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Climb trip report: Preparatory expedition to the Mt. Kilimanjaro crater

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Climbing

High-altitude preparation for Valery Rozov's expedition

Altezza Travel headed up an altitude expedition of one of the most challenging routes on Klimanjaro in January 2015. Our team successfully completed the Umbwe climb with 16 professional climbers, grouped in 4 teams, departing from the difficult Western Breah in preparation for Valery Rozov’s adventure. Climbing all the way alongside the Baranco Wall and turning around at Lava Tower, they kept ascending along the western slope of Kibo, which is known as one of the most complicated routes: requiring physical endurance, but also one of the most dangerous ones due to frequent rockfalls.

It goes without saying that we couldn’t  overlook the exceptional beauty of the surrounding landscapes and hold back from sharing our impressions of the wonderful views opening from the peak of Kibo, so enjoy and get your backpack ready!

The view on the Kibo volcano from the Umbwe Route

This January didn’t let down the climbers. The weather was absolutely clear throughout the entire expedition, so that without much effort, the team reached the summit in barely 2.5 days, which is the shortest possible period of time for such an expedition. (Please note, this is not average climbing time and should only be attempted by professionals)They went down into the crater and installed a camp to spend three nights at the height of 5790 m and properly get themselves prepared for Valery Rozov’s upcoming expedition - the first base-jump off of Mount Kilimanjaro!

Climbing along the Western Breach

The expedition’s primary focus was for training necessary skills for high-altitude camps. The teams also role-played scenarious to practice evacuating injured teammates from the volcano’s crater, who, in  severe cases, might need emergency medical care.

For the successful completion of the expedition, our team of climbers was also given an additional task, y: to ensure a better preparation of porters to high altitude acclimatization, since they would be responsible for providing the group with everything that is required for climbing.  

Our camp inside Kilimanjaro’s external crater

It goes without saying that we couldn’t look over the exceptional beauty of the surrounding landscapes and hold back from sharing our impressions of the wonderful views opening from the peak of Kibo, so enjoy and get your backpack ready.

The chief guide Hadgi against the background of Kilimanjaro glaciers
Inside the Kilimanjaro glacial arc
Crater’s brim. The path to Uhuru peak
Uhuru peak - the highest peak of Africa, 5895m
And of course the proof - a photo on Uhuru peak
And of course the proof - a photo on Uhuru peak

All the members of the expedition came back to Moshi with sharpened skills, so that in a week’s time they took charge of Valery Rozov’s expedition with confidence, which was completed with the first ever BASE-jump from the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro!

Revised on 16 May 2023
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