Baraza

Category: Climate change | Date: May 16 2008 | By: admin

Friends, I will be taking a short break starting tomorrow to attempt the third highest peak of Mt Kenya.  It is  the second highest mountain in Africa at 17,058 ft high and having done it 4 times before I know how thin the air is up there (and I was a fit young spring chicken back then!). It’s not unusual for people to get mountain sickness or mountain madness, finally I’ll have a good excuse for my crazy ways. I’m taking a different route this time, through the Sirimon trail and back down the Chogoria trail which is apparently stunningly beautiful.

The purpose of course is to get to Pt. Lenana, 16,355 ft. This peak is named after a Masai Paramount chief. My itinerary for that day which comes after 4 days of climbing reads

“Kick off at 3.am to reach pt Lenana 16,355 ft in time for the sun rise.
The climb starts on frozen scree and continues on a rocky track with some very minor scrambling. With a good Moon you barely need a torch. Without a Moon, then the pollution- free sky bangs on the ground giving you as good a view of the stars as almost anywhere on Earth.
The climb takes 3 -4 hrs and to add to the exhilaration, Kilimanjaro is also visible from the horizon.
Descend to Minto’s hut for full breakfast. After a short rest descend further to Mt Kenya bandas lodge through the gorges valley for dinner & overnight.
You can enjoy log fires, hot showers and bed at the lodge.”

Damn they have good marketers! It sounds so good - especially the log fire (poor trees) and ‘full breakfast’ … somehow I doubt a big meal will be quite as well appreciated as at lower altitudes, but my adrenalin is already flowing. You can read about adventures on Mt Kenya blogs here and here

Mount Kenya is a spiritually important place in Kenya, and I feel massively compelled to climb. Part of me wants to witness what is happening on the mountain, it is a National Park, a National Forest and a World Heritage site that is very well protected. However, scientists say it is also horribly affected by climate change with the glaciers melting at fantastic rates, we have already lost 45% of our glaciers, and its predicted to be gone in 15 years. I want to see the snow again before it’s gone. As usual I’ll get you some photos and perhaps a podcast about the adventure. I’m meant to be on leave for that week long climb, and although I’m doing it for fun I’m sure there will be a huge amount of pain involved, I’ll probably need another break afterwards!

Wish me luck!

Oh, and finally, I’ll be up the mountain when the Stockholm Challenge results are announced. Please please monitor it and let me know if we win anything!

Tags: , Mount kenya, retreating glaciers

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