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Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro Site Map

admin — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 02:32:03 +0000

The Easiest of the Seven Summits, Mt. Kilimanjaro

admin — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:56:58 +0000

As most mountaineers and alpine climbers know, the seven summits are the highest peaks on the 7 continents: Aconcagua in Argentina, Elbrus in Russia, Vinson in Antarctica, Carstenz Pyramid in Indonesia, Everest in Nepal, Denali in Alaska, and Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. It has become known as a tremendous mountaineering feat and has become quite popular the last 10 years, if a mountain climber can accomplish all of the seven summits. It takes a tremendous amount of time, money, and training and is extremely dangerous endeavor.

The easiest one of these climbs is probably Mt. Kilimanjaro, which is climbed by about 30,000 people per year, many of them novices who have no experience or technical understand of basic mountain principles. Although Mt. Kilimanjaro is extremely high, there is no real technical component and many people consider it more of a high altitude hike that is relatively safe. This is why average people like Ann Curry from the Today Show recently attempted to summit Kilimanjaro. She did not make it, but it does glamorize it with the mainstream press. Mount Kilimanjaro has become so popular, and adventure travel has become a trend in the travel industry – that regular people from around the world want to climb to Africa’s highest peak and watch the sunrise over Africa.

While it is a great feat to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and should be taken seriously, it does not mean you should consider climbing Denali or Aconcagua immediately. Mt. Kilimanjaro is a beginner’s climb, and mountains like Everest and Mount McKinley are for experts to climb. This is one of the seven summits that can typically be done by about anyone.

If you truly love mountain climbing and want to continue, then take a mountaineering class and starting finding safe mountains to climb in your region. Or find a guide service that can take you up the mountain, but practice closer to home and focus on the climbing experience itself and not the name of the mountain There are thousands and thousands of mountains around the world, in the United States, that offer a much safer, cheaper alternative, than heading to places like Indonesia and Russia.

Breakdown of Elevations For the Seven Summits:
Kilimanjaro: 5,895 meters/19341 feet Tanzania
Vinson Massif: 4,892 meters/16,050 Antarctica
Carstensz Pyramid: 4,884 meters/16,024 feet Indonesia
Everest: 8,848 meters/29,029 feet Nepal/China
Elbrus: 5,642 meters/18,510 feet Russia
Mount McKinley: 6,194 meters/ 20,320 Alaska
Aconcagua: 6,962 meters/ 22,841 feet Argentina

How To Plan Your Kilimanjaro Climb

admin — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:54:13 +0000

People often ask me, how do you start planning an adventure trip to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro? To them, it seems like such a daunting task, with countless variables and things to consider. Each person has a unique way they go about planning a trip, but I have developed a check list of each important highlights with planning an expedition to climb Africa’s highest mountain. Most of the details are common sense but sometimes go overlooked.

Make A Mental Commitment

It’s too easy to start an enormous life-changing adventure and then easily give up because of logistics, cost, conditioning, family reaction, et. For most people, climbing Kilimanjaro is a once a in a lifetime opportunity. Therefore, if you make the commitment, even if it’s not going to happen until next year, then make sure you will follow through.

Begin Your Training

This is the central and probably most important aspect for climbing any mountain in the world. Start your training early. In fact, the earlier you start, the better. You should TRY to start training at least six months in advance, in order to ensure the highest probability of success.

Save

Traveling half way around the world, and spending seven to ten days climbing a mountain can be expensive. Make sure to start saving as early as possible. Including airfare and a climb up the mountain, it can easily range from $4,000 to $8,000 per person.

Find Others Looking For a Challenge

It’s always exciting to include others in your adventures, as it build strong relationships, it holds you to your word, and it gives you someone to train with. Since climbing Kilimanjaro can be done by just about anyone (those who takes their time), you should consider bringing friends, family, other people interested in an African adventures. Also, the more people you have on a climb, the cheaper the rates can be. Just make sure the people you bring are people you can cope with under sometimes difficult conditions.

Pick Your Outfitter and Guide

Whether you choose to pick your outfitter when you arrive, or in advance, it’s important to establish a relationship with someone early that can get your climb up Kilimanjaro organized. You should start having conversations with the outfitter 6 to 12 months in advance, as it gives them plenty of time to organize guides, logistics, permits, etc. There are times in the year that are busy (Feb & Aug) and sometimes the best guides are booked a year in advance. The earlier you book, the better.

