Trip Reports

Kilimanjaro - Lemosho Glades private trip

Dawn on summit day - Kilimanjaro Lemosho Glades

Written by Leader, November 2009

The James Sully Private Group, a.k.a. ‘The Men in Black’, a.k.a. ‘The Clear and Copious Climbing Club’, all successfully reached Uhuru Peak, the highest point of Kilimanjaro at 07.30 on Thursday 8th October. It was a stunning morning, with the rising sun glinting off the glacier walls as the 8 man team gathered on the top, the culmination of a superb effort by all involved. For some, this was their first mountain summit (apart from Glyder Fawr in North Wales!), their first altitude experience and even their first camping experience! As they said, they like to get out of their comfort zone every now and then ... though not just for the sake of it; the plan was to raise money for a number of charities and to use this challenge as a way of attracting sponsorship – in this they had suceeded very well!

The trip started well with sightings of herds of zebra and wildebeest, and even a small group of giraffes, during the drive-in to the Lemosho Gate and the start of the trekking. Elephants were not seen – but their passage was obvious from the evidence left behind! We then enjoyed the wonderfully unspoilt forest zone on the lower slopes, followed the wierd giant moorland vegetation above, a truly Lilliputian experience walking amongst 4m high heather! Finally we emerged onto the open mountain of the Shira Plateau and got our first views of Kibo, the highest, main cone of Kilimanjaro, dappled with fresh snow and seamed by the remaining small glaciers. We had a couple of days of mixed weather at this stage which only added to the variety of the trek, each day revealing a new environment, different views or an alternative character to the walking – and always the brooding mass of Kili getting closer and closer as we flirted with the flanks on our spiral route to the top. The days became more settled and any cloud only enhanced the experience – a vast cloud-sea stretching below, only interrupted by the shapely peak of Mt Meru to the West, gave an extraordinary sense of detachment from the real world hidden below.The group was acclimatising well, the benefits of being ‘clear and copious’ were becoming well-enshrined in the group’s psyche and the ‘crack’ amongst the group and with the local guides got better and better ... trying to conjugate Swahili verbs, at 4000m, with the correct prefix bought on a truely dangerous state of hilarity!

On reaching Barafu camp at 4600m the route to the crater rim could now be seen. We set off soon after midnight with a waning moon giving more than enough light to see by. For the next 6 hours the group toiled upwards, slowly, slowly in the pre-dawn, cheered by the close harmonies of Emmanuel and Epha’s singing (our assistant guides). A round of hot ‘Milo’ combined with the psychological boost of the sunrise gave everyone that extra energy to reach the rim. A final hour through the wierd landscape of ash and ice bought the group, via a gently-rising ridge, to Africa’s highest point, the culmination of months of planning, preparation and sponsorship-seeking. Joy was unbounded! A fantastic effort! The Men in Black had achieved well over £65,000 in sponsorship, divided amongst the charities War Child, the Liver Unit at the Queen Elisabeth Hospital (Birmingham), Ovarian Cancer Action and the National Autistic Society; the final sum could exceed £100,000! Using Kilimanjaro as the vehicle for charity sponsorship is a common thing these days but the personal challenge of ‘trekking’ up Kilimanjaro should never be underestimated – it is every inch a big, big mountain!

From the summit it was 1200m down to Barafu and then, after a 3 hour break, a further 1500m down to Mweka Camp, a total of 1200m of ascent and 2700m of descent in a day! From the cold and arid ‘other world’ of the volcanic crater to the lush, moist and warm forest of the lower slopes – and the ‘best beer ever’, locally produced Kilimanjaro Premium Lager of course! On the final morning we descended to the transport and back to the Keys Hotel for ‘the best shower ever’, ‘the best burger ever’ and ‘the best second and third beers ever’! Soon we were cruising with KLM, high above the snows of Kilimanjaro, leaving behind a great experience - but taking some great memories.

Summiteers:
The Men in Black: Simon Ashby-Rudd, Ollie Barker, Todd Grondona, Tim Haynes, Matt Nicholls, Jake Scrivens, Jamie Sully and Tim Sunnucks
Jagged Globe leader: John Eames
Local guides: Kassim (head guide), Emmanuel and Epha Supported by a hard-working and professionl crew of cooks, assistants and porters that made it all possible.

John Eames, Trek Leader « Previous report | Next report »

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