737 Leg 4 Kilimanjaro

Richard summited the highest freestanding mountain in the world and Africa's tallest peak alongside Marie Curie Cancer Care nurse Janet Suart, friends and family.

It was a special leg for Richard with every member of the team raising considerable funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care and making the summit successfully alongside him.

The extinct volcano of Kilimanjaro is one of the world's most recognisable peaks, as It rises dramatically above the dusty East African plains in Tanzania with an impressive snow-capped summit.

Richard, Janet and the team climbed the Lemosho Glades route, a superb rising traverse on the most attractive side of Kilimanjaro, designed with maximum acclimatisation and summit success in mind.

The views of the western and southern aspects of Kilimanjaro are superior to those on the northern routes, and the route is less travelled than the well-trodden tourist trail from Marangu, which is used by the vast majority of people who attempt the mountain in a five-day dash up and fail to reach the top, due to altitude sickness.

Kilimanjaro is unique in that during the ascent climbers travel through varying climate zones; starting with tropical rainforest, through moss, quasi-desert and a snow covered glacial summit. A popular mountain, sometimes underestimated due to many celebrity climbs, Kilimanjaro at nearly 6,000m is a serious mountain and should be respected.

Often a Kili summit day can be just as long as a summit day on Everest and as Richard's team found out, in temperatures below -20˚C, a Kili summit can be arduos in its own right.  The rewards are high though, and on the morning of 27th February 2011, Richard, along with friends and family were treated to one of most spectacular sunrises Richard has witnessed on a mountain. The team summited at 7.57am local time after leaving high camp at midnight.

Latest Blog

737 Leg 4 Kilimanjaro - Day 78 - Sunday 27th Feb 2011

Hi Guys, well we left High Camp (Barafu Camp)at Midnight local time and summitted in just under 8 hours at 4.57am UK time, 7.57am local time. The best news is that the whole team reached the summit, despite temperatures of -19'c. It was a really tough…

read more »
Latest Blog
  • 737 Leg 4 Kilimanjaro - Day 67 - Wednesday 16th Feb 2011

    Hey guys, been re-packing and sorting all my stuff for Kili. There's been a lot of washing to do. Really looking forward to getting back on the mountain, we leave on Saturday and I can't wait to meet the team climbing with me.

  • 737 Leg 4 Kilimanjaro - Day 72 - Monday 21st Feb 2011

    Hey guys! We made it here! It's boiling. Everyone gets on really well and I'm sure it'll be a top trip. It's cool to see Janet too. Karen from the Penarth hospice sent me some maltesers and hot chocolate! Thanks Karen. Didn't sleep on the plane as I was excited, looking forward to starting the climb. Its awesome to be climbing with friends, family and 737 Team members on this one!

  • 737 Leg 4 Kilimanjaro - Day 73 - Tuesday 22nd Feb 2011


    Hey guys, first update from Kili. Had a 4 hour trek yesterday through the Jungle following a 5 hour drive from the hotel to the park entrance. Tracy forgot her boots at the hotel! The porter carrying Jan Suart’s bag fell off the trail down the hill... very funny start to the trip! Monkeys were fighting in the tree by camp last night so kept some of the team awake. Now at 2670m and climbing to 3500m today. 7 hours of trekking and a tough day ahead for some of the team.

  • 737 Leg 4 Kilimanjaro - Day 73 - Tuesday 22nd Feb 2011

    We have just arrived at Camp Shira One (3485m) taking us 6hours and 34 minutes to get here from Camp Big Tree. It was a long and tough day for some of the team, but everyone is in good spirits. We have trekked above the Jungle now, and are in rough moorland at the foot of Kili. Its pretty windy but we can see Kili from here. Onward and upwards tomorrow!

  • 737 Leg 4 Kilimanjaro - Day 74 - Wednesday 23rd Feb 2011

    I can't get signal in my house but I can at 3850m, Shira 2 camp on Kilimanjaro! Ha! There’s a rock that if you stand on it you can get signal! We had a 4hr trek to camp 3 – Shira 2 camp today, allowing the team an important afternoon to rest and acclimatise. Kili has an extraordinary amount of snow on it at the moment and the snowline is the lowest it's been for many years. The weather is pretty cold at this altitude as we're in the cloud layer now. Its like a rab calendar shoot here with everyone rocking Rab! Ha! Everyone's doing well despite finding the altitude tough going.

  • 737 Leg 4 Kilimanjaro - Day 75 - Thursday 24th Feb 2011

    Quick update today as I don’t have much battery and there is no sun to charge my solar panel. Been a long day today, 8 hours trek to Barranco Camp which is the most spectacular campsite at the foot of the Kibo peak. We did trek to 4600m as part of our acclimatisation. The group are pretty tired but in good spirits. It was pretty cool starting the trekking in Moorland, through alpine desert and back into moorland for camp. The weather was pretty cold but is just really foggy now. There are far more people in this camp than the last one!

