|
The lunar landscape soon gave way to beautiful open moorland and spectacular views of Kili. We are getting closer and higher.
We had a lovely spot to camp at Barranco Camp. We were surrounded by cactus-like groundsel and a spectacular view of the mountain peak and the valley below.
We enjoyed a fun evening with our climbing friends, Richard, John and Andreas. Here is John, Richard and Kelly sitting on a rock with the foreboding Mt. Kilimanjaro in the background.
We went to sleep that night bound and determined to stay warm. Rich taped up the vents in our tent and we wore all of our clothing, even our coats, hats and gloves to bed. Our efforts were rewarded with a bearably cold, but fitful, night of sleep.
We did not leave Barranco the next morning until 9:30 am. As we left camp, we met David Breshears, an accomplished and well known and respected mountain climber, and the maker/director of the IMAX Everest film. He and the IMAX team are now working on a film for Mt. Kilimanjaro. It is scheduled to be released in May 2002. We asked him to make it look difficult so that we can gain respect from friends and family if we are fortunate enough to make it to the top. Here is Kelly and David.
Our climb that day was breathtaking, but challenging. Within the first few minutes we were confronted by the steep Barranco Wall. As we looked at it, the climb seemed to require rock climbing skills (which we did not have) and rock climbing equipment (which we did not have). But it was not bad provided you were careful. When we reached the top of the wall, we were amazed by the views below.
We camped at Karranga Valley that evening, while the other trekkers went on to their final camp. When we arranged our trip, we decided to add an extra day for acclimatization. We relaxed at camp during the afternoon...
...and enjoyed a spectacular sunset in the evening. The night sky was illuminated by a full moon and the snow on Mt. Kilimanjaro glowed.
Rich wakes up ready to climb up to Barafu Camp.
As we lay in our tent, we hear loud thunder and snow begins to fall and fall and fall. We do not sleep well because it is very loud and windy. We fear that our tent will fly away. Even worse, we fear that our summit attempt will be cancelled. Neither is the case and at 12:00 am, our guide brings coffee and cookies to our tent. We do not need to get dressed, as we wore all of our clothes to bed. At 12:30 am, we begin our ascent through the fresh, 5 to 8 inches, of snow.
|
|
2 Go Maps / 2 Go Actual Itinerary / 2 Go Photos / 2 Go Home Page
PLEASE E-MAIL US. . . WE WOULD LOVE 2 HEAR FROM YOU!
©1999-2001 Kelly and Rich Willis. All rights reserved. |
Here
we are at Barafu Camp which stands at 4600 meters (a little over 15,000
feet). This is our last stop before we make our push for the summit.
We are scheduled to wake up the following morning at 12:00 am and leave camp at
12:30 am.