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Kilimanjaro Climb - Umbwe Route 6 Days
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Posted: Wednesday March 11, 2009 1:39 PM BT
Posted: Wednesday March 11, 2009 1:39 PM BT
Summary:
The Umbwe route is one of the shortest but steepest routes to the Southern Glaciers, affording one views of the forests, valleys, magnificent vegetation and glaciers. However, climbers must be pre-acclimatized prior to attempting this route (especially if one opts to summit via Western Breach) as you gain altitude very quickly over a shorter distance. Alternatively, you could summit via Barafu.
The Umbwe route is one of the shortest but steepest routes to the Southern Glaciers, affording one views of the forests, valleys, magnificent vegetation and glaciers. However, climbers must be pre-acclimatized prior to attempting this route (especially if one opts to summit via Western Breach) as you gain altitude very quickly over a shorter distance. Alternatively, you could summit via Barafu.
Trip Info :
Umbwe Route Features:
- The hardest and most direct route especially when coupled with the Breach Wall to the summit
- Least popular route on the summit; totally of the beaten trail
- Beautiful scenery of the landscape and surrounding
- Accent route only
- Joins the Machame Route at Barranco Camp
- Summiting options include via Western Breach Wall and Barafu Camp
Animal life:
- Below 4,000m: Blue monkeys, colobus monkeys, baboons, antelopes, mongooses, civets, elands, elephants and buffaloes, wild-dogs, leopards, and even lions on the Shira Plateau.
Birdlife: Buzzards and eagles
Best time to visit:
Late June to October and late December to early March
6 Day Itinerary via Barafu:
D01:
Umbwe Gate - Umbwe Cave Camp
Ascent: 1,640 meters to 2,939 meters
Distance: 11.8 km
D02:
Umbwe Cave Camp - Barranco Camp
Ascent: 2,939 meters to 3,972 meters
Distance: 7 km
D03:
Barranco Camp - Karanga Valley
Ascent: 3,972 meters to 4,002 meters
Distance: 5 km
D04:
Karanga Valley to Barafu Camp
Ascent: 4,002 meters to 4,660 meters
Distance: 5 km
D05:
Barafu Camp - UHURU PEAK - Mweka Camp
Ascent/Descent: 4,660 meters to 5,895 meters then to 3,100 m
Distance: 20 km
D06:
Mweka Camp - Mweka Gate
Descent: 3,100 meters to 1,660 meters
Distance: 10 km
Umbwe Route Features:
- The hardest and most direct route especially when coupled with the Breach Wall to the summit
- Least popular route on the summit; totally of the beaten trail
- Beautiful scenery of the landscape and surrounding
- Accent route only
- Joins the Machame Route at Barranco Camp
- Summiting options include via Western Breach Wall and Barafu Camp
Animal life:
- Below 4,000m: Blue monkeys, colobus monkeys, baboons, antelopes, mongooses, civets, elands, elephants and buffaloes, wild-dogs, leopards, and even lions on the Shira Plateau.
Birdlife: Buzzards and eagles
Best time to visit:
Late June to October and late December to early March
6 Day Itinerary via Barafu:
D01:
Umbwe Gate - Umbwe Cave Camp
Ascent: 1,640 meters to 2,939 meters
Distance: 11.8 km
D02:
Umbwe Cave Camp - Barranco Camp
Ascent: 2,939 meters to 3,972 meters
Distance: 7 km
D03:
Barranco Camp - Karanga Valley
Ascent: 3,972 meters to 4,002 meters
Distance: 5 km
D04:
Karanga Valley to Barafu Camp
Ascent: 4,002 meters to 4,660 meters
Distance: 5 km
D05:
Barafu Camp - UHURU PEAK - Mweka Camp
Ascent/Descent: 4,660 meters to 5,895 meters then to 3,100 m
Distance: 20 km
D06:
Mweka Camp - Mweka Gate
Descent: 3,100 meters to 1,660 meters
Distance: 10 km
Group Travel Dates:
Open Groups: 2010
- To be published soon
Trip Price:Price: 2010
$ 2,000 solo
$ 1,800 pp 2-4 climbers
$ 1,650 pp 5-9 climbers
$ 1,500 pp 10 + climbers
Gear List:
Kilimanjaro Climb and Safari Gear List
The key to staying comfortable while on an active trip is layering. To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection. Try to bring only what is necessary - this will help you and the field staff.
Weather
During the Kilimanjaro climb weather can range from 80s during the first day, to below 0 degrees on the summit day. On safari, temperatures are typically in the 70s - 80s during the day, falling to the 50s in the evening.
Weight Limit
Please limit your duffel bag on the climb to 22 pounds of gear or less.
