Trip Reports

Daisy Chain charity - 13 to 22 Feb '10

Dawn on summit day - Kilimanjaro Lemosho Glades

Written by Leader Paul Westwood, February 2010

The brief story of a very successful trip to Kilimanjaro of a group of fundraisers for Daisy Chain Charity, supporting young people affected by Autism.

The 15 team members met up with expedition leader, Paul Westwood, at their departure gate at Schipol airport, Amsterdam having flown from various regional airports in the UK. The flight to Kilimanjaro airport and transfer to Keys Hotel in Moshi, Tanzania went almost without hitch. Unfortunately a camera was left on the plane but, as was to be the case throughout the trip, the whole team offered to support their disappointed friend, with CDs of their photos. After a good diner and a briefing by Paul the team went off to their rooms to prepare themselves and their bags for an early start the next morning.

Unusually for most teams, this team was ready quite promptly for departure after the usual last-minute repacking and arranging. So, without delay, the team headed off towards Londorrossi park gate where the support crew numbers were verified at 59, including 5 local guides led by Erick. The whole contingent then drove round to the start off the Lemosho Glades route and for the team their first experience of the jungle rainforest that surrounds Kilimanjaro. The pace, set by the guides was just right, as it always would be, and the team arrived at Big tree campsite in good time.

The next few days would follow a similar routine, wake at 6, breakfast at 7 and off walking by 8 or fairly close, packed lunch on the way and end the walking some time in the afternoon. Trekking days two and three would see the team battling with the fine volcanic dust particles on the Shira plateau (a particular favourite of Bernard) and day four took the team to the rarefied air around Lava Towers before descending to Baranco Camp and their first glimpse of the intimidating Baranco Wall, their first major obstacle for the following morning. Day four also gave the team an idea of the kind of weather the mountain massif can conjure up with rain, sleet and snow flurries. Bernard had been particularly concerned about the wall but as bad fortune would have it he had to leave the group before having chance to test his metal due to domestic problems at home. In the morning Bernard, guide Gift and a porter headed off down the Umbwe route and for the remainder of the team the Baranco Wall came and was easily dispatched by all the group and on to Karanga Camp (despite the sting in the tail!). Here the weather really showed what it could do with torrential rain followed by a persistent and heavy hailstorm that necessitated digging trenches around the tents to divert the water and hailstones cascading down the mountain side.

Onward, the next day, to Barafu, the final camp before the summit attempt, and the final opportunity to get their kit, gear and heads in order for the big day. Early diner and off to bed by 6pm to hopefully catch a few Zs before waking at 11pm for a last energy giving meal before setting off towards the summit by midnight at the latest.

The line of headtorch beams stretched out above and below the team as dozens of prospective summiteers made their way up the side of Kibo’s final steep slopes towards the crater rim and Stella point. Quite a few of the team experienced problems during the final ascent, non more than Penny, who, had there been an award for true grit and determination, would have won hands down having had problems with her feet, knees, hips, abdomen, chest and head, all topped off with some sunburn! – Excellent job for her to reach stella point, just 100m in height below Uhuru, the true summit.

The other team members managed to force themselves along the crater rim for an emotional arrival at the summit. Of course having got up to the dizzy height of 5,896m/19,343’ the team had to get down and it was a weary but very proud bunch that arrived back at Keys hotel the following luchtime. Celebratory eats, drinks, showers, commemorative certificates and the like before the drive to the airport and flights back home. The team should be rightly proud of their mountaineering successes, but even more so of the ₤50,000+ that they have raised as a result of their efforts. Well done.

Paul Westwood, Expedition Leader « Previous report | Next report »

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