Determine Your Dates/Routes

After you pick your outfitter, you should start to determine the following: dates, number of people, routes, and other important aspects your adventure. You will need to make sure you choose the proper route up Kilimanjaro, as well as the right time of year. For example, you would not want to plan a trip during the rainy season (April & May), unless you don’t mind walking in the rain all day, ever day. Likewise, in terms of the climbing routes, an experienced mountaineer, or someone who likes a little adventure, would most likely do the Lemosho or the Machame Route, with an option up the Western Breach vs. going up the Marangu Route.

Keep Training

Again, the central point for a successful trip is training, training, training. You need to make sure you are consistent with your training program.

Purchase Your Airfare

Once your dates and outfitter is finalized, you should purchase your airfare. It’s best to shop around, as you can find huge price variations. You will want to purchase your airfare 3 to 5 months in advance. Make sure to check alternative non US-based carriers – like Ethiopian Airlines or Qatar Airlines – if you are searching for a cheap flight.

Get Your Immunizations

Talk to you local travel clinic about 3 months prior to your trip. This will be the time you decide which immunizations you should get. Make sure to plan this into your budget, as sometimes these shots can be a significant addition.

Prepare Your Gear

While climbing Kilimanjaro does not take any specialized equipment, you will want to make sure all your gear is order. Do you have warm climbing pants? Do you have a 10-degree bag? Do you have trekking poles? Have you hiked more than 100 miles in your boots? All of these questions should be considered before going up the mountain. And, it’s best that all of your gear is clean and in working condition before you take off. The worst thing to do is try to find all the details in the last week.

Organize Your Visas

As of the time of writing this blog post, you could get your visa upon arrival at the Tanzania airport, or at any border crossing. If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of organizing your visas upon arrival, you can get these sorted at the Tanzanian embassy in Washington DC. Expect to take about 3 weeks to get your passport back.

Leave The day has come. Say goodbye to your friends and family, and take off on your adventure!

Flights to Tanzania, Kenya and East Africa

admin — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:50:51 +0000

There are numerous airlines that service East Africa – the hub for people climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro – and there are numerous airports each with different advantages and disadvantages. Before you determine which airport, you should ask yourself these three questions:

Are you looking for the cheapest possible option?
Do you have lots of extra time, or are you on a tight schedule?
Do you plan to travel through out Africa and leave from a different airport?

By answering these questions, you can help better determine where you should fly into.

Kilimanjaro International Airport:

The most easiest and efficient way is to fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), which sits just outside of Arusha and Moshi. There are regular flights into Kilimanjaro from Amsterdam, London, Ethiopia and a handful of other countries. This is not for someone who is on a budget, and it’s best for someone who is on a tight schedule. You can fly into the airport, begin climbing the mountain the next day, and then fly out right after your climb is over.

Pros: Quick, Easy, Close to Mt. Kilimanjaro

Cons: Expensive

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport:

The cheapest way to get to East Africa is to fly into Nairobi, Kenya. Typically these flights come via London and are serviced by Kenya Airlines. Nairobi’s airport is about six to eight hours away from the starting points to climb Kilimanjaro. You can get to Kilimanjaro on any of a number of shuttle services.

Pros: Cheapeast Way to East Africa

Cons: Kenya Visa, Possible Night Spent in Nairobi, Six to Eight Hours on A Bus

Dar es Salaam International Airport: “Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA)

The last major airport into East Africa is in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania called the Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR). Dar International Airport is farther away from Kilimanjaro than Nairobi, and therefore is typically the last resort in terms of flights. However, if you are interested in going to Zanzibar, then Dar would be the best airport to start your flights. Dar is a great city to fly out from. A good way to plan your trip would be to fly into Nairobi or Kilimanjaro Airport, and then fly out of Dar es Salaam. The reason is that most people like to end their adventures near a beach, and Dar is located just 2 hours from Zanzibar by boat. If you had to commute back to Nairobi, or Kilimanjaro, you w0uld spend more traveling time and more money.

Pros: Close to Zanzibar; Good departure airport if planning Zanzibar after mountain climbing or safari; great city to explore

Cons: Not conveniently located

Airlines that service East Africa:

From Europe:

From United States

There are no direct flights from the United States. If you book with an American airline, the typically have partner companies that will service your flight. For example, Northwest Airlines partners with KLM to provide your trip from the United States to Europe, and then onward to Africa.

