Mt Kilimanjaro Expedition 1978Tanzania/Kenya border
80 Km trek each way to the highest point in Africa.  Base camp in grounds  The mountain
 The gate-house at Marangu (1700m)  A tropical rain forest stroll  The first hut (Mandara) at 2600m  The last trees at around 3000m  A moorland rest stop  Mawenzi Peak (summit 5120m)  Second hut (Horombo) at 3700m  Giant groundsel everywhere  Last water + oxygen at half-ration  Across the saddle, at 4500m, between Mawenzi and Kibo peaks  A moonscape portrait  The third and final hut (Kibo) at 4680m  Glacial scree rising 960m for 3.3Km  Final near-vertical climb up to crater rim  The summit, Uhuru Peak, is 210m higher and 1.5Km around the rim to the left. John Reader wrote in his book Kilimanjaro in 1980: "I had taken five and a half hours to reach the crater rim and the climb left me devoid of all sensation except a compelling tiredness. There was no sense of achievement, no exhilaration, no energy, no enthusiasm to do anything, no desire for anything except a lot more oxygen. I stretched out in a warm sheltered spot, put my hat over my face and fell asleep". Although I could not put it better I did manage to continue a little further to take this photograph of my companions below.  Looking down on the way back  Back to the second hut for the night  The end  Back at base camp Expeditions | Family Tree | Paddy | Graphics Library Page last updated: © I.D.Lee |
