Hiking Kilimanjaro

Another item from the bucket list checked! Kilimanjaro - the highest single free-standing mountain in the world had been in our focus for a long time.

The hikers

Our group consisted of 6 Czechs - all family and friends and our goal was to spend an amazing week above the clouds and enjoy our time in the mountains. My friend Pavel Sedivy was a special one, because the furthest he had ever been before this trip was 17 km away from his house, while visiting his brother. He was really excited and studied every detail of the journey on Google Maps and at all times he knew where we were.

The hike

We had decided to take the Machame Route, because compared to the other popular one, it gives you one extra day to get used to the high altitude before attempting the summit. First we were offered 25 porters, but after refusing a portable toilet, chairs, table and watermelons, the number of men accompanying our trip was reduced to 20. And then we just went with the flow, from one camp to another, in a very slow pace, enjoying the views, thinking about life and having laughs with the friends and porters. In Barafu camp - last camp before summit, we slept a few moments and at around midnight we started hiking to the summit. I have to say it was probably the hardest hike of my life. The high altitude prevents you from moving too fast, and the minus degrees Celsius make you really feel the cold. The darkness is forgiving and frustrating at the same time - you don't know how much further do you still need to go. Once you reach Stella point, the hardest part is over. From Stella point onwards some of us had altitude problems - my dad wanted to turn back, but the porter said the summit really is round the corner... and it was. Pavel Sedivy lost consciousness and had a nose bleeding while having his summit picture taken and we carried him down to Stella point, where he woke up again. After that I returned to the summit again to take my picture as well. Another one of us - Ivan - was walking really slowly and with a lot of patience and on that day, he spent 24 hours walking. After the hike was over, we spent a well deserved week on Zanzibar.