Peter Wandiriani, an Heritage Hotels' eCommerce Executive is taking part in a gruelling 5-day trek of Mount Kenya from Naru Moru, a sleepy town along the main Tumu Tumu - Meru road through the mountain.The group of 16, accompanied by two guides shall be climbing from the east to Point Lenana 4,985 metres (16,366ft) above sea level and out westwards at Chogoria.
Over the 5-day period, we shall be updating this blog with their progress, and after the trek we shall post pictures of this great adventure.
The planned itinerary is:
Day 1,March 02
You drive to the north of Nairobi through pineapple and coffee plantations to the slopes of Mt Kenya which normally take 4 hrs.You will have your picnic lunch at Naru-Moru gate and then start walking through rain forest for 3 hrs to Met Station 3,048m,dinner/overnight.
Day 2, March 03
After breakfast,the whole group will climb higher than Met Station to gain the altitude and acclimatisation then return to the camp,dinner/overnight.
Day 3, March 04
After breakfast your climb continue to Mackinders camp which is approximately 5-6 hrs,14km.You will walk through the vertical bog and tussock grass.At this point the main peaks provide a spectacular view of Batian and Nelion, continue walking through Teleki Valley,dinner/overnight at Mackinder's camp 4,300m.
Day 4, March 05
The ascension of the summit of Point Lenana begin before dawn at 3.00 oclock to ensure time to view the sunrise from the peaks.The walk takes 3 hrs to Point Lenana 4,985m ,third highest peak.,then descend to Mintos hut for
breakfast,dinner/overnight.
Day 5 March 06
After breakfast continue descending down to Meru Mount Kenya Bandas above Chogoria, following the Gorges Valley. It will take 5 hours to reach the chogoria bandas,where you will lunch and then you drive down through the bamboo and indigenous forest passing Embu to Nairobi.
Day 1:
Peter Wandiriani] and the Kobo Safaris crew of 16 strong plus their 2 guides have just come from acclimatisation near Mackinder's Camp some 3,800 metres above sea level on Mt Kenya.
They are now back at camp at the Met station. The group sets off tomorrow morning at 0630 hrs for an overnight at Mackinder's Camp, which is 4,200m above sea level. The temperature at Mackinder's camp is around -1ºC.
Day 2:
08.00am
The group left the Met Station (-0.174193,37.147093) at dawn for a six hour uphill ascent of 1,200 metres above sea level through heath and moorland belt to Mackinder's Camp. The group has just completed the rain forest. Weather conditions are favourable -it's hot and the group is in great cheer.
They are using the Naru Moru route, favorite for many climbers because it's less steep and takes only 3 days to reach point Lenana.
Mount Kenya has several peaks; Point Lenana, which is 4,985 metres (16,355 ft), Point Nelion at 5,188 metres (17,021 ft) and the highest Point Batian at 5,199 metres (17,057 ft). See more of Mount Kenya map here http://bit.ly/hv97W0
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Point Lenana. Picture courtesy of Chris 73 / Wikimedia Commons |
They are currently at 3,590 metres above sea level. From their locale, they command a 180 km radius vista, from the Aberdares Ranges, the Laikipia plains covering all the way from Mweiga in Nyeri to Lewa Downs, and all the way to the Isiolo hills.
13.04pm
13.04pm
Our trekkers have made good ground. They are just over the Teleki Valley (named after the European explorer, Count Samel Teleki, who was the first white to attempt a climb of this mountain) at an altitude of 4,028 metres above sea level facing the Batian Peak. Their a storm brewing and the afternoon climb looks like it will be wet.
Follow us to keep abreast of the group's progress.
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