Day 8 of the Kilimanjaro expedition

stella point

Key variables

Start: Barafu camp (4600m)
Finish: High camp (3800m)
Difference in height: - 800m
Max altitude: 5895m
Duration: 10h30

Final ascent to the top

Once warmly dressed, we enjoy a last cup of tea and a few biscuits then, around 1a.m we start the final climbing to Kibo, the highest summit in Africa. We feel quite confident about our motication and physical confition, the only thing that might prevent us from reaching our goal is the altitude sickness.

More than ever, we follow the steps of our guide and most of all the imposed pace. It is its 327 climbing so building from his experience he knows how to deal with this 1300m night climbing in the cold. Well-lit by the moon, we can clearly see the summit.

The ascent starts with a steep rocky cliff we pass over in 15 minutes before reaching a flatter ground. 45 minutes later we walk in the snow and the slope becomes steeper. We walk in laces and above all in silence.
Because of the cold we don't pause very often. But when we do we drink a lot and we eat energy bars. After 3 hours walking it really becomes difficult as our footsteps on the snow are less secure, one stumbles, another one slips, each and every one has to hang on. We regularly overtake groups who left before us, it increases the will to succeed. For the time no one is suffering from severe altitude sickness, let's hope it will continue to the top which get closer and closer while the temperature continue to drop way below zero. My thoughts aren't clear, I jump from one to another one without logic as if I was rambling, I keep on walking, following the others.

The last half hour is exhausting, the slope is terrible, it's hard to breathe. Only the proximity of the summit and the dayspring give me the energy to make it to Stella point that we reach in time to witness a wonderful sunrise. It is 6a.m.

But we still have another 45 minutes walk to Uhuru peak at 5895m. This walk reveals quite easy and pleasant compared to what we've just done. We enjoy the beauty of the landscapes. The glaciers sparkle, the snow take a pink colour due to the first sun rays of the day, this si gorgeous!

At the top, the wind is freezing. It is so cold that we just take the time for a picture then start our way back to Barafu but eh... we dit it! We reached the roof of Africa, all together! What a feeling.
The descent to Barafu was extraordinary. We were so tired that we took advantage of the snow to sledge on our backs! We had fun.

1 hour and 30 minutes later we were back to Barafu camp for a diserved 1 hour rest before leaving for High camp.