Mount Kenya Climbing Expedition

Climbing 4900m is easier than running in a cross country or marathon. Well, that’s my opinion after getting to the third highest peak of the highest mountain in Kenya. Mount Kenya it is. This is one of the finest places to experience a trekking safari in Kenya. Even after hardly preparing myself physically, the whole expedition came with much fun and I am now relishing an even greater challenge. Probably Mount Kilimanjaro. I decided to join Greg, (a friend) with one day left. I had done very little physical exercises before then, with walking to and from work and climbing a set of stairs to my third floor apartment being the only exercises I had done in a couple of months. I knew the challenge that this would have on me, but I was determined and mentally prepared. 

The whole expedition lasted three nights. I set out to get myself prepared. I got myself climbing boots, rain coat, rain trouser, gloves, touch, sleeping bag, jacket, t-shirt, hood, water bottle and sweaters. The guide, named Wilson, advised that one should take water frequently, prior to and during the journey to prevent dehydration.

We used the Sirimon route which is accessible from Nanyuki. We departed Nairobi at around 8am. The drive took around three hours. There are beautiful features along the way such as the Aberdare Mountains, Mount Kenya in the distance, and several rivers. We had lunch upon arrival at the Sirimon gate, where there is a picnic site. The altitude here is 2650m above sea level. A family of baboons kept circling around anticipating food. After the light lunch we set on foot toward the Old Moses camp. The road is wide and passable by a vehicle, though we chose to walk. A road sign informed us that we were now crossing the equator, and getting into the southern hemisphere. There is a forest of trees on both sides of the road, most of which are indigenous hardwoods such as cedar, podocarpus, and olive, among others. There are also lots of bamboo trees. The area is ideal for bird watching and we spotted a buzzard and some turacos. The gradient is generally gentle, though it was steep at some points. While we were nearly halfway through to the camp, it started drizzling and we quickly put on our rain clothes. The pour did not last long though.

We got to Old Moses camp at around 4pm where we met another group which comprised of around 15 persons. Accompanied by their guide, they had climbed a little further then back down, in order to acclimatize.  The camp is made of wood, comprises around four bedrooms, a dinning area and a kitchen. The bedrooms hold a couple of bunks beds. The camp is colored green and stands on top of a ridge. At night, one can view Nanyuki town as it is lit up. The altitude at the camp is 3300m above sea level. It was cold and one had to be in warm clothing. During and after supper, our guides informed us on the following day’s schedule. We engaged in some chat till it got time for bed.

On day two, we woke up at 6 am, had breakfast and departed for the second camp (Shiptons camp) at 7am. We set out in a single file though our group soon went ahead. Most of us were heavily dressed at the time of departure, but we gradually warmed up and took off some layers of clothing. Along the way, we came across a Weather monitoring station and from here we could see the Old Moses camp in the distance below. En route, we passed three rivers and several ridges. At the Liki Valley, a thick fog caught up with us and made it extremely chilly. After a short distance we started walking along another ridge with a river below. We had lunch at some point along the ridge. The vegetation was mainly heath and moorland and comprised of lobelias, Groundsels thistles and grasses. We also came across some hyraxes.

Then the Shiptons camp came into sight. The time was nearly 2pm. What a relief after such a long walk. The camp is set on the foot of a valley; with the peaks visible on one side. The altitude here is 4200m above sea level.  Upon arrival, we took photos, even before putting our backpacks down. The setting of the camp is very much similar to that of the Old Moses camp. After tea, we took a nap, and woke up just before supper which was at 6pm. It was extremely cold and I was wrapped in heavy clothes, which included a t-shirt, sweater, jacket, hood, scarf and gloves. Greg and I took a walk around the camp and took photos of what was breath taking scenery. We went to bed immediately after supper.

We woke up at around 2.30am on the third day, had quick tea and biscuits and set out for the peak at 3am. Everyone was dressed warmly and had a headlamp because it was pretty dark. The moon was covered by thick clouds. The ascent was very steep and we walked slowly in a single file. Pretty soon, it started snowing. The ground was also covered by a thin layer of snow and most of the noise was that of the crunching of snow as we walked through. Periodically, we would take some breaks. We passed around some tarns and ridges on the way up. Looking up, the peak still looked far, and one almost lost hope of ever reaching it. 

Finally, at around 6.30am, we reached the Lenana peak. While getting to the top, there are some coated steel cables which assist you climb. There are also a set of steel steps on a cliff through which one climbs to the summit. Sounds of excitements rent the air from everyone. We all chanted, ‘We made it!’ excitedly. The peak is flat but gently slopping and there is a Kenyan flag flying on a post. We took photos and explored the area around. Though it was day break, there were thick clouds which prevented seeing the distance. After 30 minutes or so, we started the descent. Climbing down was pretty fast but required extreme caution. As we neared the camp, a helicopter did the rounds near the peaks, probably taking some people on an aerial tour. We got back to the camp at around 9am. Had lunch and departed for the Old Moses camp. It started pouring hailstones at some point, and for me, who refused to wear rain pants, arrived soaking wet. I got into dry clothes upon arrival. We spent the third night at the camp. in the evening, we spent the time watching the scenes in the distance and the lovely sunset. During supper, we chatted with some other groups who were on their way to the top and told them what to expect. They had faces of expectation just like us on the nights before.