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Day 4 Mount Kilimanjaro – Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

The top of Barranco Wall

Barranco Camp (3960 m) to Karanga Camp (4040 m), 6 km, elevation 337 m, 3 hrs 40 min. Total trip distance so far: 33.2 km, total elevation 3177 m, total hiking time 19 hrs 5 min.

The main feature of today’s hike was ascending the Barranco Wall. The Wall is an imposing, if not overly tall, cliff of volcanic rock. Imposing, at least, when looking from below: Barranco wall is 257 m high (or 843 ft).

The Barranco wall is not a technical climb. No equipment is required. It would be best to categorize the wall as scramble. We did need to use our hands on several occasions and there was some exposure.

If you zoom in you can trace out the line of hikers heading up the wall.

We woke to the wondrous sound of “knock knock tea”. Emily ate a full meal at breakfast for the first time, a good sign. We packed up our tents and were on the trail by 8:50 am. As usual we were one of the last groups to leave camp.

An almost deserted Barranco Camp
Heading out of camp

The trail heads downhill for short time, bottoming out at a stream before making its way over to the base of the wall where the scrambling begins. We made our way up a little ways before dropping down a tight crack back to wide path.

Laura crosses the stream. It was not uncommon to see porters with backpacks and carrying loads on their heads or shoulders.
We have not started the climb yet. You can see Siobhan, Emily and Laura all have towels hanging on the outside of their packs. Towels are valuable on a long trip to help keep you clean.
Those are heavy loads being carried by the porters.
Emily powering her way up a small rise. She’s wearing gloves, it must still be a little chilly out.
Down we go, quite a ways above the small stream. The descent through the crack is short with a wide base.

The volcanic rock provided good hand holds. Just after the steep descent we had our first uphill scramble, about 30 minutes after we left camp. There was a little overhanging ledge to get over and it was a bit tricky. We were patiently waiting our turn when a porter steamed by with a pack on his head. He kept his speed up and with two steps hurtled over the ledge and continued on his way. We all watched in amazement but did not try to emulate the porter. Siobhan went up first, then Emily, Laura and myself. Amiri was on the ledge to provide support to us as we made our attempts. Siobhan and Emily cleared the ledge without assistance. Laura had the least experience scrambling and found scrambling up the wall to be a somewhat nervous exercise. To make it easier for her, Amiri carried her pack for the remainder of the ascent up the Barranco Wall.

Siobhan getting ready to pull herself up
Amiri lending Laura a helping hand
Looking down the wall. Some of the ledges are not very wide. The ledge we have gone over is creating a bottleneck of hikers.
Not much left of Barranco Camp
Happy Hiker! Have not seen that smile for a while. Emily finally overcame whatever was ailing her.

As we moved up the wall we stopped to rest frequently. There were many good places to sit and a few nice wide terraces so that we could keep away from the edge. At times, though, the terraces were very narrow and the drop very steep over the edge.

Our little train heading up
A Giant Groundsel against tilted rock layers. Must have been some lifting and faulting of rocks in Kilimanjaro’s past.
Follow the line of people, up, up and away.
It takes cooperation to get to the top. Siobhan helps Emily with her pack.
Frosty getting a great view of the action. Can see the trail leading into Barranco Camp in the background.
Resting and removing layers
Up we go.
A wide terrace allows the mind to relax from the intensity of the cliff. Laura looks up at the summit.
Looking up over Barranco Wall to the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro
Another steep section. Everyone looking confident
Me in action. The volcanic rock is very grippy but with so many people going over the wall places have been worn smooth.

We crested the top of the wall at 10:20 am, one-and-a-half hours since we left camp. We celebrated by taking some photos of ourselves with the full grandeur of Kilimanjaro in the background. After a few minutes’ rest we continued on, heading downhill through a rocky and dusty landscape.

