Volcanoes: Kilimanjaro
Nov 3-6, 1976: Tanzania; 19,341 ft
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After about a month looking at animals in Kenya, we drove across the border into Tanzania and on to Mt. Kilimanjaro, at 19,341 feet the tallest mountain in Africa and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world.
We were required to hire two guides, which made things a lot easier: they knew where to camp, prepared our meals, and best of all, carried our backpacks. We paid for their provisions, which they purchased at a local store at the base of the mountain. They bought a lot of food, but but understood why when they left much of it at their village soon after we began the hike. Smart guides!
I just checked: in 2013 the cost to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro ranges from $2000 to $6000!
Only hiked in the mornings, resting in the afternoons to help acclimatize to the altitude.
On the way up we passed a group of hikers carrying a hang glider. Next week we read in the local paper that they had given up the search tor the hang glider, who presumably crashed on his flight down.
The view from our last camp site towards the mountain.
Here I am on the summit, proudly showing my Uncle Gaylord's t-shirt (I was a part owner of the Palo Alto ice cream shop).
Giant "ice blades" within the crater.
Nicole with one of our guides. She didn't quite make it to the top.
On her way down.
Here we are, getting our certificates of accomplishment by our guides (I have since lost mine).
It is predicted that the glaciers on Mt. Kilimanjaro (and there are four of them) will be gone by 2050 due to climate change.
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