BootsnAll's Travel Community

New to the forums (and I apologise if this sort of post is inappropriate as a first off) but thought I'd introduce myself via my big ambition this year!

For years I had looked at Kilimanjaro as my destiny - something I HAD to achieve in my lifetime - and it seemed nothing more than a dream. I was nearly 130kg (290lb), had knees of a 50 year old footballer and financially with very little going for me. That was in 2003 at the ripe old age of 26.

Since then I've lost 48kg (105lb), my legs and knees are strong and healthy, and a big part of the motivation to get that way came in 2005 when I watched a local (Australian) TV personality do the Machame route in 2005. He was close to 50 and with dodgy knees - and I thought "I have to do it".

I earmarked October 2007 as the target. My 30th birthday is on Halloween.

So anyway, that's my back story that has got me to this point - which is up to formalising my booking and starting preparations!

I'm going (or very close to decided on them) with World Expeditions, who are Sydney-based and have an office in my home town (Brisbane). I know most of you would be from the US and probably have little experience with them, but anyone who has had any experience I'd love to hear any kind of feedback. They use local operators, and I've read enough less than positive stories about some local Arusha-based operators to be wary, but at the same time am taken by World Expeditions' charter which includes looking after porters etc.

I'm also wondering if it's worth booking extra accommodation in Nairobi (where the tour officially begins/ends) afterwards for recovery and a bit of a window if (god forbid) I do get pretty badly affected by altitude sickness, or injured, or something that prevents me flying immediately on return.

I'm sure I'll have lots of other specific questions as I get closer (and more excited, and more nervous), but that's a start. I've already read many of your wonderful stories and experiences - and been freaked out a little by some of the more graphic ones ;-)

Glad I stumbled on this community here, I think it's great to be able to share experiences and learn from those who have gone before.

Hi,

Way to go man!
It's always great to hear from people achieving their dreams!

To do Kili (or maybe Everest base camp or maybe Nevis, some big climb or the other - am very indecisive) has been a goal of mine for a while now, so hearing about other people getting out there and doing it is always a fantastic motivator.

While I can't offer any specific advice about which company to use, one that has a reputation for safety and ethical practice is always a good way to go, the cheapest ones are usually cheap for a reason.
If you have a search round the Kili forum, I'm sure you'll find lots of advice given to others asking the same questions.

Good luck, take care, have the time of your life!

Hi

It is good to hear that you are following your dream. Congratulation on the diet...I think that is an imprtant preperation to the trek. I went to Kilimanjaro a couple of years back and I did the Machame route. It was a challenge but it was a great experience. I have posted a trip report with pictures, links, review of equipment etc on my homepage http://gardkarlsen.com/kilimanjaro_index.htm . I hope that you can find some useful information there. Good luck on the climb...I'm sure you will make it

Coxy,

You have excellent motivation.

These pages and www.mtkilimanjarologue.com have lots of information. Study the route choices and number of days on the mountain (5 days = 50% chance of success, 9 days = 95% chance).
Give yourself an opportunity to succeed. Extra days are worth the extra cost once you've spent the money to get there.

My own story is at the URL below...good luck.

http://www.mtkilimanjaro.org/06-01/nothing-but-sky.html

It's good to book an extra night in or at Nairobi, if that's where you are flying into and out of. I would only book a an extra night when you are leaving not when you are arriving. I don't imagine you are going to start the climb the day after you arrive?

World Expeditions is a good company.

Greetings and best wishes for a successful climb!

I would recommend an extra day before AND after the trek. AND...an extra day on the mountain for acclimatization! We went with Zara Tanzanian Adventures (zaratravel.com) and found them to be an excellent company. Locally owned and operated. Check them out, if you haven't already booked (even if you already have booked...they have lots of helpful information). They support the Kilimanjaro Porters Society, an organization that looks out for the well-being of the porters.

Most companies do operate out of Arusha or Moshi, so if you go with Zara, try to fly in and out of Kilimanjaro (JRO); saves time.

Happy planning!

yay for another brisbanite! did the climb in Jan.
yeah get the extra day after. how often are you in kenya? might as well enjoy it rather than whirlwind through on your way to the airport! plus the bus ride is a shocker.
also see if you can get an exta day to acclimitise as mentioned... i didn't take/need it but could appreciate that it is good and gives you an extra day to just enjoy what kili has to offer.
since you're in the same town, let me know if any specific q's and if you wanted to catch up or call for more info.
tdaily at gmail

cheers.

Well apparently the route has changed. We're actually flying into Kilimanjaro airport and basing in Arusha, rather than the Nairobi stop and overland crossing, which I think is good. Much the same cost.

Only 4 months away now! Signed up with a gym and a personal trainer who's spent much of their life trekking and rockclimbing, so he should be a good mentor for my preparation.

Getting more and more excited.

