A really early start today, we were up at 05:00 for our ascent of the Baranco Wall. It has a reputation of being a tough bouldering climb, and it does take you quickly up about 200 meters to around 4200m from our camp below. 
The previous night as we were looking at it, with clouds shrouding it with a bit of mystery it was tough to tell how the path would go, but the reality was much more fun. It was really not as hard as it looked but there were a couple of places where a helping hand was needed from the guide above to pull you up. There was only one place which was just a little more dangerous...the path around the kissing stone. |
| Ceri meets the Kissing Stone |
A ledge about 12-18inches wide around the kissing stone that requires you to traverse it sideways, whilst hugging the mountain, and of course thanking her with a kiss on the way past.
Everybody enjoyed the climb up Baranco today, and we were all up in about 90 minutes to the top for a well earned rest, and some photos. The views were amazing...again!!
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| Two Cool Chicks Marie & Katy |
After the climb, we were soon treking back downhill into the Baranco valley, down a very steep rocky slope, parts of which were much harder work than the climb which preceded it.
We took the day nice and slowly, following the advice of Nelson, our head guide..."pole pole kamata kima" (Slow slow catches monkey). Ceri & Trevor enjoyed a short rendition of bring me sunshine, as they did their Morecombe & Wise impersonation. Meanwhile Kerry made good use of her extra long legs to get down some of the steepest rocks.
A series of 3 or 4 hills & valleys to pass before eventually from top of our penultimate climb for the day we could see our destination. Tonight our camp would be much busier, as we begin to converge with a number of other routes up Kilimanjaro. Just 40 - 50 meters speeding up at the top of this hill left me out of breath, and reminded me once again how the altitude affects your ability to put one foot in front of the other.
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| Jacob, doing what he does best |
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| Just time to check facebook? |
At the bottom of the final valley, a small stream, the last point on the mountain where water is collected. On the other side, two paths to our camp....a longer shallow path, being used by most of the porters who were ferrying water in 25 litre drums up the slope for use at this, and future camp sites. To the right, a shorter, but much steeper path, almost deserted... this was the path we would choose.
That night over dinner, Loman, our doctor carried out some checks on the group to see how were coping with the rarified atmosphere at this height. He took each of our pulse, and measured the oxygenisation in our blood. 84% and a resting pulse of 74, I felt good.  |
| The "Doc" Loman & Son Angus What a way to spend half term! |
Two of our group, Marie and Katy had an amazing oxygen count of 93%, not too different from what they would have had a sea level. Our acclimatisation was clearly working well, and even Richard, who had been feeling a little ill was now eating like a horse like the rest of us... well most of us.... Unfortunately, Tim, who had been suffering with illness for a couple of days, and Cudgie were struggling with their appetites.
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