Trip Reports

Kilimanjaro 22 December - 2 January 2001

Written by Leader Martin Doyle, February 2001

The whole group of 13 members led by Martin Doyle and assisted by Helen Barnard successfully climbed Mt Meru (Christmas day) and Kilimanjaro (New Years day). The group consisted of Billy and Jane Grace, Sue Green, Julia Wood, Aileen McHarg, Jeff Southerton, Jon Ridgeon, Peter Tipping, Simon Mordue, Sue Doyle and Mary Bermingham.

Arusha National Park and the climb on Mt Meru is a kind of safari with two days forest and grassland walking, followed by a rocky walk and scramble to the summit of the volcano rim at 4,500m. Sightings of Giraffe, Buffalo, Colobus monkey, Bushbuck and Kilimanjaro were common, but the highlight of the trip was being woken on the final morning by a fully grown elephant in camp at 6.00 a.m. - very noisy!

The ascent of Kilimanjaro involved some interesting walking through forest, bush and bare rocky terrain leading to our high camp below the Western Breach. Summit day started at midnight and involved some snow, scrambling and a wonderful dawn before making the crater rim and finally the summit of Uhuru Peak at 9.00 a.m. The descent is fast from Stella Point with the longest "scree run" ever - a great way to lose height.

The weather was good, everyone got on really well and had a successful time.« | »

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