JCI YOUTH SUMMIT

This day we start with a small session on what to expect on the mountain and what challenges awaits

Today we will meet up with JCI Tanzania to see what they are doing, JCI Tanzania is a new organisation, so maybe you will be able to help this new organisation take form.

A very good and rare opportunity to meet up with a national organisation in its birth.

You will also be able to try and learn to network on a global scale.

Your day starts early with a briefing, followed by breakfast and a 2-hour drive from Moshi to Londorossi Park Gate. The guides and porters prepare and pack the supplies and your equipment in the village. You will receive a pack lunch and you can also buy mineral water in the village. From here a forest track requiring a 4WD vehicle leads to Lemosho Glades (2100m, 11km, 45 minutes). You will have a lunch stop about half way and will reach the Machame camping area in the late afternoon. Walk along forest trails to Mti Mkubwa (big tree) campsite, (2750m, 3 hours). Your porters will have your tent set up on your arrival. In the evening the porters will boil drinking and washing water and the cook will prepare dinner before you retire to your tent for the night. Night temperatures can already drop to freezing point at this campsite, B,L,D.*

Londorossi Gate (2100m) – Mti Mkubwa camp (2750m)
Hiking time: 3 hours
Habitat: Montane forest

A few hours walk where we will see the end of the forest and the beginning of a climb through heather forest to the edge of the Shira Caldera to Shira One Camp and a further gentle hike across the Shira Plateau with possible side trip to Shira Cathedral. Camp is at the first high camp of Shira Two, B,L,D.

Mti Mkubwa (2,650 m/8,692 ft) to Shira Two Camp (3,849 m/12,628 ft.)
Hiking Time: 7-8 hours
Habitat =: Moorland

The real work of climbing Kilimanjaro begins here. Today the main feature is a slow climb to Lava Camp followed by a descent to the beautiful Barranco Camp. This is the Climb-High-Sleep-Low principle of altitude adjustment. This descent to Barranco camp takes about 2 hours and offers great opportunities to take some beautiful photographs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp is situated in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall, which should provide you with a memorable sunset while you wait for the preparation of your dinner, B,L,D.

Shira Two Camp (3,849 m/12,628 ft.) to Barranco Hut (3,948 m/12,956 ft.)
Hike time: 5 hrs
Elevation change: +100 M/+328 ft
Estimated distance: 6 km
Final elevation: 3948 m/12,956 ft.

After spending a night at the Great Barranco Wall (a very imposing sight at first), you make your way up this awesome looking obstacle, which in the end normally turns out easier than what you anticipated. Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, you now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is. The route then heads down through the Karanga Valley over intervening ridges and valleys. After lunch the climbers are advised to take a rest at this point. Dinner and overnight at Karanga Valley camp, B,L,D.

Barranco camp (3950m) – Barranco Hut (3950 m) – Karanga Valley Camp (4200 m).
Hiking time: 3 hours
Distance: About 7 km’s
Habitat: Alpine desert
Elevation change: + 250 m

The route joins up with the Mweka route. This is the preferred route down from the summit, so remember it. Turn left up the ridge and after another hour or so, you reach Barafu Hut. The last water stop on the route is the Karranga Valley, as there is no water at Barafu camp. Barafu is the Swahili word for “ice” and it is a bleak and inhospitable camping area to spend the night. Totally exposed to the ever-present gales the tents are pitched on a narrow, stony and dangerous ridge. Make sure that you familiarise yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents. The summit is now a further 1345m up and you will make the final ascent the same night. Prepare your equipment, ski stick and thermal clothing for your summit attempt. This should include the replacement of your headlamp and camera batteries and make sure you have a spare set available as well. To prevent freezing it will be wise to carry your water in a thermal flask. Go to bed at round about 19h00 and try to get some precious rest and sleep, B,L,D.

Karanga Valley (4200 m) – Barafu camp (4600 m).
Hiking time: 3 hours
Distance: About 6 km’s
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped.
Elevation change: + 400 m

You will rise around 23h30 and after some tea and biscuits you shuffle off into the night. You will head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This 6-hours walk to Stella point is for many climbers, mentally and physically the most challenging on the route. At Stella Point (5685m) you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point you will normally encounter snow all the way on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak. The time you will spend on the summit will depend on the weather conditions. Do not stop here for too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue. Enjoy your accomplishment and a day to remember for the rest of your life. The walk back to Barafu from the summit takes about 3 hours. Here you will have a well-earned but short rest and collect the rest of your gear, before heading down to Mweka hut (3100m). The route is not difficult and will take you down the rock and scree path into the moorland and eventually into the forest. The camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Dinner and washing water will be prepared, B,L,D.

SUMMIT ATTEMPT
Barafu camp (4550m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Mweka (3100m)
Hiking time: 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak, 7/8 hours to descend to Mweka
Distance: About 7 km’s ascent – 23 km’s descent
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short 3-hour and scenic hike back to the park gate. At Mweka gate you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. From the Mweka Gate you will continue down into the Mweka village, normally a muddy 3 km (1 hour) hike. In the Mweka village you will now drive back to Moshi, B.

When you arrive back at the hotel you will earn a good Shower, dip in the pool and a good nights sleep in a bed.

In the evening we will make a short debriefing and start saying over goodbyes, depending on peoples travel arrangement the day after. Some will leave very Early for the airport.

Mweka camp (3100m) – Mweka Gate (1980m) – Moshi
Hiking time: 3 hours
Distance: About 15 km’s
Habitat: Forest