Day 6 - Hiking From Kikelewa Camp to Mawenzi Tarn Camp - 27 Sep 2014

The morning of the 27th of September dawned with blue skies and the promise of sunshine for most of the day.  That promise began to fade about noon, however, as clouds from below started to move up toward us and clouds began to gather around Mawenzi Peak.  We had just spent two nights at relatively low elevations to assist in our altitude adjustment.  Today we are hiking from approximately 11,850 ft. elevation to Mawenzi Tarn Camp at 14,210 ft.  The tarn or pond at the base of Mawenzi Peak is one of the last good sources of water between Mawenzi Tarn Camp and the summit. 

View of Kibo from the Kikelewa Caves area.  View is toward the southwest.  Glaciers are visible on the rim of the volcano.

View of the cave nearest Kikelewa Camp.  From here we will hike toward the southeast for about 5 hours and gain approximately 2,400 ft. in elevation. We are camped in the moorland vegetation zone and during the day we will pass into the alpine desert zone.

View toward the northeast in the direction of Kenya.

Some of the best examples of the senecio or giant groundsel plant on our route were found near our Kikelewa Camp.

This is the view in the direction we are hiking and we will camp right at the base of Mawenzi Peak on the right.

L-R Anthony Welcher and Tom Miller.

Jennifer Lindwall

Chris Branch

Assistant Guide Nestor.  After this hike he goes back to school for further studies related to wildlife and the environment.  Nestor does a great job of motivating his clients.  Good sense of humor.



A closer view of 16,890 ft. Mawenzi Peak.  The rock on this mountain is very rotten and the National Park authorities no longer allow climbers on this mountain.

Time for some water.  Tom Reveley seated on the left.  Alicia Chapman in the center.

L-R Gary Drobnack, Rick Billingham, Alexandra Branch, and Anthony Welcher all enjoying a break.  Thus far this morning, the "Turtles" and "Rabbits" are hiking together, but that will change as the day progresses with the "Rabbits" racing out in front.

L-R Rich Wortley and David Still.



L-R One of the personal porters in conversation with Alexandra Branch; then Anthony Welcher, and Chris Branch.

At this moment during the sunny morning, it is easy to keep warm while hiking, but as the day progresses, and it gets windier and cloudy, we will be adding more layers to keep off the chill.

Nearest trekker is Chris Branch, brother to Alexandra Branch.

We hiked through some areas where brush fires had destroyed the meadows and killed the large senecio bushes that once grew there.

The "Rabbits" have gone on ahead leaving the "Turtles" to set their own pace.



David Still on the far right.

The personal and camp porters carry as much or more on their heads as they do on their shoulders.

Personal porter Hussein taking care to protect himself from the very strong UV light at these elevations.

Assistant Guide Deo is also very capable and a good companion.

The weather is still holding up for us.

We have put quite a bit of distance between Kikelewa Camp and our present location.

Patterns of colorful lichen on the basalt rock.

 

Looking in the direction of Kibo and the Kibo Hut Camp which we will reach the day following our night at the Mawenzi Tarn Camp.  The Kibo Hut at 15,480 ft. is higher than the Mawenzi Tarn Camp by roughly 1,350 ft.

The "Turtles" are following their guide.

Tom Miller and Tom Reveley.  Both are graduates of the University of Idaho.  Go Vandals!

Tom Reveley appreciates the value of lots of sunscreen, too.

The everlasting flower is one of the  few flowering plants we see in the alpine zone.



An interesting outcrop of lava flows.  Most of the vegetation is quite stunted. 

Looking at the ridge we must cross before getting into the Mawenzi Tarn Camp.

Looking north in the direction of Kenya. The cloud layer is starting to rise and soon the lack of sunshine and the wind will cool us off considerably.

A cairn assists route finding.



A lot of the vegetation in the local area has died back because of brush fires and/or drought.

The higher we went, we saw more dead or dying shrubs.

The everlasting flower is one of the more welcome sights in the alpine zone.



Our route on the 28th of Septermber toward Kibo Hut Camp will go into the saddle below us and then up to Kibo Hut.

The clouds from below are getting closer as the day progresses.

Mawenzi Peak isn't too much farther.  Then we can have lunch, take a rest, or do some exploring locally.

Once we clear this ridge, the Mawenzi Tarn will be in sight.

Another water and snack break.  We stop almost every hour for water and a short breather.

David Still sharing some of his snacks with our guide and personal porters.

David Still showing off his real logger's braces.  FRONT....

......and BACK!  He wouldn't have made it to the top without them.

Another rock face with the mix of colored lichens.

The clouds are starting to stream through the saddle between Mawenzi Peak and Kibo now.  It is getting close to noon.

The clouds to our east continue to rise, too.

Looking toward the Kibo Hut Camp, our destination tomorrow.

In this area, some of our guides and porters with cell phones knew they might find a good signal so they try to call and check in at home.  Cell phone service is not that reliable most places on the mountain.  Our head guide carries a satellite phone and is in touch with his head office in Arusha daily.

More roiling clouds.  It is getting cooler.

Thistle bush.  Lots of sharp thorns.  This plant is the favorite hiding place of a local lizard who seeks its protection when threatened.

Variety of carrot - not edible according to our guides.

Tom Miller has stopped to put on a warm coat and to charge his solar battery before putting his hat back on.

 

Is David smiling or gasping for air?

  

The Mawenzi Tarn Camp is now in sight. We can no longer see the slopes of Mawenzi Peak that tower above us.  Skies will clear later in the afternoon and evening, however.

 

 

Getting closer to our tents in the distance.  As usual, the camp porters have beat us and our tents are already set up by the time we arrive.

 

Getting closer.

 

Our porters have started to cover up more to keep warm.

 

The National Park hut at the Mawenzi Tarn Camp.  Everyone is expected to check into these facilities and sign the roster when they show up.  It helps keep unauthorized people off the mountain.

Part of the camp area.

Rick Billingham greets the "Turtles" as we roll into camp.

One of the flanks of Mawenzi Peak.

A closer look.

While there were plenty of white-necked ravens in the area, there were also a few smaller birds around.

Smaller peak on one of the ridges of the main Mawenzi Peak.

David Still is sneaking a nap before lunch is served.

The clouds from below continue to boil up near our location.

A bold and husky white-necked raven.

Time for a walk around the Mawenzi Tarn after lunch .  Note more caves on the cliffs above us.

This is about the only green vegetation we have seen all day.

Green and red moss.

This boulder was full of gas bubbles as the molten rock started to cool.

A view of the complete tarn.  There were several groups camped here the night we stayed here.

Tents belonging to another group.  Most of these trekkers were from New Zealand and Australia.

Our porters getting a briefing before the big move the following day toward the Kibo Hut Camp and the summit. We have been resupplied with groceries. but the porters will have to carry more water with us than usual for the next two high camps.

Mawenzi Tarn and the Park Ranger's hut.

White-necked raven "taking the waters."

This birds are strong with very heavy beaks.

This fellow is waiting for some person in camp to drop some food somewhere.

 

As we get ready for bed, the sky start to clear.

One of the smaller peaks on Mawenzi's eastern flank is catching the last of the evening sun.

The rest of Mawenzi Peak is already in shadow as the sun starts to slide below Kibo to our west.

The following morning, we again experience lovely, clear weather.  After packing up and having breakfast, we head west toward the Kibo Hut Camp.  First we must drop into a low saddle and there we will see the remains of a small plane wreck that occurred about 5 years ago.  We saw the wreckage in 2009, when some of us climbed Kilimanjaro, but this time around, the winds had scattered the pieces much farther afield.