Amiri keeping watch as Siobhan and Emily scramble up the rocks.
The final push to the top
August ready with a helping hand for Laura, she wouldn’t need it.
Top of the wall!
  • Amiri
  • Siobhan
  • Emily
  • Laura
  • Ian
  • Group
  • Frosty Paws
Posing below the summit. It is so much closer now. The glacier visible on the summit is the Heim Glacier.
Looking down the mountain heading away from Barranco Camp. The path is the Umbwe Route. It is known as the the toughest route on Kilimanjaro due to its fast elevation gains, and it has a correspondingly low success rate.

The trail was very sandy. The going was quite easy as we went up and down small rises. The lack of vegetation and better weather meant that we could see the trail well into the distance and knew where we were headed.

Heading down along the trail. Long sleeves back on as it is cooler now that we are at the top of the wall and not working as hard. We are headed to the trail in the top right of the picture.
Amiri leads, followed by Siobhan, Laura and Emily. The trail heads up to left of centre then along the cliff on the right.
Follow the leader down the trail. A little bit of vegetation appears trailside.

It took just under an hour to hike up onto and across the plateau. We hike with our mascot Frosty Paws, a stuffed cat, hanging off my backpack. What was fun about our hike up Kilimanjaro was that we were not the only group carrying a stuffed mascot to the top. We had heard of a group with a penguin and caught up with them as we hiked across the plateau. They were a group of three, a mother and her two 20-something daughters. We had a pleasant conversation with them and the next day I would spend a good deal of the hike chatting with the mother.

Hiking across the plateau above the cliff

We had the camp in sight and thought our day was almost done. As we got closer we reached a large valley, Karanga Valley, that we had to scramble down and back up before arriving at camp. We arrived at Karanga Camp at 12:30 pm, 3 hrs and 40 min after we had left Barranco Camp. We were doing the seven-day hike up Kilimanjaro so were stopping at Karango Camp. Hikers doing the six-day trek would continue onto Barafu Camp and begin their summit attempt later that evening. Taking the extra day would give us more time to acclimatize and hopefully increase our chances of a successful summit.

The camp is in sight….or is it?
Thinking we are almost at camp
Karanga Valley. We have some work to do before arriving at camp.
I thought this looked like a sea turtle.
Snaking our way down the valley
Arriving at Karanga Camp

We relaxed for a bit in our tents. Our porters brought us the hot water that we used primarily to wash our faces and feet. We had a hot lunch of goulash with a potato/banana thing (possibly plantains?). It was delicious and was good to see Emily eating a full meal again. Fog rolled in cooling the temperatures down so we all relaxed in our tents for an afternoon nap.

Nice clean feet with tape on to protect ankles. The puffy booties my feet are resting on were amazing for walking around camp. Kept the feet toasty warm.
Laura in our tent. Towels are hung up to dry. Was plenty large enough for two people.
Our home for six nights.
Lunch in our dining tent was delicious. Siobhan and Emily drinking hot chocolate. The Matrix container has the hot food 🙂
The camp toilet was a fairly permanent structure on a concrete pad but was a little rough around the edges.

Before dinner we went for an acclimatization walk up the hill. The theory is to hike high, sleep low. I led our walk as we went without a guide but with the strict instructions to go for 45 minutes and hike “pole pole“. The fog had cleared off, leaving us with warmer temperatures and views all around. We had dinner after returning from our little walk. The evening was cool but pleasant and we wandered around the campsite. The twilight offered lovely colours over the mountain.

We are so close now.
A dry and rocky landscape. We are definitely in the Alpine Desert zone.
Emily surveying the mountain
A quiet figure silhouetted against the sky
Siobhan and Laura discuss the day’s events.
Moshi does not look that far away.

In the evening the porters get to relax and many of them carry small radios. As in many places in the world the sport of football (soccer) is a major form of sporting entertainment. The porters often listened to play-by-play action of football games. To keep the radios charged up some of the porters had small solar panels attached to their backpacks.

Our evening entertainment on hiking trips is Daddy reading a story aloud. On this trip, with us being in different tents, I had to project my voice further while reading. The novel was a Dick Francis mystery novel involving a horse. I wonder what the people walking past our tents thought? Tomorrow would be a short day followed by a nap and then the summit push starting in the late evening. It was important to get a good night’s sleep tonight.

