Journey to Kilimanjaro
Join me in Ecuador and Peru in 2022
Join the
Machu Picchu Trips
Facebook Group
for all the details
Want more confidence to achieve more success, have more adventures and have more fun?
Join the
Atrévete
Facebook Group
Some Day 4 images and videos
How I felt waking up
06.13 am
Camp looking towards Mt Meru
White necked ravens at camp
James leading the way
Brandon in fine spirits
Lava Tower
I loved Kajeli's Colourful Umbrella!
I don't see Ide, Adolf or James with my backpack at this stage (15.30) so it's possible I was still carrying it! I know Kajeli didn't have it as he was carrying Natalie's while she suffered with altitude sickness. I don't seem to be wearing it in the photo at the Barranco camp sign, so Adolf probably took it from me at some point during the late afternoon!
Day 4 - Monday 21st February
Shira 2 Camp to Barranco Camp
Via Lava Tower
Shira 2 Camp - 3,850 m Lava Tower - 4,600 m Barranco Camp - 3,900 m
10 km hike - approximately 6 hours (they lied again!!)
Written by Tina Sibley in March 2022
Video Overview of the day
A good morning but a rubbish afternoon
I had a reasonable night's sleep last night and only ventured out of my tent once at 11pm to visit the toilet tent.
Although I woke up again, I couldn't face the cold so managed to hang on until about 6am before going again.
I felt much better this morning than I had the previous morning which was a relief.
20 minutes into Day 4 - Shira Ridge
Moving from Moorland to Alpine Desert
James led us this morning, with Kajeli, Adolf and Iddy looking after us all at the back. We set out at 8am and faced 6km with a climb of 750 m.
The views were absolutely spectacular. One of my all time favourite views was looking over the rugged mountains of the Shira Ridge, with Mount Meru in the background. I found it hard to take my eyes off it.
Shira Ridge with Mount Meru in the background
As the terrain changed from moorland to alpine desert, the landscape became very rocky and barren and it was starting to feel like walking on the moon or another planet. You could just imagine them making a Star Trek movie here and I half expected James T Kirk to jump out at me!
The rocky moonscape was spectacular and beautiful, although very different from the moorland of the Shira Plateau.
It was also misty, which gave it a mystical atmosphere.
The route was very up and down, with some tricky bits requiring help, however because I was feeling OK I managed to keep up with everyone and carry my backpack all the way to Lava Tower too!
I did start to feel very tired during the last section before we reached Lava Tower. When seeing the trail of people ahead of us, the journey to our lunch camp seemed never ending.
It felt a lot longer than 6km and actually took us five hours as we reached Lava Tower at 1pm.
Alpine Desert
Lava Tower Camp
Lunch
Although tired, I still felt OK at lunch and managed to eat without too many problems. Today, it was Natalie who was suffering with the affects of altitude. As always, it was a lovely lunch - today was soup followed by spaghetti - very welcome to ward off the effects of the cold!
As we sat in the mess tent eating lunch, we heard the heavens opening and we had a massive hail storm. It wasn't a great prospect to have to hike in that for sure!
Snow at Lava Tower
Hiking from Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
After lunch, we set off and immediately faced the most insane descent! Fortunately, the torrential hail gave way to snow but the going was made more difficult as the rain and hail and snow made the rocks and path very slippery.
Thank goodness for Adolf, who held my hand most of the way down and helped me enormously. I did slip at one point and nearly took him out! I'm not sure how long I carried my own backpack for - I don't see any of the guides with it in the photos, but I wasn't wearing it for the photo at Barranco camp, so I suspect that Adolf took it off me at one point along the route. I wasn't feeling the predicted headaches, and hadn't felt so sick, but I was still getting really bad tummy cramps and having to frequently stop and clench hard to prevent crapping myself in the middle of the mountain!! :-O
I did just about keep up with the group though and followed them into camp.
Arriving at Barranco Camp
I'm so happy I found a picture of the guy in the red jacket!
I shared a really special moment with him. We were in different groups, but frequently passed each other along the way. He saw me struggling, and particularly saw me being really poorly going up the Barranco Wall (day 5 adventure) where he gave me nods and smiles of encouragement. I can't remember exactly what point it happened, but at one point he seemed delighted to see me and to discover that I was still going. He didn't speak English but he gave me a great big smile and then dropped his poles and came over and gave me a great big hug! That was such a lovely thing to do and really lifted my spirits. I'm so pleased to have discovered I have him in this photo quite by accident!
Once I got to camp, I got quite emotional and teary. For one thing, I was simply totally exhausted and filled with relief at finally reaching camp. Also, I felt totally blessed to still be on the mountain in such a wonderful environment - and able to enjoy nature in all its glory. Last - but not least - I was filled with gratitude for all the help I was receiving from all of the guides. I knew that without their help, I would have caved in well before now - yet, here I was, still going and getting towards the final stages.
I pretty much crashed into my tent feeling totally drained and had a little nap before washing and going to the mess tent for the usual tea and popcorn while providing our health round up before dinner. I was too exhausted to even go and get my photo taken at the sign for Barranco Camp! The only sign I don't have a personal photo of!
In My tent at Barranco Camp
Evening at Camp
At dinner, I struggled to eat again and felt pretty much out of the conversation because I was so wiped out. I did, however, manage to capture some nice photos as the Barranco Wall got lit up with the light from 'golden hour' as the sun started to set.
As soon as possible, I excused myself and headed to my tent to sleep. Opposite to the predictions, rather than improving as we descended from Lava Tower, I had felt pretty good at Lava Tower and my condition went downhill as we descended!
I was too tired to make much of a video overview of the day
The Barranco Wall bathed in golden hour sunlight
My Overview of the Day
