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| Uplands
College Conquers Africa’s Highest Point |
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Kilimanjaro.
The name has an utterly awe-inspiring
connotation. Translated it means
“mountain of greatness”
and once you’ve climbed it,
the feeling of having conquered
such an obstacle is just as amazing...
Nine
pupils, one exchange student, two
parents and four staff members from
Uplands College - with spirited
attitudes - left Johannesburg determined
to triumph over the massive obstacle
ahead. The flight landed late and
we spent the night in Moshi.
The
next day we were driven to Machame
Gate of Kilimanjaro National Park
and after porters (the really amazing
people who carry your gear, food,
tents, chairs, tables, portable
toilet and climb the mountain with
you) were rounded up, we set off.
Because of the risk of altitude
sickness, (which even the fittest
climbers experience in some form
and at some point on their climb)
we were guided at a pace with which
most elders would be comfortable.
The first part of the climb was
steep, but the views made all the
effort worthwhile. When we turned
and looked back to see where we
had been hiking, we noticed that
we were actually above the clouds,
at 3100m above sea level. |
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The
sunset was magnificent, but we had never
- not in all our years of icy mornings
at Uplands - experienced cold like that.
The rainforest we hiked through was
impressive. Later on we got our first
view of the peak … covered in
white. We arrived at Machame Hut, the
first camp, at about 17h00. Camp was
already pitched, so we made ourselves
at home. We learnt to value water, because
on Kilimanjaro all you get is a cup
of water between you and your tent mate
at the end of each day with which to
wash.
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We
left early the next morning, heading
for Shira Hut. This hike was shorter,
but more of a climb than that of
the previous day. |
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Day
three would prove to be the most
challenging. We were heading for
Barranco Hut, but took a detour
and hiked towards Lava Tower (a
mass of solidified lava that towers
about 100m straight up, at 4700m).
We
then descended to our previous
altitude to help our bodies acclimatise
to the high altitude and low oxygen
levels we were beginning to experience.
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How
the porters manage to carry all
the gear and camping equipment -
about thirty kilograms on the same
routes we do – is truly astonishing.
They left camp after we did and
still got to the next camp before
we did…
The
hike from Barranco Hut, over the
Barranco Wall (the “unbelievably
steep path”), on towards Karrango
Hut lasted just over three hours
and at Karrango Hut we had the choice
of taking a hike to help acclimatise
to the altitude. Kilimanjaro certainly
takes people out of their comfort
zones, so you end up seeing a totally
different side of people. That night,
the moon was 98% percent full, showing
off a glowing snow-capped peak.
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| Uplands
College, Private Bag X9909, White River 1240, Mpumalanga,
South Africa
Tel: +27 (0)13 751 3141 | Fax: +27 (0)13 751 3850 | Email:
college@uplandscollege.org
Copyright
© 2006-2008. Uplands College. All rights
reserved |
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