Mt Kilimanjaro and the night sky

Day 5 Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

Mount Kilimanjaro Home Page

bootwreckers

View looking West over the Tonto Platform from the View looking West over the Tonto Platform from the South Kaibab Trail.

This April will be our 10 year anniversary of our first trip to the Grand Canyon.

It is truly one of my happy places, have visited five times and camped below the rim three times.

Looking to get back sometime soon, but good things are worth the wait.

#nps, #nationalparks, #slotcanyon, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside #nationalpark #desertphotography #grandcanyon #grandcanyonnationalpark #grandcanyonassociation #100yearsofgrand #100yearsofbeauty #100yearsofgrandcanyon
Sunday morning sunrise! There are perks for getti Sunday morning sunrise!

There are perks for getting up early on a Sunday to go grocery shopping, and the mountain sunrises are one of them.

Shot off my phone from the parking in downtown Canmore.

#sunrise #sunrisephotography #sunrise_sunset_photogroup #earth #outside #outdoors #naturephotography #nature #naturelovers #sky #skyphotography #sky_brilliance
No doubt 2020 was a prickly year, and 2021 has sta No doubt 2020 was a prickly year, and 2021 has started out a little rough.

Just like hiking, if we keep going we will see beauty in amongst the prickles, but we need to stay on the trail.

Here's to good times ahead.

From our hike last year Emily hiking among the cactii towards the feature we affectionately named the Thumb, Passage 16 on the Arizona Trail

#teamzpacks #zpacks #zpacksduplex #aztassociation #aztrail #aztrails #hike #loveazt #desertphotography #desert #hikingadventures #hikes #backpacking #camping #getoutside #familytime #traillife #aztassociation , #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside  #rightnow #goparks #aztrails #aztrail #loveazt  #azt #arizonatrailassociation
Looking at a fun trip last summer through Yoho NP Looking at a fun trip last summer through Yoho NP with @sio.mellors 

Lots of waterfalls to see in the park, Laughing Falls is a fun and loud falls right off the main trail located surprisingly, next to Laughing Falls CG.

We stopped by on our way to Twin Falls CG after spending the day hiking the Iceline Trail

Like this photo of Siobhan getting close to the falls for her own picture. 

#friends, #alberta, #parkscanada #backpacking, #yohonationalpark #yoho #friendsofyoho #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #mountains #naturephotography #travelcolumbiavalley #travelbcp #waterfall #waterfall #waterfallphotography #waterfallsofinstagram
Haiduk Lake, Banff NP. Haiduk Lake is just beyond Haiduk Lake, Banff NP.

Haiduk Lake is just beyond Whistling Pass as you hike from Egypt Lake to Balls Pass Junction.

Very pretty Lake. We were lucky enough to pass by early in the morning as we hiked from Egypt Lake to Floe Lake during our #gdt hike this summer.

#friends, #alberta, #parkscanada #rockwall #backpacking #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #mountains #naturephotography #alpine #lifeelevated #getoutside #lifeonthetrail #britishcolumbia #gdt #greatdividetrail
#kananaskis #kananaskiscountry
Chasing th Aurora on Friday night at Lake Minnewan Chasing th Aurora on Friday night at Lake Minnewanka in Banff NP.

Sadly it did not come right out to play,  but was obviously a lot of light coming from th North East.

Always fun to be outside in a dark place to see th glory of the night sky.

#outside, #hiking #camping, #backpacking,
#adventure, #adventureoutside, #nature, #landscapephotography, #nobaddays, #adventureholiday, #hikingadventures, #astrophotography, #milkyway #kootenaylife #kootenaynationalpark #nationalpark #nationalparks
#parkscanada #northernlights #aurora #auroras #auroramax
Hiking the GDT Day 1. I was almost completely sa Hiking the GDT Day 1. 

I was almost completely satisfied with or trip on the Great Divide Trail when on Day 1 we finished the uphill to Turbine Canyon and popped out of the woods and saw this amazing alpine vista.

