Just in from Sean: We reached the summit at 7.15am SA time.  Hard night but we all got there!  Everyone is hammered but we’re safely on our way down…  When we left Barafu at 23h45 last night, there was a big cloud over the summit as well as being windy.  It was a very long night but 7 successful, exhausted summiteers […]

Received from Sean (11pm Tanzania time, 10pm SA time): Ominous lenticular cloud over the summit.  Windy start.  Everyone in good shape.  Cucumber soup, spaghetti and scrambled eggs for lift off!

From Sean (3 pm – Tanzania time):  William has gone down with a local guide, a porter and a cook to Millenium camp to recover. Everyone else is resting for the summit push tonight.

Just in from Sean: In Barafu camp – worst weather ever.   We should have left the sunscreen at home.  William battling with altitude but everyone else is strong.  There is snow on the slope up to Stella point.  Could be a cold one tonight.

‘Wet, wet, wet…raining donkeys top of Baranco’ – said Sean yesterday,  so holding lots of thumbs for the weather to clear…

Today the team will take a slow trek to Barafu hut (4600m) through the wild alpine desert (approx 3 to 4 hrs).  After lunch, everyone will rest hard in preparation for tonight’s departure for the summit at […]

From Sean: Oats, paw paw,omlette and milo for breakfast.  All well.  Sun finally out after a wet night.  Kit drying on the rocks – everything damp.  We’ve got the mountain to ourselves.  Yay!

The team will ascend the great Baranco wall today and then descend to Karanga valley.  They’ll hike over gently sloped hills and through valleys, up to 4100m for a hot lunch.  Dinner and overnight at the spectacular Karanga camp.

Just in from Sean: Great day!  Conditions overcast and cool.  Everone in good shape after big day. Now in Baranco camp and looking forward to seeing peak when it clears – it’s tucked behind a cloud.  Raining again!

Today the team will start the ascent, with a packed lunch to Baranco camp (3950m)  The walk now becomes steeper but very scenic, along narrow valley ridges and over rocky sections towards the Moorland zone.  Sean’s preferred route is the Umbwe route because you don’t battle the crowds, and the scenery is mindblowing – spectacular […]

We are now at Umbwe caves (2700m).  The trail started through the rain forest and took just over 4 hours.  Great day’s trek. It’s pouring now. Best sound when you’re snuggled in a dry tent. Having a fun time. It’s Shaun’s (Hector) birthday today – we sang to him at least 20 times.

‘Crew in good spirits….focused […]