Mt. Kilimanjaro

[creekster]

Has anyone here climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro? If so, how was it? Would you encourage others to do it?

[hostile]

Has anyone here climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro? If so, how was it? Would you encourage others to do it?

I have several friends who have and one of my partners is planning on it this year. The consensus is that it is well worth it.

In addition, I have fixed one broken tibia from a fall on Mt. Kilimanjaro.

[creekster]

I have several friends who have and one of my partners is planning on it this year. The consensus is that it is well worth it.

In addition, I have fixed one broken tibia from a fall on Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Did they all summit? Were they mountaineers?

[ERCougar]

I know a few who have. None were experienced mountaineers. From what I've heard, it's just a very long slog with little or no technical demands.

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[Joe Public]

Did they all summit? Were they mountaineers?

I haven't been, but I'm pretty sure it's widely considered to be the "easiest" of the Seven Summits. It's less technical than the others and is more of a hike than anything. Aconcagua at least requires crampons.

Hoping to find some old, forgotten words or ancient melodies?

[hostile]

Did they all summit? Were they mountaineers?

My friends who went summited. Both are experienced mountaineers (several Teton summits, McKinley, Aconcagua). They both say that it is not a technical climb, more of a long hike as indicated above. It is expected that you use porters for your gear.

[creekster]

Thanks for the input. In what is probably a misguided effort to recapture our long lost youth my best friend and I are going To climb it next year. It should be interesting.

One book I read said that broadly speaking the cause of most deaths on the mountain (~10-30 a year) is that people treat it like a hike and not a climb. It takes no technical experience or skill but the enviro ent is very harsh. Or so I am told.

[creekster]

I managed to get to the top two days ago. Sadly I am neither more virile or flamboyant for having done so Although I do have a gray beard.

[FN Phat]

Congrats. Check another one off of the ol' bucket list! Did you manage to snap some pics?

[YOhio]

I managed to get to the top two days ago. Sadly I am neither more virile or flamboyant for having done so Although I do have a gray beard.

Awesome. Well done, creekster.

[creekster]

Congrats. Check another one off of the ol' bucket list! Did you manage to snap some pics?

I took approx 670 photos until the last four hours before the summit when a freak snowstorm hit the summit. Wind was about 25-40 mph and it dropped 8-10 inches in about two hours. The camera didn't come out until we hit the summit. I had hats and flags and crap I wanted to photograph there and I wanted to enjoy the views but we could barely stand up and and we were being pelted with ice and snow while trying. Our view was limited to about ten feet in front of us. Thank goodness our guide was very experienced. At the summit we took three photos of our small group and then immediately started back down. That brief appearance put my camera out of commission for two days (solved by a bag of uncooked rice). Out guide has been on the mountain for 20+ years and said he had never seen anything like it. A freak weather event. I can only conclude God is not happy with my involvement on CS.

[creekster]

Btw, it has been as challenging trying to get out of the Kilimanjaro airport on Ethiopian air (motto: there IS something wrong with that) as it was climbing the mountain. A flight schedule is, it seems, a mere suggestion to these folks.

[YOhio]

I took approx 670 photos until the last four hours before the summit when a freak snowstorm hit the summit. Wind was about 25-40 mph and it dropped 8-10 inches in about two hours. The camera didn't come out until we hit the summit. I had hats and flags and crap I wanted to photograph there and I wanted to enjoy the views but we could barely stand up and and we were being pelted with ice and snow while trying. Our view was limited to about ten feet in front of us. Thank goodness our guide was very experienced. At the summit we took three photos of our small group and then immediately started back down. That brief appearance put my camera out of commission for two days (solved by a bag of uncooked rice). Out guide has been on the mountain for 20+ years and said he had never seen anything like it. A freak weather event. I can only conclude God is not happy with my involvement on CS.

Or he's not happy about your global galavanting on tall mountains.

[wuapinmon]

Did you use porters? I've always wondered how it would feel to have a line of men willing to carry your stuff on their backs for you.

[creekster]

You are essentially required to use porters. Yes. We did use them. They weren't willing to carry it for me, but for dollars. It turned out to be fun. The day after the climb we went with the guide and a couple of porters and their kids to a local hangout (VERY local) and had a great time.