcome.
Another initiative, which has enjoyed success in Peru and is now looking to transfer their work over to Kilimanjaro is the British-run Leap Local. Their website helps to provide local communities with direct access to tourism, bypassing the agencies who, of course, take their own cut. By cutting out the middleman, this should result in a fairer price for tourists and, even more importantly, a better deal for the local or locals concerned.
For example, if there is a local guide who can conduct a fascinating tour around a local village such as Marangu, the website enables him to advertise to tourists directly without the need of involving a middleman. Craftsmen, Swahili-language teachers and others could also advertise. The website also has a rating system, whereby tourists can rate the service they have received.
At the moment the Leap Local system is not yet in place in Kilimanjaro, and won't be until later in 2008. I myself hope to be doing the initial research and to implement the program in East Africa. Do visit this website to check on our progress.
I'll also be writing a number of articles about the ethical issues of climbing Kilimanjaro - including carbon offsetting and the welfare of porters - over the next week or so; check out this site for the latest.
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The reopened Western Breach Route - an account of a climb
Posted by Henry at 4:30 pm, February 4th 2008.
A report has just been sent to me by a reader of their trek up the Western Breach Route.
This account, by Lisa Cichocki, is of particular interest because Lisa is one of the first people to ascend by that route since it reopened late last year.
Lisa, who climbed with her friend Jerry Husz, (you can see both of their photos in the Hall of Fame), initially had trouble finding a company willing to take her by this Western Breach Route - a route which was originally shut following the deaths of three climbers in a rockfall in January 2006. This unusual reluctance to take a booking by the agents was in some cases due to the fact they hadn't heard it had reopened, and in some cases because they thought it still too dangerous (a concern that has been expressed elsewhere on these News pages).
In the end, out of the three agencies who were willing to arrange a climb on the Western Breach Route, they settled for Ahsante Tours, a Moshi-based company (whom it must be said, Lisa praises to the hilt in her email - so congratulations go to Bruno the guide, as well as Cuthbert and the gang at Ahsante). As far as extra safety precautions, little seems to have changed since the route was shut, although Lisa and Jerry were encouraged to hire a safety helmet (US$20) - even though, as Lisa explains, she never actually used it, even on the day/night when she was supposed to!
Due to the lack of facilities at Crater Camp, the party was also equipped with a portable toilet carried by a porter. Furthermore - and this would appear to be another change that was introduced following the 2006 tragedy), Lisa, Jerry and all the guides/porters etc were made to sign a form that basically exempted the agency from any responsibility in the event of an accident on the Western Breach Route. We haven't heard of this particular sort of form before (though similar forms are usual on the mountain) and are wondering if it will soon be de rigeuer for all trekking parties on the Western Breach Route to have to sign such a form.
Suffice to say, Lisa and Jerry both made it to the top, within about half an hour of each other, and both, to judge by Lisa's emails, enjoyed the whole experience tremendously.
I'd be interested to hear of any other accounts of climbing the reopened Western Breach Route, particularly regarding any special safety measures that your agency employed.
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The new elephant shrew discovery
Posted by Henry at 11:51 am, February 2nd 2008.
Not a specifically Kilimanjaro news item, but this story is so good it's worth reporting here. A new variety of giant shrew has been discovered in the Ndundulu Forest in Tanzania's Udzungwa Mountains.
Discoveries of new mammals are very rare occurences - and discoveries of mammals this size are even rarer. For this new species of elephant shrew weighs in at 700g (25oz) and measures about 30cm (12in) in length.
Dubbed Rhynochocyon udzungwensis, is said to resemble a miniature antelope and a small anteater, with a long nose, grey face, a stocky, amber body, a jet-black rump and spindly legs.
Elephant shrews are only found in Africa, and actually, despite their size, are more closely related to elephants than shrews, sharing a common ancestor with pachyderms, sea cows, aardvarks and hyraxes.
Unusually for a newly discovered species, the elephant shrews, or sengi as they are also known, are diurnal, (ie are most active at day), rather than nocturnal. Even more strangely, this is not the first time the Udzungwa Mountains have witnessed the discovery of a new creature, with the Udzungwa partridge, the Phillips' Congo shrew, and the Kipunji, a new species of monkeys. Despite this, the mountains do not as yet receive full official environmental protection.
Nevertheless, isn't it wonderful that new creatures are still being discovered on this planet of ours. And you never know, keep your eyes peeled on Kilimanjaro and who knows what weird and wonderful creatures you may discover...
To read more about the elephant shrew, including a photograph, visit the BBC report at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7213571.stm
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Is this the youngest Singaporean to climb Kilimanjaro?
Posted by Henry at 10:26 am, January 29th 2008.
Following a spate of recent emails sent to climbmountkilimanjaro.com about the youngest/oldest people to climb Kilimanjaro, we now have another claimant: Robert Junqi Wild, who was born on the 10 May 1993, recently reached the summit of Kilimanjaro via the Machame Route on December 20th at 7am at the ripe old age of 14 years 7 months 10 days, thus making him, as far as we know, the youngest SIngaporean - and possibly even the youngest Asian - ever to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro.
We shall be putting his picture in our Hall of Fame in the near future. Our heartiest congratulations, of course, go to Robert.
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The troubles in Kenya - are they impacting on Kilimanjaro?
Posted by Henry at 11:06 am, January 22nd 2008.
I've received a few emails over the past couple of weeks from concerned trekkers who have booked their Kilimanjaro climb - and are now worried about whether the recent troubles in Kenya will affect their holiday plans.
The troubles started following disputes over the general election held earlier this year. Whilst Kilimanjaro is of course in Tanzania, not Kenya, its location, hard against the Kenyan border means that such concerns are legitimate.
However, from a straw poll of agencies and operators who organise treks up Kilimanjaro it appears that trekking on the mountain has thus far been unaffected by the troubles in Kenya. Most agencies have reported a slight drop in bookings for February and March, which they are blaming on the fighting in Kenya and the fact that most airlines fly via the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, on their way to Kilimanjaro. But Tanzania's reputation as a safe country, particularly given the volatility of its neighbours, seems to have ensured that trekkers are still climbing the mountain. The city of Arusha has seen a slight influx of 'refugees' from Kenya, but again is largely unaffected by the crisis across the border.
Indeed, trekking agencies who have contacted me seem pretty sanguine about their prospects this summer, with bookings healthy. many also hold the belief that the troubles, while brutal in the initial stages, are but temporary and a solution is imminent. We can only hope they're right.
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