From Middle East and Asia:

From Africa:

Domestic Airlines:

Many of the Asia and Middle East airline do service Europe, so you can book a flight from Europe to Africa on a Middle East carrie, and find good prices on flights.

Altitude Sickness on Mt. Kilimanjaro

admin — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:46:42 +0000

Although this is not on Mt. Kilimanjaro, it is a good video to watch, which illustrates what to expect, and what to do, with altitude sickness – a common occurrence on the mountain.

Classic Mt. Kilimanjaro Picture

admin — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:36:21 +0000

This is the classic picture of Kilimanjaro from Moshi or somewhere in the villages below. The mountain typically shows itself early in the morning and late the evening. Through much of the year, the mountain is hidden by clouds during the day.

Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro Training Outline

admin — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:33:01 +0000

Here is a Kilimanjaro training program that someone sent me as they prepared to climb Africa’s highest mountain.

There are a number of things I like about this program. First, it’s extremely consistent – meaning he is training on a regular basis. Second, it includes elevation gain, which is key for climbing a mountain. Third, in includes weight, which you technically do not need to have on Mt. Kilimanjaro, but will definitely help you your overall stamina. You will carry a day-pack that could have anywhere from 5 to 15 pounds. Fourth, he documents his program, and can look back at it over the months. Often people start planning to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro 1 year in advance and their work out program can take many twists and turns. It’s easier to think you worked out a lot harder than you did.

Day: Wednesday
One Way Distance: 3.5 Miles
Net Elevation Gain: 2,000’
Time Up to Turn Around: 1.5 hours
Total RT Miles: 7 miles
Round Trip Time: 3 hours
Weight: 15 pounds

Day: Friday
One Way Distance: 4.0 Miles
Net Elevation Gain: 2,900’
Time Up to Turn Around: 2 hours
Total RT Miles: 8 miles
Round Trip Time: 4 hours
Weight: 20 pounds

Day: Sunday
One Way Distance: 5.4 Miles
Net Elevation Gain: 3,500’
Time Up to Turn Around: 3 hours
Total RT Miles: 10.8 miles
Round Trip Time: 5.5 hours
Weight: 10 pounds

Day: Wednesday
One Way Distance: 3.0 Miles
Net Elevation Gain: 2,100’
Time Up to Turn Around: 1.5 hours
Total RT Miles: 6 miles
Round Trip Time: 3 hours
Weight: 15 pounds

Water Treatment on Mt. Kilimanjaro

admin — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:11:13 +0000

Drinking significant amounts of water while climbing Kilimanjaro is one of the keys to a successful summit. Most people drink 3 to 6 liters of water per day. The trick is making sure that you are drinking clean, safe water.

Ideally the best combination to ensure clean water is water purification tables – such as iodine – and a quality filter/purifier. This way you have double protection.

Typically, you fill up on water 3 times per day. First, you will fill up your nalgene bottles in the morning before leaving camp, then when you arrive in the new camp, and finally at night before you go to sleep. With the exception of the first day when you receive bottled water, the porters bring a bucket of water from steams to camp. One of the porters will use your water filter and pump it into your nalgene bottle, or your water treatment system. You will add your iodine tablet and other mixtures you want to include.

Things to remember with water filtration on Kilimanjaro:

REI has the best selection of water filters and are extremely knowledgeable on the subject.
If you have a big group, filtering water can take a long time. Make sure to prepare everyone in advance.
Not everyone in the group needs a water filter. You should have one water filter for every two people
Drinking pure water for many days is boring. Make sure to have some mix to add to the water, like Gatorade
Water can be purchased in almost all of the tourist areas of East Africa.
You will not need a water filter on safari.

Porters of Mt. Kilimanjaro

admin — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 15:47:29 +0000

Karen Valenti of the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project provided me with this information about her project in Tanzania.

The International Mountain Explorers Connection (IMEC) is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization whose mission is promoting responsible and sustainable connections between travelers and the people of developing mountain regions of the world. IMEC has a dual approach: working to benefit the local populations, primarily focusing on porters, while also working to educate visitors and link them to ways they can assist the local populations, particularly in demanding fair treatment for porters. IMEC advocates that everyone in the trekking industry – overseas companies, local agents, trek leaders, and trekkers – should shoulder the responsibilities and costs of taking crews into the highest mountains of the earth.