Planning some local climbs that obviously are nothing like Kili, but as good as we can get here (Mt Warning, Glasshouse mountains etc). Doing Warning this Sunday.

What kind of jacket did you take? Did you go for a more lightweight jacket for rain protection and then wear warmer gear underneath for the higher altitudes? Just trying to work out what to fork money out for.

Bought hiking boots which I've used at Girraween, Mt Nebo and some other shorter walks. Really comfortable and supportive, so I'm confident in them.

I keep replying to my own post ;-)

It's exactly 60 days until I fly out...can't wait! Got most of my stuff now, except the thermal underwear. I'll probably go the polypropylene stuff - but just wondering how many pairs are worth getting? I can handle getting smelly, whether or not my as-yet-unknown tent buddy can handle me getting smelly is something else entirely ;-)

Obviously there's no opportunity to wash them on the mountain, and I assume I'd need them most of the days above 4000m...

Anyway, main question that's on my mind at the moment is about the Barranco Wall. So many pictures and videos I've seen of it make it look very imposing. I'm someone who's had very limited scrambling experience (and am planning a fairly exposed scrambling expedition locally this weekend...Mt Tibrogargan for my fellow Queenslanders).

So, give it to me straight, how hard is "the wall"?

depends on weather but i only took 3xthermals:
1x poly top
1x mereno top
1x mereno legs
mereno is cheaper from bcf than the pro-p helly hansen one purchased from anaconda!

with that: icebreaker light mereno jumper + fleece jacket + shell.

Hi Coxy. So glad to hear you are realizing your dream!
My husband and I did Kili last October, the Barranco wall is nothing to worry over. I am a chicken when it comes to scrambling, etc. and I always tell people 'if I can do it, so can you'.
Are you taking 6 days for the hike? The last day (if you summit in the am and hike 1/2 way down) can be rough, epecially on the knees.
My policy in the mountains is layers, layers, layers. On summit morning I was wearing a poly running shirt, a silk undershirt, another synthetic long-sleeve athletic shirt, a thin fleece shirt, a thick fleece jacket and my North Face water proof shell.
I'll attach a picture as well if I can, to show that chubby 34 year old women can do it!!!


http://blogs.bootsnall.com/theisen/wp-content/uploads/2006/11/NEW-summit.jpg

Thanks for the replies. Thanks for the inspirational summit shots too!!

It's 6 weeks to the day til I land in Nairobi, can't wait!

It's an 8 day walk I'm doing, Shira route. I think we summit on the 7th day, and then come half way down. Long day! Good thing is it's quite a long time to acclimatise to the altitude, which will be important since the highest point in the world I've been is Mt Ruapehu in New Zealand, and that was just the ski resort, not the summit! Haha.

At this stage it's looking like merino/interwool thermals, long sleeve shirt, thin fleece, thick fleece and goretex jacket up top; merino/interwool thermal pants, long pants, fleece pants and rain/wind proof pants down low. Plus polar fleece gloes and a shell glove, and thermal sock liner and then merino socks under my goretex boots.

Oh, and a nice fleece beanie.

Seriously, living in Brisbane where at the moment it's late winter and 25 degrees celsius (75f) during the day means I'm totally unprepared for the cold ;-)

Been battling a few niggling injuries from playing sport lately, but physiotherapist has me just about right, and my personal trainer has me lifting almost my entire bodyweight so I'm feeling strong and fit.

I've been walking on a local hill (which they call Mount Coot-tha, though Mountain is a loose term!) which has some fairly steep, gravelly tracks and I've been finding using hiking poles helps greatly going up and down. Even with 10kg of weights and 4 litres of water in my daypack my knees feel fine after 3 hours of up and down.

Hi Coxy,

Good luck, dude - you're going to love it! Did the Lemosho route (similar to Shira) in June with a group of brothers who run their own independent company (LASI tours - lasitours.com/victortz2000@yahoo.com), and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. Will be glad to help if there have any questions I can answer.

Enjoy!

Chris

Thanks for all your replies!

It's now exactly 1 week until I fly out! I must admit, the butterflies are building in the stomach. Occasionally I'll think of negatives and get a bit spooked (heavy rain, snowfall, blisters, not being warm enough, being too hot, not having enough water...altitude sickness beating me)

But I try to ignore that and just think of how exciting it's all going to be!

I feel physically ready. Have had every vaccination on the planet, got heaps of medical supplies, got plenty of quality equipment, all my visas sorted, all my travel documents and vouchers...going good!

Now it's just the countdown!

Success!

Made it to Uhuru on the 19th of October this year (via Shira Route). Was everything I dreamed of, absolutely brilliant! We had great weather (most of the time) and particularly on summit day it was perfect.

All our guides and porters who went up, came down safely too. 9 of the 10 climbers made it to Stella Point. The one who didn't was having a bad cough for a couple of days and the chief guide sent her down from Karanga.

Cheers
Chris