GEITA GOLD MINE KILI CHALLENGE - DAY FIVE

The whole history for this year’ climb and probably for the whole 14 years back since the Kili Challenge was first introduced will be defined and be recorded tomorrow!

The team left Karanga at 7:40am this morning and arrived at Barafu Camp (Snow Camp) at 12:15pm.

Karanga Camp - Barafu Huts (4680 m/15360 ft)
Walking distance: 3.5 km/ 2.2 miles
Walking time: 4hours
Altitude gain: 640 m/2105 ft

What is Next?

The most Challenge awaits the team tonight. Right now the team is on the final zone which houses the upper reaches of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks and consists of high altitude artic conditions. At night temperatures plummet to below freezing. Life is very scarce in this zone as oxygen levels is near half of what it was on the lower reaches of the mountain. Large glaciers are now visible from Kilimanjaro’s crater rim.

The team had early dinner at 6pm and everyone went to have some rest for the next 4 hours when they will all wake up and start the most waited and final challenge to the Summit!!!

What will happen tonight?

Here everything freezes! You can hardly find a living creature on this zone. Oxygen levels can go down to 3%!. In order to keep going, slow breathing is required to balance the available oxygen versus body/lungs needs. The main source of energy and oxygen at this stage is your drinking water.

One has to often keep blowing some hot air to their drinking water tube to keep the bottled water packed at their backpack from freezing.

You are only supposed to sip the water not to thoroughly drink it so the water can last long and make you keep the momentum. Having chocolate and sugary/glucose/carbohydrate snacks can be golden assets at this stage. Three to four layers of cotton made clothing can serve the purpose of preserving your blood from freezing as well!!

The line between giving up and going forward is so thin that only psychological readiness can make that difference at this stage.

The team will start trekking at around 10pm tonight and arrive at Stella Peak at approximately 7-8am. This will be done overnight. Due to the high solar radiation during the day, freezing temperatures at night, gale force winds and low oxygen levels, this zone is not where we want our team to stay too long! Immediately after taking some few pictures of the Uhuru Peak, Our Heroes will have to quickly start descending directly to Mweka for their life! (10Km) they will be in a desperate need of oxygen!

Summit attempt to Stella Point (5752 m/18871 ft) to Uhuru Peak (5895 m/19340 ft)

Walking distance: 5 km/3 miles ascent + 10 km/6.2 miles descent
Walking time: 5-6 hrs + 1-2 hours up, 5-6 hours down (the overall walking time may vary from 10 - 16 hours)
Altitude gain: 1072 m/ 3511 ft (Stella Point) or 1215 m/3980 ft (Uhuru Peak)
Descent: 2075 m/6810 ft

Captain Quote of the Day: “The fate will be decided tonight. My team is strong and focused. The 39, 2015 Heroes will reach the Uhuru Peak early tomorrow at sunrise…”

Stay with us for the Final Challenge update!

Abel & Fernandes Communications