Kilimanjaro Day 6

August 8, 2024

Another 06:00 wake-up call. (Seriously, do these guys ever sleep in?)

The usual coffee delivery arrived at our tent door, a much-needed boost to shake off the morning grogginess. The ritual has become routine, but the thought of packing and repacking our gear every morning still feels exhausting. If there’s one piece of advice I can offer: practice packing your gear in a 2-man tent. Between changing into your hiking clothes and organizing your daypack, the amount of re-packing you do is endless. And space is tight, so it’s all about being efficient with every move.

Breakfast today was wholesome: porridge, tortillas, omelet-style eggs, sausage links, and fried potato dollars. Another solid meal to fuel us for the day ahead. We knew we’d need it because today’s hike was to Barafu, our base camp before the final push to the summit.

The hike to Barafu was roughly 4 kilometers. We left camp between 08:00-08:30. The morning started as usual, but we did have a little drama—Koby, in an effort to warm himself up, spilled hot tea all over his pants. There was no screaming, but his jump from the ground was immediate. Luckily, no serious burns, just a few startled laughs.

The trail from Karanga Camp was crowded, with plenty of hikers making the same trek to Barafu. We passed through terrain that started as dirt and rock, but as we gained altitude and neared Barafu Camp, the landscape shifted to loose, unstable shale. The transition was striking—one minute it felt like we were walking on solid volcanic rock, and the next, it was as if the ground was crumbling beneath our feet.

We arrived at Barafu around noon, the base camp bustling with activity. Everyone here is mentally preparing for the final ascent, and the energy in the camp is palpable. We headed straight to our tents to rest, knowing we’d need every bit of energy for tonight. Lunch was served at 13:30, consisting of broccoli soup, a flaky veggie pastry, eggplant-wrapped cheese and vegetables, and mashed potatoes with a rich veggie sauce. The food was good, but we were all too focused on the task ahead to really enjoy it.

STATS:

• Distance: 2.8 m / 4.45 km

• Time: 3 hrs 30 mins

• Steps: (missing)

• Cadence: (missing)

• Pace: (missing)

• Ascent: (missing)

Tonight is the night! 

We’re at base camp, and the summit is within reach. The plan is to skip dinner and rest until around 22:30 when we’ll wake up for a generous "late-night" breakfast before setting off for the summit around 23:30. From here, it’s about a six-hour trek to Uhuru Peak ("the Roof of Africa"), the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro, and if all goes well, we’ll reach Stella Point just as the sun rises and continue on to conquer the summit. It’s surreal to think that after all these days of hiking, we’re almost at the finish line.

There’s a nervous anticipation in the air. We’ve come so far, but the hardest part is still ahead of us. Tonight’s summit attempt will be grueling. It’s a mental game now, as much as it is physical. The altitude will be unforgiving, and the cold will bite, but the thought of reaching the top keeps us going.

Fingers crossed for a clear sky and a safe ascent.

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