IMEC’s Porter Assistance Projects are improving the distressing working conditions of the porters by:

* Lending donated clothing at no charge to the porters for use while climbing;
* Providing free classes for the benefit of the porters in English, HIV/AIDS Awareness, Money Management, and First Aid Certification;
* Educating the public on the porter working conditions and providing Guidelines for Proper Porter Treatment.

Clothing Lending Program
Many porters are poorly outfitted for the physical rigors of climbing and suffer due to inadequate protection from the extreme weather found on the mountain. IMEC provides mountain climbing clothing, at no cost, to porters. Our clothing stock includes waterproof ski jackets, rain jackets and pants, fleece pullovers, hats, gloves, scarves, socks, and boots. Porters are required to leave an item of value as a deposit which can be retrieved once the washed clothing is returned. Local outfitters in Nepal and Kilimanjaro also utilize IMEC’s clothing as uniforms for their crew.

IMEC receives gear donations from Sharing Warmth around the Globe (SWAG), a U.S. nonprofit organization which collects used ski resort clothing and donates them to causes around the world; major manufacturers such as North Face, Patagonia, REI, Montrail, and Sierra Designs; and countless individuals. Donated clothing is transported to Nepal and Kilimanjaro through IMEC’s Courier Program in which U.S. travelers volunteer to carry a duffel bag of clothing as one of their checked bags.

Porter Education Classes
A major objective of IMEC’s Porter Assistance Project is providing educational opportunities to motivate and empower porters. Conversational English classes allow porters to learn the simple communication skills enabling them to interact with guests on a climb. First Aid certification provides porters with the opportunity to acquire the vital skills necessary for the care of each other during a climb as well as attend to the needs within their community when not working on the mountain. IMEC teams up with local HIV/AIDS outreach organizations in an effort to supply porters with the awareness required to avoid the detrimental behaviors related to this deadly disease. And Money Management classes allow porters to take better control of the financial direction of their lives. Simple money management skills, such as weekly budgeting and long term planning, help porters safeguard their financial resources.

IMEC’s approach to classes includes facilitating skill development through a “Training of Trainers System” in which selected porters acquire leadership and teaching skills necessary for providing other porters with important education. Since 2006, IMEC’s Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project has held two “Training of Trainers” programs in Community-Based First Aid in collaboration with the Tanzanian Red Cross Society. 30 porters and guides have been certified as First Aid Instructors who are utilized to teach IMEC’s First Aid Certification Course to other porters and crew members.

Five porters with exceptional English language skills have been trained as beginner English teachers of IMEC’s porter classes as well. IMEC also intends to use this approach in training teachers to implement its new Porter Rights and Environmental Stewardship classes. In addition to educating the porter population, these Porter Instructors can also use their teaching skills to instruct other sectors of society and provide valuable education to the community as well as another means of economic support for these porters.

Education of the Public
Education of the tourists takes place through visits to IMEC’s local offices in Nepal and Tanzania, information contained in Travel Guides and found on IMEC’s websites www.mountainexplorers.org and www.kiliporters.org. In 2005, IMEC introduced its Partner for Responsible Travel Program for Kilimanjaro which advocates for porter rights by evaluating the labor practices of tour operators. Monitoring activities for Kilimanjaro determine which local climbing companies are adhering to government regulations as well as IMEC’s guidelines for proper porter treatment. Local outfitters meeting these standards qualify for partnership as well as the overseas tour companies they contract with.

Monitoring of the local company is essential to ensuring that the actual practices on the mountain reflect what is professed by the company. IMEC’s monitoring methods include:

* Climber Post-Trek Survey reports
* Porter interviews
* Porter Questionnaires
* Observation during climbs
* Participation in Company’s briefing
* Observation of Company’s tipping procedure

Through the Partner Program, IMEC disseminates this information to the general public specifically targeting climbers and overseas tour operators climbing Kilimanjaro. The Partner for Responsible Travel Program aims to empower clients with the fundamental information necessary to choose a socially responsible climbing company while, at the same time, demonstrate to tour operators how fair labor practices can generate improved business.

