7th Annual Update in Altitude & Expedition Medicine
June 8-19, 2014
Mt Kilimanjaro, Africa
Program Outline
There are many organisations which provide the logistics and support to climb Kili. We have researched these extensively and were highly impressed with Africa Travel Resource ( ATR ) whom we worked with in 2008 and 2012, which is why we have chosen them to partner with them again in 2014.
Ideally you will arrive in ARUSHA on the 8th June where we will meet as a group and remain together till the 19th June. From the 19th June you are then free to return home or travel on to even more adventures.
Day ONE
June 8th 2014
Arrive Arusha
We will aim to arrive in Arusha today. This will give you the opportunity to settle into Moivaro Lodge for three nights. Get to meet the other delegates. You have the rest of the afternoon free to relax after your long journey. In the evening there will be a short introduction to the meeting and program.
Day TWO
June 9th 2014
At the Conference
First full day of the MOTE meeting (see course outline). Today will be classroom based with the educational program running from 10:00 – 18:00. Our local guide will also be on hand throughout your time in Arusha to provide any help or advice you may need. He can also make suggestions for any free time.
Day THREE
June 10th 2014
At the Conference
Second day of the MOTE meeting (see course outline). Today will be classroom based with the educational program running from 10:00 – 18:00. Tonight there will be a pre-climb briefing
Day FOUR
June 11th 2014
KILI - Day 1
Depart the Lodge at 08:00. Drive to the Shira trailhead at 2800 m. Walk between 4 – 5 hours. Ascend 800m to our campsite at 3550m.
Day FIVE
June 12th 2014
KILI - Day 2
We will depart Simba 1 camp and make our way to Shira Hut camp at 3,850 metres. Today we will ascend 400 metres and descend 100 metres with an average walking time of 4-5 hours. Today there will also be an option for a sidewalk for the summit of Shira Cathedral. This evening we will run a 2 hour educational session in our campsite (see course outline).
Day SIX
June 13th 2014
KILI - Day 3
Today we will leave Shira Hut camp and make our way to Moira Hut camp. This is located at 4,200 metres. We will ascend 500 metres and descend 150 metres. The average walking time will be 3-6 hours. Depending on time taken to progress, there we will be an opportunity for some side trips into the areas below the northern icefields with the potential to walk to the summit of the Lent Hills. This evening we will run a 2 hour educational session in our campsite (see course outline).
Day SEVEN
June 14th 2014
KILI - Day 4
Today we will leave Moira Hut and ascend to Lava Tower camp. This is located at 4,500 metres. We will ascend 400 metres and descend 50 meters with an average walking time of 3-6 hours. There is an optional steep, but spectacular afternoon walk to the ruins of the old hut at Arrow Glacier at 4,800 metres. This has assume views and can also assist with acclimatisation. This evening we will run a 2 hour educational session in our campsite (see course outline).
Day EIGHT
June 15th 2014
KILI - Day 5
We leave Lava Tower camp and travel to Karanga Valley. We start the day at 4,550 metres and our campsite tonight will be at 4,000 metres. We will ascend 300 metres and descend 850 metres. The average walking time will be 5-7 hours. Today we will include a descent into the Great Barranco Valley and then an ascent of the Barranco Wall. As you will note, today we camp lower than the previous day which should have great benefits in improving our acclimatisation on the mountain. This evening we will run the last 2 hour educational session in our campsite (see course outline).
Day NINE
June 16th 2014
KILI - Day 6
Today we travel from Karanga Valley to Barafu Hut, commencing the day at 4,000 metres and finishing at 4,600 metres. Over 600 metres of descent with an average walking time of 6-8 hours. This is the last point at which we can obtain water and all supplies are carried from hereon in by our porters. Our intention is to arrive at our campsite relatively early and rest ourselves as much as possible for the summit day that lies ahead. We will repack our daypacks and change into our summit day gear before going to bed. We will be breaking camp at sometime between 2300 and 0100 that night. How much of a sleep in we get will depend on our guides’ assessment of the speed of the group.
Day TEN
June 17th 2014
KILI - Summit Push
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We will leave Barafu Hut with the intent of reaching the summit. Our initial ascent will of course be by torch light with the aim to arrive at Stella Point at 5,735 metres on the crater rim in time to watch the sunrise. This section will involve approximately 5 hours of climbing up some generally well graded zigzags towards to the top of the mountain. If you reach Stella Point the Park Authorities will grant you a certificate but it should be noted that it is not the true summit. We will try and have a short rest here before proceeding onto the summit. The summit at Uhuru is at 5,896 metres and it is approximately a 2-hour round trip from Stella Point to the true summit. This should be one of the most spectacular parts of the entire walk. Once we summit we will begin our descent. We will return initially to Barafu where we will be able to have a short rest and some further refreshment. We will also probably wait here for all members of our group to arrive as it is likely that we will summit at different times in order to allow people to walk adequately at their own pace. We will then descend to Millennium Camp at an altitude of 3,800 metres. So today will involve an ascent of 1,296 metres and a descent of 2,796 metres – a long day indeed! We estimate that this will take an average of 12 hours.
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Day ELEVEN
June 18th 2014
KILI - Day 8
We start our day at Millennium Camp with a ritual ceremony to thank our guides and porters. Following this we will begin a gradual descent to Mweka Gate at 1,650 metres where we will be picked up by a private vehicle to return us to Moivaro Lodge. Our total descent today is 2,070 metres and should take approximately 5 hours. We will spend tonight in Moivara Lodge.
Day TWELVE
June 19th 2014
Arusha/Goodbyes
The trip is now over from the point of view of the climb. You are free to leave in whatever direction you see fit.
