December 23, 2016
It’s game time! IMG senior guide, Max Bunce, just checked in from Barafu High Camp on Kilimanjaro, and the entire team is super excited! The team enjoyed a short day today hiking from Karanga Camp (13,300 feet) to Barafu High Camp (15,200 feet) — a really nice hike on good trail and with amazing views! The team had excellent weather today and reached camp in under 4 hours which allows plenty of time to enjoy a hot lunch, some incredible views, and get some rest this afternoon. This camp is unlike any other on Kili. It’s rugged. No vegetation in sight. Perched on a ridge with the summit of Kili right in your face. It’s wild. And there is a terrific buzz about camp because everyone is excited for summit night!
Kili from Barafu High Camp (Dustin Balderach)
After lunch the team will repack their bags for the summit push tonight. Food, water, and lots of warm clothes. They’ll try to get some time off their feet and enjoy the view and buzz of high camp. Then, after an early dinner, they’ll try to get a few hours of shut-eye. It’s difficult to get much sleep this night because you are so excited about the summit, but time off your feet and on your back is really all you are looking for here, as well as staying hydrated and fed for the big day.
Looking down on Barafu High Camp (Dustin Balderach)
The team plans to wake up at 11pm and be hiking by midnight. A dark, cold, but beautiful night following the glow up headlamps up the mountain filled with all kinds of emotions. I love it! It’s a slow, steady pace resting briefly every hour to eat and drink. With a bit of luck and a lot of hard work they’ll hopefully be standing on the summit between 7 and 8am. We wish the team luck, and we’ll be looking forward to a phone call from the summit. Go get ‘em Team!
Dustin Balderach