Objectives of the Partner for Responsible Travel Program:
* Raise public awareness regarding proper working conditions and treatment of porters
* Increase the consumer’s demand to climb with Partner for Responsible Travel Companies
* Encourage Overseas Tour Companies taking responsibility for ensuring local outfitters’ proper treatment of porters
* Facilitate an improvement in porter working conditions by encouraging more local outfitters to follow IMEC’s guidelines for proper porter treatment

Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro Gear List – Master List

admin — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 15:43:49 +0000

There are numerous gear lists that are for climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. Some are quite complicated and some are quite basic. On mountains – especially Kilimanjaro – it’s good to air on the side of safety, and bringing a little of everything.

Recently one of my clients sent me this master gear list that he developed for his recent adventure in East Africa. Overall, it’s an amazing gear list with everything and every brand you could possibly need. The only downside is that it would be very expensive to buy all of these name brand items. You could get buy with less expensive generic mountaineering clothing. But if you want the best of the best, this would be a great way to go.

OUTERWEAR
Arc’Teryx Black Outter Shell
North Face Red Down Parka
Parka Stuff Sack
Mountain Hardware Windstopper Tech Fleece Jacket
Mountain Hardware Black Tenacity Pants
Mammut Champ Pants
OR Crocodile Gaiters
Nylon Yellow Rain Pants

BASE LAYER
Underwear: Jockey Shorts – 3 Synthetic Briefs – 3
Lightweight Polypro Bottom
ThermaDry Tight Mild Weight Synthetic Bottoms
Lightweight Polyprop Top REI
ThermaDry Zip T Mid. weight Synthetic Top

APPROACH CLOTHING
Ex-Officio Shirts
Underwear: Jockey Shorts – 5
Ex-Officio Pants
Belt
Handkerchiefs
Sun Cap with Neck Protector Flaps
Hat

ACCESSORIES
Mountain Hardware Andinista Black Windstopper Helmet Liner
Mountain Hardware Black Butter Balaclava
Leather Gloves
Patagonia Blue Capaline Liners
Mountain Hardware Black Absolute Zero Mitt

FOOTWEAR
Hiking Boots: Zamberlan Leather 636 Baffin GT RR
Boot Bags: Large Zip Lock Bags(2)
Blue & White Polypro Liner Socks
Smartwooo Mountaineering Socks
Camp Shoes
Camp Shoe Sox
Keen Brown Sandals
Sandal Sox

MOUNTAINEERING SPECIFIC GEAR
Osprey Atmos 50
Climbing Helmet
Smith Monasheet OTG PMT Ski Goggles
Juilbo Nom ad Nor Altra Sectrom X6 Glacier Glasses

OTHER GEAR
Marmot Mountain Sleeping Bag
Sleeping Bag Compression Stuff Sack
Thermarest Inflatable Sleeping Pad
Leki Super Makalu COR-TEC PA Trekking Poles

WATER ITEMS
First Need Water Filter
Bleach: Small BOttle
Water Bladder
32 Oz Wide Mouth Water Bottles
Water Bottle Parkas
Insulated Drink Container

GENERAL ITEMS
Small Swiss Army Knife
Map
Regular Glasses/Sunglasses
Glasses Cleaning Wipes
Sunblack Walgreen’s Zinc Oxice
Lip Balm Dermatone, Blistex or Chapstick
Toilet Paper (Roll in plastic bag)
Purell hand sanitizers / Wet Wipes
Pee Bottle
Mosquito Net
Insect Repellent
Large Trash Compactor Bags (Line & Cover Pack)
Assorted Zip-lock Bags
Whistle

HEADLAMP/CAMERA & ACCESSORIES/BATTERIES
Black Diamond Zenis IQ Headlamp with 2 Lithium AA Batteries
Digital Camera, Case/Lanyard
Case & Dust/Waterproof Bag
Charger
Spare Battery
Spare Memory
GPS
Spare AA Batteries (Lithium)
Spare AA Batteries (Regular)

PERSONAL HYGIENE
Trim Fingernmails & Toenails
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Hand Soap
Hand Towell – Fast Drying
Shampoo
Comb (small)

LUGGAGE
Dufflee Bag for Porters – North Face Base Camp
Two Pack Straps for Duffel Bag
Small Wheeled Suitcase
Combination Lock For Suitcase

MEDICAL ITEMS
Personal Medications
Medical Information
Immunization Record
Medical Insurance
Air Evacuation Documents
Personal First Aid Kit

TRAVEL ITEMS
Passport & Copy of Photo Page
Visa
Airline Ticket
Prime Time Shuttle Reservations
Cash
Credit Cards
Copy Check List