Mt Kilimanjaro Expedition 1978
Tanzania/Kenya border
5 day climbing safari.
January 1978
Gillman's Point 5650m (18,640ft) - 6th January 1978
80 Km trek each way to the highest point in Africa.
"Three days up, two down"
Base camp in grounds of Marangu Hotel
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 |