I remember remarking to Emily "this is why I hike"

#friends, #alberta, #parkscanada #rockwall #backpacking #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #mountains #naturephotography #alpine #lifeelevated #getoutside #lifeonthetrail #britishcolumbia #gdt #greatdividetrail
#kananaskis #kananaskiscountry
Morning from Floe Lake with Floe Peak selection of Morning from Floe Lake with Floe Peak selection off the mirror smooth waters.

Another amazing morning hiking the GDT.

Never get tired of Floe Lake, was my third visit and just a year after my previous visit.

#friends, #alberta, #parkscanada #rockwall #backpacking, #kootenaynationalpark #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #mountains #naturephotography #travelcolumbiavalley #travelbcp #flowers #getoutside #lifeonthetrail #britishcolumbia #gdt #greatdividetrail #goldenhour #goldenhourphotography #mirrorphotography #lake
Golden hour! Morning sun shining off of Tumbling Golden hour!

Morning sun shining off of Tumbling Glacier and the Rockwall. 

Waking up at Tumbling Creek Campground during my Great Divide Hike this summer. 

#friends, #alberta, #parkscanada #rockwall #backpacking, #kootenaynationalpark #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #mountains #naturephotography #travelcolumbiavalley #travelbcp #flowers #getoutside #lifeonthetrail #britishcolumbia #gdt #greatdividetrail #goldenhour #goldenhourphotography
Flower Field, Tumbling Pass, Kootenay NP. From la Flower Field, Tumbling Pass, Kootenay NP.

From last summer's Great Divide Trail hike. At th top of Tumbling Pass on the Rockwall, treated to a visual feast of colour.

Awesome day, epic hike.

#friends, #alberta, #parkscanada #rockwall #backpacking, #kootenaynationalpark #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #mountains #naturephotography #travelcolumbiavalley #travelbcp #flowers #getoutside #lifeonthetrail #britishcolumbia #gdt #greatdividetrail
As we head into winter, a shot from last spring at As we head into winter, a shot from last spring at the end of winter. The snow was just clearing from the trails, and flowers poking through to greet the warmth.

Heading out over Rockwall Pass, Kootenay NP, with @kbsymington  and @neil.real.deal .

Had some snowfields to cross, good day out on th trail

#friends, #alberta, #parkscanada #rockwall #backpacking, #kootenaynationalpark #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #mountains #naturephotography #travelcolumbiavalley #travelbcp #flowers #getoutside #lifeonthetrail #britishcolumbia
Fun photo from Twin Falls Campground in Yoho Natio Fun photo from Twin Falls Campground in Yoho National Park.

As night fell I was able to take some long exposure shots of Twin Falls Creek as it tumbles through the campground.

Fun 3 day trip with @sio.mellors.

#friends, #alberta, #parkscanada #backpacking, #yohonationalpark #yoho #friendsofyoho #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #mountains #naturephotography #travelcolumbiavalley #travelbcp #waterfall #rainbow #spectrum #hikingadventures #longexposure #longexposurephotography #river
Top of Guinns Pass, Kananaskis Country 2016 Guinn Top of Guinns Pass, Kananaskis Country 2016

Guinns Pass connects the valley with Ribbon Lake and Ribbon Creek and the valley with Lillian Lake and Galetea Creek. Stunning views in all directions from the top of the pass.

There is also a scramble up the connecting ridge to the east up to Guinns Peak and onto Mt Kidd South.

Great two days hiking with @emilysjumpinginpuddles

#hikingwithdogs, #hiking, #hikingdogsofinstagram, #outside, #kananaskiscountry, #kananaskis, #spcacanmore, #spcarescue, #snowyowlsleddogtours, #snowyowldogsledtours, #retiredsleddog, #retiredhusky, #backpacking, #tongueouttuesday, #canmore, #canmorealberta, #adventure,
Larch season is coming to an end in the Rockies, b Larch season is coming to an end in the Rockies, but last weekend we were treated to quite a display near Taylor Lake in Banff NP

#outside, #outsidethebox, #liveoutdoors, #liveoutsidethebox #naturephotography, #naturelovers,  #retiredhusky, #rescuer
#parkscanada #banffnationalpark #banffalberta #banffcanada #larches #fall #autumn
Amazing sunset over Floe Lake. An early evening s Amazing sunset over Floe Lake.

