1 year of filming, an 8-day trip
It is important, as stated above, to keep in mind that this trip must have a flavor that touches the four spheres of activity of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award - Canada (4th of 4) in the goal to inspire active participants to overcome challenges and follow this example.
Although the goal is to make this trip a fundraising opportunity for the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, the challenge remains the ascent. Mount Kilimanjaro, 5,890 meters high, (19,340 feet) and should not be underestimated.
FORECAST AND CALENDAR FOR THE TRIP
Day 1 (5 July)
Breakfast and preparation
Travelling by vehicle from the agency
Start at Londorossi door (2400 m)
Distance 6 km
Altitude gain 500 m
Stop for the night at Mkubwa mont camp (2900 m)
Difficulty: Medium
Environment: tropical forest
Day 2 (6 July)
Breakfast and preparation
Start at Mkubwa mont camp (2900 m)
Distance 16 km
Altitude gain 975 m
Stop for the night at Shira 2 Camp (3875 m)
Difficulty: Easy
Environment: Moors
Day 3 (7 July)
Breakfast and preparation
Start at Shira 2 Camp (3875 m)
Distance : 11 km
Altitude gain : 108 m
Stop for the night at Barranco Camp (3983 m)
Difficulty: Medium
Environment: Moors
Day 4 (8 July)
Breakfast and preparation
Start at Barranco Camp (3983 m)
Distance : 5 km
Altitude gain : 0 m
Stop for the night at Karanga Camp (3983 m)
Difficulty : Easy
Environment : Rocks
Day 5 (9 July)
Breakfast and preparation
Start at Katanga Camp (3983 m)
Distance : 5 km
Altitude gain : 663 m
Stop for the night at Barafu Camp (4645 m)
Difficulty: Difficult
Environment: Alpine desert
Filming if possible. Nothing guaranteed
Day 6 (10 July)
Breakfast and preparation
Start at Barafu Camp during night (4645 m)
Distance : 5 km
Altitude gain : 1250 m
Sunrise at the peak : 5895 m !
Distance : 12 km
Altitude losses : 2827 m
Stop for the night at Mweka Camp (3068 m)
Diffuclty : Difficult
Filming if possible. Nothing guaranteed.
Day 7 (11 July)
Breakfast and preparation
Start at Mweka Camp (3068 m)
Distance : 10 km
Altitude losses : 1268 m
Final stop at Mweka door (1800 m)
Difficulty: Easy
Environment: Tropical forest
ADVICE FOR THE ASCENSION
Travel as a group
The crater as a last night
Travel as a group
Travelling as a big group is always risky. There will always be a poorly-prepared tourist, an injured mountaineer or an overly reckless traveller. The group will be slowed down and the experience will be terrible.
A 7-days climb
The crater as a last night
Travel as a group
A 6-days climb is risky. Planning 1 more day of acclimatization around 13 000 to 14 000 is recommended. A total of 7 days.
The crater as a last night
The crater as a last night
The crater as a last night
The crater before the peak is cold and not very recommended, but it is preferable to spend the last night at this place to witness the sunrise at the top and for a safe descent.
The dangers
Food and water quantities are to be monitored
The crater as a last night
Crime in Africa is real. At the hotel, do not go out at night and be cautious under any circumstance.
Food safety is crucial
Food and water quantities are to be monitored
Food and water quantities are to be monitored
Do not take water that is not from a sealed container and never eat uncooked or exposed food items. Example: An apple is not conceivable, but an orange if peeled by yourself yes.
Food and water quantities are to be monitored
Food and water quantities are to be monitored
Food and water quantities are to be monitored
Agencies always furnish an insufficient water supply. Require a higher water quantity, as you will have to drink even when not thirsty. (10-15 bottles more depending on the number of mountaineers). Also, bring a good quantity of extra food.
ADVICE FOR THE ASCENSION
Luggage
Luggage
Luggage
Luggage doesn't necessarily travel with the climber. Keep the essential like aspirins on yourself.
Rest
Luggage
Luggage
Minimal effort is the best. An aware mountaineer remains calm once at the camping site and will try to rest.
Walking pace
Walking pace
Walking pace
The walking pace MUST be ridiculously slow. The best mountaineer is the last one. The danger of this mountain is that a person in good physical shape will want to accelerate and will find the rhythm too slow. However, the rhythm must be slow to acclimate to the rarity of oxygen (only about 50 % of the oxygen quantity we find every day is present at the top of the Kilimandjaro).
A climber that's too fast risks suffering from a pulmonary or cerebral edema, which brings death. Cellular hypoxia which causes acute mountain sickness is characterized by headaches, nausea and vomiting, insomnia, fatigue, dizziness, balance problems, shortness of breath and lack of appetite. Even if lighter versions of these symptoms are common in high altitude, noticing it to be worse when waking up than when going to sleep should be considered alarming.
Generosity
Walking pace
Walking pace
It is important to be conscious of the reality of Africa. Any material or goods that can be gifted to the nearby communities should be. The population is really poor and therefore generosity is important.