Gear Checklist
Provided Gear
- Tents and sleeping pads
- Cooking and eating utensils
- Waterproof duffel for the climb
Official Papers
- Valid passport
- Visa
- Airline tickets
- International health card with immunizations
Luggage
- Soft-sided suitcase or wheeled duffel for international flight and to store safari gear while on the climb
- Large duffel bag - no wheels or handle - for use on the climb
- Luggage tags and luggage locks (2 sets)
- Passport pouch or money belt
- Daypack, 2,000-3,000 cu. in.
- Rain cover and two large plastic trash bags for your daypack and duffel bag
Camping Gear
- Sleeping bag, rated 0-10�F
- Sleep sheet (optional but nice)
City Clothing
- Bring a few lightweight, easily washable items for travel and when you are not climbing
- Comfortable shoes
Outerwear
- Waterproof, breathable jacket
- Waterproof, breathable pants
- Insulated down or synthetic filled jacket
- Rain poncho
Clothing
- Midweight wool or fleece sweater / jacket
- Fleece or wool pants
- Thermal underwear top and bottom. Synthetic or wool. Two sets: one midweight and one expedition weight
- T-shirts, mix of synthetic and cotton
- Synthetic, long-sleeve shirts
- Synthetic, quick-drying hiking shorts
- Hiking pants (zip-off legs are great for this)
- Casual clothes, for relaxing at camp
- Socks: 6-8 pair, wool or synthetic for the summit day
- Liner socks
Footwear
- Waterproof hiking boots with excellent lateral and ankle support and a rugged sole (well broken in)
- Camp shoes (sneakers or sport sandals)
Clothing Accessories
- Balaclava or neck gaiter
- Gaiters, knee length
- Wool or fleece mittens/gloves
- Thin gloves or mitten liners
- Waterproof glove or mitten shells
- Wool or fleece hat
- Sun hat with brim
- Bandana
- Swimsuit (pools at lodges)
Travel Accessories
- Water bottles (two 1-quart) or a hydration system and two 1-quart water bottles
- Headlamp and spare lithium batteries/bulb (no flashlights!)
- Sunglasses with dark lenses
- Ski goggles
- Toilet paper - 1 roll
- Hand sanitizer gel/wipes
- Collapsible trekking poles - highly recommended
- Favorite energy snacks and powdered drinks
- Sunblock and lip balm with high SPF
- Personal first-aid kit
- Insect repellent with DEET
- Toiletry kit with bio-degradable soap/shampoo, hand lotion
- Travel towel
Optional Field Gear
- Camera, lenses and lots of film/memory cards
- Small binoculars (highly recommended)
- Reading and writing materials
- Earplugs
- Watch with alarm or travel clock
- Water filter or iodine tablets (emergency use only - bottled water provided with additional available for purchase)
- Water bottle insulator for summit day
- Knee supports
- Ziploc bags, to protect camera & binoculars
- Spare contact lenses or prescription glasses
- Windproof shell jacket and/or pants
- Motion sickness remedies
- Travel pillow
Things to Consider
- Please remember to always pack essential items such as your passport, money, eyewear, a change of clothing including your hiking boots and medications in your carry-on baggage in case your luggage is delayed.
- Be kind to your feet! If you plan on purchasing new boots do so well ahead of time and allow yourself time to break them in. A very good way to minimize the risk of blisters is to wear a thin liner sock under your regular thicker hiking socks. Test your sock combination before you go on the trip.
- You will be provided with a waterproof duffel bag for use on the climb. You will place your personal duffel, containing your climbing gear and clothing, inside this provided duffel for added protection against the elements.
- Cotton is wonderful in warm weather and will be great once on Safari. However once it becomes wet, it drains your body heat. Bring wool or synthetics such as Capilene�, MTS� and Thermax� for the climb portion of this trip.
- Hydration packs may freeze on the summit climb - even the insulated versions. They are suitable only for the lower mountain. Be sure to bring two one quart water bottles in addition to your hydration pack, if you are using this system.
- If you normally wear contacts, bring a pair of glasses in case of irritation from dust in your eyes.
- Always test your layers before a trip. Your outer layer should fit easily over the inside ones without binding and bunching up.
- Stuff sacks are great for sorting your gear. Plastic bags are also helpful to separate clean and dirty clothing.
- Many of the roads in Africa are deeply rutted and dusty. It is a good idea to pack camera equipment and binoculars in plastic bags to protect them from the dust. This is in addition to their normal cases. Also bring some lens cleaning material.
- Laundry is difficult on this trip but you can hand wash a few quick-drying items.
- Try to maximize the use of your gear for both the climb and safari. Extra luggage, including clean clothes to wear home, can be left at the hotel in Arusha. Casual attire is acceptable for Africa.
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