Thanks Chris,
I booked with Zara for both of my climbs.
–Daniel

Loved your book as well. What outiftter did you do your trip through?

Did Rongai in October 2008. We paid for an extra day to acclimate. The sales people said the extra day would be at 14 000 feet to get used to higher altitude before the final hike up . But our guide insisted that we hike to 14000 and return to the same 12800 elevation to sleep for a second night. We felt a bait and switch that was for the convenience of the guide, not for benefit. However, our guide was insistent and he proved to be right. Sleeping at higher elevations is how people get sick. The other key to success is to learn to walk sloooooow-leeeeee. I thought the guide was always telling me to slow down because he thought I’d wear out. But the guide was training our muscle memory–to make walking slowing and breathing in synch–so that when we started the final night hike from 15400 to 19400 that we would have the discipline needed. We made it to the top. people who were hiking faster did not. Lesson learned: listen to the guide; do what the guide says; do only what the guide says.

Thanks Gary! It was a great opportunity and I’m looking forward to going back again some day. Maybe when the kids are older.
–Dan

Hi Rachel,
I haven’t done the Western Breach myself, but have dreamed about doing it as well. The biggest issue with this route is altitude. Because you sleep in the crater at 18,000′ this route is the most dangerous and has the highest risk of altitude sickness (HAPE and HACE). You’ll want to train hard to ensure your body processes oxygen as efficiently as possible and strongly consider taking Diamox. You should also consider at least 8 days for the climb to give your body time to adjust to the higher elevation. In the crater itself make sure you share a tent with someone so you can watch each other in case you have problems during the night.

Make sure you have warm clothing for your night in the crater, maybe a down jacket to supplement your base layer and shells. There may not be a lot of wind, but it will be colder (about 3 degrees colder for every 1,000′ of elevation).

And of course, don’t forget your camera! You’ll be right up next to the glaciers for a very impressive and unique view of them, the summit and the crater.

Have a great trip but please be careful. A guide once told me “the summit isn’t the top of the mountain, it’s getting back safely.”

–Dan

Hi,

We are planning a trip via Western Breach. Could you tell me more about this route. What does one needs to prepare: physically, gear, etc.

Thank you.

Regards

it is good to know that Kilimanjaro has changed your life.enjoy the living

Awesome post, Dan! What a great adventure and an amazing story!

Thanks for the comment. Glad you enjoyed it. Feel free to share your own Kilimanjaro adventure here or on http://www.happybirthdaytanzania.com as a way to with Tanzania “happy 50th birthday”
–Daniel

I just finished reading Daniel Dorr’s book Kissing Kilimanjaro. My daughter and I climbed Kili four years ago and this book brought it all back. Great job in recording your climb. You’ve inspired me to put my thoughts into writing. Thanks.

T. Dunn
West Hartford, CT

Two years ago I climbed Kili through tough Umbwe Route and then via Western Breach. Before that I had sumitted Kili thrice through Barafu Camp-twice via Machame and once via Umbwe. I suggest those who seek a really tough challenge tackle Kili via Umbwe and then Arrow Glacier. Not forgetting to spend an extra day or two at Barranco, during the day they can climb to Arrow Glacier Camp and back to Barranco to acclimatise. Umbwe and then Arrow Glacier is the tooughest challenge on this mountain. I have been through it and made it to the Peak. I will not forget the experience of clearing the rock train, stepping on the rim, leaving danger behind and the rewarding awesome sight of the Furtwangler Galcier and the crator there for the eyes.

Yes, the Western Breach is the most dangerous, you are compelled to sign an afidavit at Barranco, but I am preparing to climb again through it before the close of this year

your book is in one of our videos –

here is the link:

http://smithoutdoorsandtravel.blogspot.com/2011/07/yosemite-videos-3-episodes.html

episode #1 at the 4 minutes 15 second mark

enjoy!!!

Hi Linda

I am so glad you made this post as I would like to say, that everyone is entitled to enjoy whatever this wonderful world of nature of ours has to offer, regardless of whether you are blind, paraplegic etc. I know of many climbers who have done the climb blind, not to mention the group that we sent up that broke the world record.

So let me dispel this right now, as a blind person you can climb Kilimanjaro and I will be happy to put you in touch with our blind clients who have done the climb. Even Mt Everest has been climbed by a blind climber. Having a vision is not about sight, but about commitment to a goal and the desire to achieve, so please do not let others sway you in your quest.

If you need any assistance, please email me on glomed@mweb.co.za – our company is Nomadic Adventures

All the best
Debra

I am toatally blind very fit and wanting to climb Kilimanjaro but all travel agents say even though I have my own guide they will not let me join a trek.

Hi Chris…nice website…! I like the way you write…! regards, Ester