Trip Reports

Kilimanjaro - Western Breach 16 to 28 Feb '09

The southern aspect of Kilimanjaro, looking directly at the Western Breach. Shot from Meru

Written by Leader Kim Jackson, February 2009

It was a fantastic day for our summit attempt on Mount Meru. Everyone had been fully briefed and were eager to go after breakfast at 12 midnight. We finally left at 1.30am on 19 February. The group soon split into two teams and I kept pace for the 2nd team, while Erick was with the front team. There was only 50m between us until the last push. It was tough, but the weather was on our side. A slight breeze picked up on the ridge and soon everyone was feeling a chill. We got to the summit as the sun was coming up. The views were spectacular over to Kilimanjaro. The 1st group arrived at 6.25am. The 2nd group at 6.40am. We returned to Saddle Hut for tea and breakfast at 10.15am and had a short nap and change of clothes for the descent. Everyone made it to the top!

Kilimanjaro was not going to allow us an easy ride. From Barranco Camp to Arrow Camp we had encountered snow and a chilly wind. Our night at Arrow Camp was uncomfortable to say the least. We all retired around 7pm before our summit push. As I lay in bed I could hear loud bangs. Thinking it was rock fall I decided it was all over for us.....then the sky lit up and I realised it was thunder and lightning below us in the valley. I waited for it to abate and sure enough it quietened down, until the wind picked up and strong gusts lifted the groundsheet of my tent. It slowly petered out and I thought at last we will be able to go ahead.

Without any sleep I started to prepare myself for the ascent at 11.30pm. Breakfast was at 12 midnight.....Erick was keen to get away at 1am sharp. We left on time on 25 February, walking out as it was snowing. An hour in and the snow was thick and thin in places, but unconsolidated, with ice underneath just to make sure of a tough morning ahead. As the night became day we struggled on up the breach, everyone moving very slowly and feeling exhausted.

When at last we reached the crater rim, we were faced with an arctic wind that made it impossible to cross the gap and into the crater. The only hope was to fix a rope and everyone pulled themselves across one by one. The snow was deep at this point and a cornice had built up in the gully.

With everyone safely across we had to walk directly into the wind, until we reached the shelter of a large boulder near the final push.

The group shelter came out and everyone was glad to get some food and water on board. The last push was excrutiating for everyone... but as we came over the lip we could just make out the summit, which kept everyone going. We summited at 11am. Ten hours of hard graft with 2 short breaks. The team really deserved this one!

Everyone managed to summit, but we only stayed a short time before we had to make our descent, still walking into the wind. Still biting cold. We all met up at Barafu Camp (4,600m) and took another welcome break before heading down to Millenium Camp (3,800m) at 4.15pm.

I was so impressed with the whole team's guts, stamina and determination. It was a true team effort. Well done!

Kim Jackson, Expedition Leader « Previous report | Next report »

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