An early evening storm and the setting sun shining up and reflecting off the clouds. Completely surreal. 

August 17th

Kootenay NP

Part of a 10 day hike along the Great Divide Trail, from Upper Kananaskis Lake to Field, BC

#outside, #outsidethebox, #liveoutdoors, #liveoutsidethebox #naturephotography, #naturelovers,  #retiredhusky, #rescuer
#parkscanada #banffnationalpark #banffalberta #banffcanada
#sunstar #sun #lake #sunrise #alpin #scenery #reflectionphotography #reflections #sceneryphotography
Well, my epic 15 day hike became a totally epic 10 Well, my epic 15 day hike became a totally epic 10 day adventure.

Lots of photos, but I will start with a picture of the adult wolf I saw just outside of Egypt Lake Campground.

I was luck to see probably the entire pack, 6 wolves, they were coming out of the woods and crossing the trail to Egypt Lake, and I just happened to be there with my camera.

#friends, #alberta, #parkscanada #rockwall #backpacking, #banffnationalpark #banffalberta 
 #egyptlake #wolf #wolves #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #mountains #naturephotography #wildwolf #wildwolves #gdt #greatdividetrail
Bathtub full of gear and Frosty Paws. Must mean ad Bathtub full of gear and Frosty Paws. Must mean adventure is near.

Leaving Tuesday for 15 days on the Great Divide Trail with daughter Emily. 

Hiking from Kananaskis Lakes to Saskatchewan River Crossing. 

1st stage is 7 days to Floe Lake, looking like th backpack will be around 45lbs, with tent, food and camera.

Should be a grand adventure.

#outside #liveoutsidethebox #naturephotography, #naturelovers,  #retiredhusky, 
#parkscanada #glaciernationalpark #bctourism #earthexperience
#sunrise #alpine #scenery #reflectionphotography #reflections #sceneryphotography #alpinelake #amazingearth #morningmotivation #travelcanada #explorerockies
#travelcanada #mountainstories #explorecanada #theearthoutdoors #paradisecanada #gdt #greatdividetrail
Amazing backpacking trip through Yoho NP with Volc Amazing backpacking trip through Yoho NP with Volcano (@senioradventurepups)

Volcano is turning 13 the first week of August but still crushed the 12km from Laughing Falls CG to view Twin Falls and back to the car via the connector.

Volcano not a big fan of water falls, or me sticking the camera in her face, her expression says it all. But Twin Falls is beautiful and I caught a small rainbow at the bottom.

Had a blast with her, she is always keen to go, jst not as far as before.

#friends, #alberta, #parkscanada #backpacking, #yohonationalpark #yoho #friendsofyoho #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #mountains #naturephotography #travelcolumbiavalley #travelbcp #waterfall #rainbow #spectrum #hikingadventures #hikingwithdogs #backpackingwithdogs #retiredhusky #retiredsleddog #alaskanhusky
Milky Way over Brachiopod Mt, Baker Lake, Banff NP Milky Way over Brachiopod Mt, Baker Lake, Banff NP. Super happy to get the reflections on stars in the lake.

Amazing trip to Baker Lake. The resident porcupine chewed a small hole in the fly.

Got up at 2am to take photos of the stars. On the way back, the porcupine was guarding my tent, had to gently shoo it away.

#outside, #outsidethebox, #liveoutdoors, #liveoutsidethebox #naturephotography, #naturelovers,  #retiredhusky, #rescuer
#parkscanada #banffnationalpark #banffalberta #banffcanada
#sunstar #sun #lake #sunrise #alpin #scenery #reflectionphotography #reflections #sceneryphotography
The light favours the early risers. The low angle The light favours the early risers.

The low angle morning rays from the sun makes a rainbow on Helmet Falls, Kootenay NP

#friends, #alberta, #parkscanada #rockwall #backpacking, #kootenaynationalpark #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #mountains #naturephotography #travelcolumbiavalley #travelbcp #waterfall #rainbow #spectrum #helmetfalls
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