Kilimanjaro Summit Day and descent

 Kilimanjaro Summit Day and descent

I was woken up at 11pm by God Bless with some hot water for tea and some biscuits. Then at midnight William and I left Barafu Camp and started our ascent. There was little to see other than my head torch lighting up a small section of the path and the back of Williams walking boots.. My porters would have a lie-in as only WIlliam and I were making it to the top. Aheaf of us were a few porters from other groups who were farrying breakfast for other groups. Whenever  looked bak, all I could see was a line of bobbing head torches as groups made their way up the trail.

And of course no pictures as it was dark.

After six hours of walking we arrved at Stellas Point on the rim of the volcano. Some people stop here to watch the sunrise over Mount Mweka but we continued in the datk p to the very top further along the rim.

And at the top is the sign. 

The sky was brightening but it wasn't yet dawn.

                                       

One of the glaciers seen in the dull light of dawn.

And finally it was light and the sunshine hit the sign,

Another one of me...

...William and me....

Another view of one of the glaciers...

Finally sun rise.

Another glacier,

The sun glinting off a glacier.

And then it was time to turn round and go down but taking a different route down a scree slope for more than a kilometre and it was very tiring mo the legs.

Another gacier.

The inner cauldron of the crater.

We passed Stells Point.

And in less than half the time that it took to climb up, we were back at Barafu Camp. We had some brunch and then took four more hours to descend to Mweka Gate at 1,360 metres. a total vertical drop of 4.535 metres in 12 hours and we were picked u my minvan and taken back to Bristo Cottages.