Day 5 - Summit

Trek Data Summit: 10km, 7,5 hours (5:50 hours up and 1:45 down)
Trek Data base camp to Mweka Camp: 7,5km, 2,5 hours (4 hours on board)

Starting Elevation: 4670
Uhuru Peak: 5895hm
Finishing Elevation: 3100hm

The day started already at 23:30 😂 and we started walking at 00:30 🙈 according to the sign, it takes 7 hours to the peak… it was freezing but luckily it stopped snowing. George, Hassan and I were ready for battle. George pushed me to wear all of the clothes and I felt like Michelin Figure 😆 whatever it takes to survive -20 degrees. Due to fresh snow the way was quite slippery and we needed to be extremely careful. The way up was never ending 😬 you could see the headlamps all the way up and many exhausted hikers. The sky was clear, stars were shining and Mt. Mawenzi was looking amazing. I was so concentrated on the steps that I didn’t take any pictures or checked the time. After base camp you pass in around 1 hours higher base camp Kosovo (if you want to camp there you need an additional permit of 100usd) then there was a bit flatter section and then the real never ending fun till Stella Point started. At some point I was bit freezing, tired, dizzy and I had to vomit once 🙈. I started to be really worried about the altitude sickness but George kept telling me that I am fine and I am almost at Stella Point, there is no chance of giving up now.

Around 5:30 I finally reached the Stella Point, right in time for sunrise. Many people gave up, many were looking not good and some were already going down. I was done with world but I knew that now the path gone be way easier, it will get warmer soon and I will made the last 700 meters.

George took my phone and took some pictures and videos of me. At 6:22am I stood on the top on Kilimanjaro. It was unbelievable and I was full of emotions ~ happy, exhausted, overwhelmed, grateful and I just had to cry (happy tears 😭).

It was super cold on top and there were some tourists crying that they are so frozen that they can’t feel the body anymore. Some people were carried down by theirs guides and sherpas 🙈. Really crazy. I could not feel my hands anymore so we departed after 20 minutes on the top.

The summit fever und sunrise suddenly cause full new level of energy and I run down all the way to the base camp. According to George it takes for fit people 2-3 hours down or for less fit hikers 4-5 hours to reach the base camp. George and I managed to arrived only after 1:45 hours and were welcomed by the whole crew and mange juice. We took a rest for about 1,5 / 2 hours in base camp and then we packed our stuff and left to lower camps. I had a headache but apart from that I felt incredible amount of energy and strength. By the time we were leaving the base camp, most of the groups were still on the way and I was very happy that I was not part of the big and slow group.

From base camp it’s 17,5km to the end of national park. There are two campgrounds on the way ~ high / milénium camp in 3.900hm and Mweka camp in 3.100hm. As it was so early and I was fit and I didn’t want to spend any minute longer then necessary in higher elevation we started the journey to Mweka Camp. In about 2,5 hours (13oclock) we arrived to the campground which was totally empty, I was first person to arrive, but George said that by the night the camp gonna be full.

In the campground I called with family, watch movie, read book, book accommodation for tmr and made stretching with my whole crew. It was incredible and extremely long day and I still could not believe that I actually managed all that in just 1 day.

During the dinner many groups arrived, most of them looking like walking zombies or hurt. Once again it made me realize my strength and fitness level and appreciate my body and this moment.Read more