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- Jul 18, 2013
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Kilimanjaro Summit — 16 out of 16!
MM Guide Ben Mality reports on our recent Kilimanjaro expedition:
Day 1 of our 16-person Kilimanjaro climb this late June started off with a comfortable night at our private camp in the Arusha National Park. At around 6,000 feet, it’s great for acclimatization and the trekkers loved it. The staff was generous and made the comfortable tents and meals look amazing. Far away from the bustle of Arusha and far from the airport, there is no place like it to recover from your travels and get ready for the climb. Trekkers kept exclaiming, “what a place to stay before the climb!”
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The team having a delicious meal. Ben Mality photo
Despite the large group size, everyone was well taken care of. A delicious barbecue dinner started off the trip, along with a large vegan-friendly spread for our vegan friends. Animals near the camp, such as Colobus monkeys, baboons, buffalo, giraffe and a variety of birds made the atmosphere outstanding. Our first day was a little cloudy and chilly, but everyone warmed up as we hiked to the waterfalls 600 feet above camp.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fkili_3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=b03d4f6b7c04a6cfde053f39e12a0f3e 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fkili_3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=cf85d7181a5efdce908b2ab7dbd1f827 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fkili_3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=253f1896d404fe2d1522e136e5505ece 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fkili_3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=758707e555677ab55ddee3d7d30a7b96 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fkili_3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=bfb72f8ee019aa852f63f04432829115 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fkili_3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=1dfb5febe6565c2caedac37a474d5202 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fkili_3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=2495f347d4ad081c306706e0e25cc902 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fkili_3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=cae7c3d0c274cfa8244a73a2bd1339e1 1024w)
Acclimatization hike to some gorgeous waterfalls. Ben Mality photo
A few group members had already had experience at altitude but the majority of them did not. Despite all of that, each trekker was prepared and ready for the climb! It was a fun group of people and we all got along well. After our first cloudy day, the following day presented a pleasant surprise for everyone, as we were greeted with clear skies and a perfect view of the mountain we would be climbing. One trekker laughed, “what a surprise to finally see where we are heading! Now the question is, how do we get there, Ben?” The trail started out dusty and cold, but as always, our camps at night were warmer than expected. Plus, warm water bottles in our sleeping bags always make sleeping much more comfortable!
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FKili_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=3061049153cbe25a6dc77f2c901d2b60 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FKili_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=bb7c2f40578b788a84395cab3af7d754 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FKili_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=3ad0fb28d9ae0dca3062493e49813ffe 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FKili_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=33cc4ebb2dd938ab9c17329ef684f4d7 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FKili_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=c587f9753baaf54a7d3534de07ea1510 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FKili_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=f0b7a03c65b258a3953a8675deee51b8 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FKili_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=8ccbfb4e837752d105d520cfceeedbe0 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FKili_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=84c1950bed5aac8cb91b9940e076d439 1024w)
Heading up through the montane forest. Ben Mality photo
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Enjoying a sundowner. Ben Mality photo
As we made our way up the mountain, we encountered our toughest day on our way to the crater camp. As always, for some people this is their favorite day, for others, not so much. As we scrambled up the breach, “Pole Pole” (slowly slowly,) became the famouse words of the day. We use this mantra throughout the trip, but much more so on this day. It was like a car race, where those who were in front on the first part of the climb, pulled up the rear on this day, and all in the middle kept a steady slow pace. The cold, wind, dust, and big glaciers in the crater did not deter the clients from making the final push to the top. One trekker had hoped to summit that same day for his birthday, but the pace and conditions on the mountain convinced him to go with the rest of the group the next morning.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FTanzania-422.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=d62934490b56fb3221294912147559e9 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FTanzania-422.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=ae41ef46531a7c5c884e967335c47479 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FTanzania-422.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=3cb3264f3621f894964311e869eec1e1 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FTanzania-422.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=ff2a6f523095d287e6a708b22cd2b350 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FTanzania-422.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=457ac824d09eab648b28209225ea5ecc 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FTanzania-422.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=fb0c0e9f826f5321b05a851f504674cd 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FTanzania-422.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=97ed9e11667e66df6d0d999b79b77050 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FTanzania-422.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=58171a8f7f9d8e3160bde3350bb59c81 1024w)
Exploring the Furtwängler Glacier in the crater. David Bates photo
Porters passing quickly by with heavy loads always encourages trekkers that they can make it to the top. Reaching the summit early the next morning, Mountain Madness trekkers rejoice and celebrate, especially when they get a good picture of how difficult it is coming up from the less-scenic and enjoyable side of the mountain. Other trekkers arriving from the opposite side look beaten up and tired and have no smiles on their faces. Most are even pulled up to the top.
Everyone has now returned home with fun stories from their new friends, memories of porters singing and the guides’ riddles that encourage people to reach the top. “Great company, great staff, great group and great choice.” — trekker Brian T.
Thanks everyone!
~ MM Guide Benhadad Mality