  • 737 Leg 4 Kilimanjaro - Day 76 - Friday 25th Feb 2011

    Hey guys, arrived at Karanga camp, (13,300ft/ 4,005m) after 4hrs trekking. The Barranco wall was loads of fun today, a 300m scramble. Even the most apprehensive of the group enjoyed it! We spent most of the day deep in debate over picking our British Lions Team of all time, which passed most of the day. Everyone’s still in good spirits, moral is high. We had some rain today for the first time, but not for long, now the mist has cleared and camps cold but clear. A few of the group are taking advantage of the opportunity to have a wash today. Not me! 5 days is chicken feed to be without a shower!


    All time British Lions Team
    1 Gethin Jenkins 13 Brian O’Driscoll
    2 Keith Wood 14 Shane Williams
    3 Jason Leonard 15 JPR Williams
    4 Willy John McBride Captain 16 Graham Price
    5 Martin Johnson 17 Brian Moore
    6 Lawrence Dallaglio 18 Dean Richards
    7 Richard Hill 19 Neil Back
    8 Mervin Davies 20 Rob Howley
    9 Gareth Edwards 21 Neil Jenkins
    10 Jonathan Davies 22 Jason Robinson
    11 Gerald Davies
    12 Scott Gibbs

  • 737 Leg 4 Kilimanjaro - Day 78 - Sunday 27th Feb 2011

    Hi Guys, well we left High Camp (Barafu Camp)at Midnight local time and summitted in just under 8 hours at 4.57am UK time, 7.57am local time. The best news is that the whole team reached the summit, despite temperatures of -19'c. It was a really tough day, very cold until the sun came up and it got a bit warmer.

    It was a long climb and the team are pretty battered. It was a 12-14hour round trip. Awesome though that we all got onto the summit. We then climbed back down to high camp to have a rest before a four hour trek back to lower camp. We are staying here tonight, and then tomorrow have a 4-6hour trek to get out of the National Park. Then its back to the hotel and straight to the airport for our flight home. No time for resting tomorrow.

    I have to say this was a really good trip. It was a far tougher mountain than I expected. Definitely tougher than I thought but also far more beautiful! Awesome to summit with friends, family and the team. 4 down! Woop woop!

Older Blog Posts

737 Leg 4 Kilimanjaro - Day 76 - Friday 25th Feb 2011

Hey guys, arrived at Karanga camp, (13,300ft/ 4,005m) after 4hrs trekking. The Barranco wall was loads of fun today, a 300m scramble. Even the most apprehensive of the group enjoyed it! We spent most of the day deep in debate over picking our British…

read more »

737 Leg 4 Kilimanjaro - Day 75 - Thursday 24th Feb 2011

Quick update today as I don’t have much battery and there is no sun to charge my solar panel. Been a long day today, 8 hours trek to Barranco Camp which is the most spectacular campsite at the foot of the Kibo peak. We did trek to 4600m as part of our…

read more »

737 Leg 4 Kilimanjaro - Day 74 - Wednesday 23rd Feb 2011

I can't get signal in my house but I can at 3850m, Shira 2 camp on Kilimanjaro! Ha! There’s a rock that if you stand on it you can get signal! We had a 4hr trek to camp 3 – Shira 2 camp today, allowing the team an important afternoon to rest and…

read more »

The extinct volcano of Kilimanjaro is one of the world's most recognisable peaks, as It rises dramatically above the dusty East African plains in Tanzania with an impressive snow-capped summit.

Fact 1

Mount Kilimanjaro is not only the tallest mountain on the African continent, but the highest free-standing mountain in the world.

Fact 2

The name Kilimanjaro has no certain origin, but one of the most popular theories is that it came from KILMA NJARO meaning “shining mountain” in Swahili.

Fact 3

Kilimanjaro has three volcanic cones named Mawenzi, Shira and Kibo. Mawenzi and Shira are extinct, however Kibo, the highest peak, is dormant and could erupt again. The most recent activity was about 200 years ago.

Fact 4

Published research predicts that if global temperatures continue rising Kilimanjaro could loose its ice completely within two decades. Local communities and economies depend on the glacial melt waters coming from the mountain.

Fact 5

Coffee is grown on the lower slopes of the mountain and is a major export trade for the region.

 

Related Media

Expedition Partners

Admiral
Clogau
Audi
Limegreentangerine
Jagged globe
RAB
Gusto Events
Scarpa
Grivel
Life Systems
Napp
Geldards
Admiral