Dallice M Tylee: October 14th: Day 4 of Kilimanjaro Trek

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

October 14th: Day 4 of Kilimanjaro Trek

Shira II Camp to Barranco Camp

Looking back, I thought today went quite well.

Sunrise at camp was seriously beautiful and other than just "not feeling" breakfast, or being able to taste it much, I ate ample and took some hot water for my Nalgene bottle and Camelbak to take the chill off the drinking water, and had time to enjoy some local wildlife... which also appreciates the food and water leftovers that camp affords them.

Confused by the toilet tent? Don't worry... you get used to it!

Today was a climb of 7km and 3000' to Lava Rock, a waypoint that promised a sitdown hot lunch. Pole pole worked out well and all 4 of us rocked it today.

However after a tea break, wearing only my baselayer and a jacket, I struggled to stay warm and was eventually (not to far from Lava) assigned a long-legged porter to walk a little faster with me. It did the trick and by the time I arrived, I was warm. A bit breathless but otherwise not feeling any ill effects of the 15,000' elevation. My training was paying off. No guarantees when higher of course... 15,000' is the highest I have EVER been and that was 6 years ago in Peru. Mt Elbert (July 2025) is the highest peak in Colorado @ 14,400'.

Lunch! Holy moly!!! Chicken masala pasta and curried veggies, fresh pineapple slices. Amazing even if it was not cooked up on the side of the mountain @ 15,000, but it was! Thomas/cook is a magician. Seriously! (Think about it... Morning tea set up mid-hike, then fully cooked lunch mid-hike... then they race us to next camp, set up everything and get dinner ready?! It's hard to wrap my head around!)

Umbeni... my long-legged porter! I just love him.

Post lunch and a wee break, complete with our own porta-loos in tents, we started the descent. Today's adventure saw us climb up 3000' and drop back down almost the same. The descent was rocky and uneven, steps more than a path and that's how 3km takes 2 hours. Oh and our trail intersected with the Machame Route just before Lava Rock so it's a busy route now too.

We left the alpine zone just before Barranco. BUT before that, stopped for many a picture of the unique Kilimanjaro Senecio trees. As the leaves die and drop they leave scales that thicken the trunk and are insulated with cotton. Perhaps the reason these trees survive this environment.

Welcome to Barranco Camp! Tomorrow... we scale the Barranco Wall.

In my mind this had taken on "cliffs of insanity" type image (Ref: Princess Bride movie), but it turns out I was being dramatic. Go figure. :-)