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February 26

Kilimanjaro - to Camp Barranco

Shira Plateau

Kibo from above Camp Shira

I'd had little sleep when I was awakened by Tobias. Breakfast was ready, but I ate only about half to avoid trouble during the walk. I also took an Immodium before setting off. We started climbing up to the top of the ridge. It was a very clear morning. The entire Shira Plateau was visible behind us, with Mera above the clouds in the distance. Kibo Peak was also cloudless. The climb was not difficult, but my stomach was still churning with gas. After getting to the top of this ridge, we descended and climbed another. This would continue all morning, up and down one ridge after another, following the trail around the south side of Kibo. We climbed to well over 13,000 feet, and Kibo appeared to be very near.

Around noon, clouds moved in quickly and surrounded us. We descended steeply into a forest. Tobias pointed out a purple speck in the distance: my tent, which the porters had already set up. We descended to Barranco Hut, then crossed some streams and ridges to Barranco Bivouac, where my tent was set up near a small cave next to a stream. I was served tea with popcorn and biscuits, and ate only the best parts of my lunch: the mango and banana. There was a latrine here with a low rock wall. I used it, passing mostly gas, and felt much better.

It started to hail pea-sized stones, and I retreated to my tent. Soon, Tobias came and said the cave was too small, and we had to move everything to a bigger cave. I helped carry the tent over. The new cave was big enough for the entire staff to have shelter, and had an overhang that protected my tent from the hail. This was good, because my tent had a few holes, and if the hail turned to rain, it could be leaky. A thunder storm came, and heavier hail. Then, around 4:15, the sun came out and the clouds lifted. I could see all the way down to the plains below, but Kibo was still mostly in clouds.

Camp Barranco

Breach Wall from Camp Barranco

After 5, dinner was served. I concentrated on the best parts: the soup, pork chop, and a few potatoes, leaving the spaghetti and cabbage. I was suspicious of the cabbage after yesterday. As the sun set, the clouds lifted from Kibo, and the mountain turned a nice red color. We were camped just below the moraine of a glacier that was feeding the streams running through camp down into the valley below.

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