Wednesday, August 23, 2023 - 10:00 am PT

Good weather and good walking brought us up to 12,500 ft today. When we woke at 6:15 the clouds had sunk way below our 10,000 ft camp to form a uniform surface.  Above it was crystal clear and we could see Kibo, Kilimanjaro’s central peak, with its great cliffs and ice fields.  We ate a full breakfast and got walking at 8 AM with our lead guide, Naiman, taking a turn out front.  Immediately, the track was steeper than what we’d done yesterday.  Like a giant staircase in the giant heather.  After about 90 minutes we were on a ridge crest, still climbing, but now with big views all around us.  We got off the ridge at nearly 12,000 ft and began traversing toward the North.  The team didn’t slow down or hesitate when it came to putting hands on rock for some steeper sections.  We saw our first Giant Senecios -cactus like trees which are only found on Kilimanjaro- before we turned a last corner onto the Shira Plateau.  The final few minutes into camp were easy downhill walking.  We made it in under five hours to this westernmost point of our journey.  Tosha had a fine lunch for us in the dining tent and we spent the rest of the afternoon lounging and rehydrating.  The sun setting in the clouds and peaks of Shira was beautiful as we moved toward dinner.  But the stars when we came out were even more spectacular. 

Best Regards,

RMI Guide Dave Hahn