January 2010

Kilimanjaro Climb Diary: Day 7

31 January 2010
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Day 7: Kilimanjaro Climb: Mweka Camp (3100m) to Mweka Gate (1500m) We start the day with a huge breakfast as we try to recover from our calorie deficit caused by yesterday’s madness. This is closely followed by issuing tips to our fabulous crew of guides and porters. As we were dealing with a crew of [...]

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Kilimanjaro Climb Diary – Summit Day

30 January 2010
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Day 6: Kilimanjaro Climb: Summit Day: Barafu Camp: 4600m to Uhuru Peak 5895m It is, and feels like, the middle of the night when I drag myself out of my warm sleeping bag for the final push to the summit of Kilimanjaro. Friendly faces peer out of balaclavas, neck gaiters and woolly hats as we [...]

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Kilimanjaro Climb Diary – Day 4

29 January 2010
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Day 4: Kilimanjaro Climb – Barranco Camp (3950m) to Karanga Camp (4050m) Barranco Wall towers above Barranco Camp. As soon as the sun rose above Kibo Peak a stream of porters and climbers could be seen winding their way up the seemingly impossibly steep wall. What did Barranco Wall hold in store for us? Technically [...]

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Kilimanjaro Climb Diary – Day 5

29 January 2010
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Day 5: Kilimanjaro Climb – Karanga Camp (4050m) to Barafu Camp (460m) So here how day 5 is meant to work: 7:00 — Breakfast at Karanga Camp 9:00 – Walk the three hours from Karanga to Barafu. 13:00 – Have lunch at Barafu Camp 14:00 – Have a long leisurely afternoon sleep to build your [...]

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Kilimanjaro Climb Diary – Day 3

28 January 2010
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Day 3: Kilimanjaro Climb – Shira Camp (3840m) to Barranco Camp (3950m) A beautiful cold, clear morning, a delicious breakfast, good company and a day of walking ahead. Does it get any better than this? Everyone was adapting to the altitude well and it was all smiles as we started on our trek to Barranco [...]

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Kilimanjaro Climb Diary – Day 2

27 January 2010
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Day 2: Kilimanjaro Climb – Machame Camp (3000m) to Shira Camp (3840m) Although I am sure we did more than eat, sleep and walk for seven days it is those three things that spring to mind as soon as I start writing my daily entry. Along with the toilet they were also the things we [...]

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Kilimanjaro Climb Diary – Day 1

26 January 2010
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The Climb: Day 1: Kilimanjaro – Machame Route After loading a mountain of gear, we headed to Machame Gate (3000m), a two hour journey. A seething mass of porters,  trekkers, guides and persistant souvener sellers welcomed us to Kilimanjaro. With almost 200 climbers starting from Machame Gate, supported by 800 crew, it took almost two [...]

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Kilimanjaro Gear List

20 January 2010
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I am off to climb Kilimanjaro via the Machame Route on Saturday and faced with a mountain of kit and equipment I have prepared this comprehensive gear list for Kilimanjaro. Hopefully I haven’t forgotten anything! Having the correct clothing & personal equipment will make your Kilimanjaro climb more enjoyable and comfortable. I hope that you [...]

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In 2010 You Will Mainly Be:-

12 January 2010

Walking the West Highland Way and trekking the Inca Trail. We had over 100 responses to our November survey asking “What will you be doing in 2010?” Thank you to all who responded and well done to Amy Balmain of Hove in Sussex who was the lucky winner of a Mountain Equipment Kit Bag. Amy [...]

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8 Reasons to Walk North on the West Highland Way

4 January 2010

The West Highland Way was originally envisaged as a walk from Milngavie to Fort William, going North through the Western Highlands of Scotland. I have walked (and loved) the West Highland Way six times and we specialise in organising walking holidays on the West Highland Way. We often get asked whether it is possible to [...]

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