SummitClimb 2006: After having stayed at the Umbwe Cave camp ....

Here is Elselien te Hennepe: It's been a while since we last wrote...

After having stayed at the Umbwe Cave camp, we moved on through the steep jungle that changed into giant heather when we reached higher altitudes. We were lucky arriving with the sun at the rocky Barranco camp. The next day we moved up the beautiful and fun to do Barranco wall towards the last water point at Karanga camp. Here we were pleasantly surprised with a great roast-chicken with french fries lunch by our African staff. After this we continued our way up to the high Barafu camp at 4600m.

From this camp most people leave at midnight to climb to the summit by sunrise and return the same day. Some of us chose this way to go up Kili, while the rest of us left the next morning  and went to sleep in the Crater at 5800 metres.

After an amazing sunset and sunrise, and a night trying to sleep in the thin air, we reached the summit around 7 am on the 29th of January. 

We walked own the Mweka route during the next two days, and arrived in Arusha on the 30th of January.

After a posh night at the Impala hotel and a bit of nightlife, we took a bus to Nairobi on the 31st.

The trip would not have been complete without seeing a family of 6 giraffes by the roadside.

Our exciting journey came to a close on the 1st of February, and now we are flying home.

We would like to send our best regards and thanks to everyone at EverestNews.com, as well as our families, friends and colleagues. Thanks for following along and we look forward to telling further stories of adventure in the mountains soon.

Warm wishes from all of us at the Africa contingent at SummitClimb.com  Cheers for now!

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.

Millet One Sport Everest Boot  has made some minor changes by adding more Kevlar. USES Expeditions / High altitude / Mountaineering in extremely cold conditions / Isothermal to -75°F Gore-Tex® Top dry / Evazote Reinforcements with aramid threads. Avg. Weight: 5 lbs 13 oz Sizes: 5 - 14 DESCRIPTION Boot with semi-rigid shell and built-in Gore-Tex® gaiter reinforced by aramid threads, and removable inner slipper Automatic crampon attachment Non-compressive fastening Double zip, so easier to put on Microcellular midsole to increase insulation Removable inner slipper in aluminized alveolate Fiberglass and carbon footbed Cordura + Evazote upper Elasticated collar. Expedition footwear for mountaineering in conditions of extreme cold.  NOTE US SIZES LISTED. See more here.

A cold weather, high altitude double boot for extreme conditions The Olympus Mons is the perfect choice for 8000-meter peaks. This super lightweight double boot has a PE thermal insulating inner boot that is coupled with a thermo-reflective outer boot with an integrated gaiter. We used a super insulating lightweight PE outsole to keep the weight down and the TPU midsole is excellent for crampon compatibility and stability on steep terrain. WEIGHT: 39.86 oz • 1130 g LAST: Olympus Mons CONSTRUCTION: Inner: Slip lasted Outer: Board Lasted OUTER BOOT: Cordura® upper lined with dual-density PE micro-cellular thermal insulating closed cell foam and thermo-reflective aluminium facing/ Insulated removable footbed/ Vibram® rubber rand See more here.

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