SummitClimb Kenya 2006: Update Four with picture show

Update Four: Dear EverestNews.com, Thanks for letting us tell the story of Mt. Kenya. We were lucky enough to have 9 members of our team on the summit on the 18th of January between 1:30 and 3:30pm.

Here is what Jack Moyer has to say: "After a well earned rest day, I'd like to report the many summit achievements that were earned yesterday among the climbing contingent of our SummitClimb group. 9 of us from Kenya, Europe, North America, and the Middle East made the summit of Nelion in very favorable weather conditions: neither snow nor rain were encountered during the entire day of climbing, quite an unusual set of conditions as those who have climbed Mt. Kenya can attest to.

Making the summit of Nelion was particularly meaningful for me as it is the second attempt on Mt. Kenya for myself.  Five years ago I had done a self-organized climb from the north approach and encountered pretty much the opposite set of conditions and outcomes.  During that attempt there was the usual rain-sleet-snow combo everyday, and that along with the need for an unanticipated bivy only made for a second attempt sometime in the future. 

Well, yesterday I was finally able to make the summit of this equatorial mountain, and did this in the company of an array of clients and guides from all over the world.  Among the members of the SummitClimb group are people from Canada, Germany, Holland, Kenya and the US, and the professions and backgrounds among all the people here are equally as varied and interesting.

Dan as well as the other leaders of this SummitClimb trip have all made considerable efforts to insure both a great climb on Mt. Kenya and memorable trekking of the Circuit Route around the massif itself.  The climbing guides especially, Felix, Arnold, Charles and Peter all were amazing in their knowledge of mountain craft, experience and, shall I say, their patience. 

We trek out to the Naro Moro park gate tomorrow and then drive onwards to Nairobi, where most of the group will get organized for the safari and Kili trek that follow.  I'll be leaving the group before the safari to return to the reality of my job in Saudi Arabia, though I shall do so with the satisfaction of having achieved a long delayed goal on such an outstanding mountain.

Regards and good luck to the rest of the SummitClimb group heading onwards to Kili,

Jack M." 

Photo Captions:

1. Arnold abseiling down Mt. Kenya at the end of the day.

2. Group resting at Bailey's Bivy at 5000 metres.

3. Don and Leonard after they made a second attempt.

4. Martha climbing up while an Italian belays a climber above. This photo was taken on the final pitch below the summit.

5. The bivy hut at the summit with Charles standing beside.

6. Here are several of our climbers on the summit of Mt. Kenya at 5188 metres. From left to right: Charles, Arnold, Sylvia, Martha, and Peter.

7. Charles and climbers on the traverse to McKinder's Chimney at 4800 metres.

SummitClimb Kenya 2006 Dispatch Index

Background is below

The Northeast face of Mt. Kenya, as seen from Shipton's Hut (4200m).  Nelion Summit (5188m) is actually on the left, even though the higher top, Bation Summit (5199m), seen here on the right, looks lower.   Whichever one you climb, either is a worthy objective.  (Photo: David Wallis) Rock climbing the rift volcanoes, of which Kenya is one. Photo has been tilted for effect. (Felix Berg)

The Team

Kelly Ambrosius: USA.

Clemens Beckers: Germany and Tanzania.

Felix Berg: Germany and Kenya. (leader)

Wayne Bingham: Canada.

Liz Carr: USA. (leader)

Arnold Coster: Holland and Kathmandu. (leader)

Cheryl Goodwin: Canada.

Martha Johnson: USA. (doctor)

Elselien te Hennepe: Holland. (leader)

Daniel Mazur: England and USA. (leader)

Don Morton: Canada.

Sylvia Moser: Canada.

Jack Moyer: USA and Saudi Arabia.

Jorge Winkler: USA and Germany.

Paul Strohmeyer: USA.

Mt. Kenya, Safari, and Kilimanjaro schedule.

11 January and July, 2006, Arrive Nairobi, Kenya. Buy double entry visa on arrival.
12 January and July, 2006, rest, organization, and tourism day in Nairobi
13 January and July, 2006, drive out to Mt. Kenya, start trekking
14 January and July, 2006, trekking on Mt Kenya
15 January and July, 2006, trekking on Mt Kenya
16 January and July, 2006, trekking on Mt Kenya
17 January and July, 2006, Climbing or high trekking on Mt Kenya
18 January and July, 2006, Climbing or high trekking on Mt Kenya
19 January and July, 2006, Climbing or high trekking on Mt Kenya
20 January and July, 2006, trek down from Mount Kenya, return drive to Nairobi
21 January and July, 2006, day of organising and tourism in Nairobi
22 January and July, 2006, drive to Amboseli wildlife park, do a game drive in afternoon-evening
23 January and July, 2006, game viewing in Amboseli park in morning, drive to Arusha, Tanzania in afternoon. Buy Tanzania visa at border crossing. Stay in Arusha or Moshi in a hotel that night.
24 January and July, 2006, In Arusha or Moshi for organizing and tourism
25 January and July, 2006,  early morning drive to Kilimanjaro, begin trekking
26 January and July, 2006, trek Kili
27 January and July, 2006, trek Kili
28 January and July, 2006, trek Kili
29 January and July, 2006, trek Kili
30 January and July, 2006, return drive to Nairobi, re-enter Kenya with double entry visa purchased on arrival in Nairobi
31 January and July, 2006, departure for home.

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