Day 4: Barranco Camp to Karanga Valley Camp

2.2 miles

13,200 feet

Today we had the pleasure of scaling Baranco Wall, a steep face with scrambles--our favorite!  Dougie and I monkeyed up the rock and hugged the wall when the ledge thinned.

 

When we peered down on Barranco camp, we saw the sunlight consuming the early morning shadow that enveloped those still sleeping.  By the time we reached the top, the light caught up to us, and we shed a layer.  

There were some breathtaking cloud panoramas and we had a mini photo shoot to bask in the beauty for a while.

Again, we were meant to sleep low tonight, and the way down to Karanga Valley was characterized by freezing rivers.  The top layer of ice undulated as the water beneath scurried down the mountain beneath it.  

Barranco Wall may have been tough for the porters but when they made it safely across these ice sheets, gear wobbling perilously atop their heads, they sang.

En route today, Doug came up with the fantastic idea of creating a non-profit to help provide porters with appropriate gear for this climb that they so often lack—sleeping bags, structurally solid packs, rain gear, hiking boots—it’s rare to see a porter with any of these essentials.  They have tough lives, often tragic personal stories, and expose a true need that we think we could help meet.   

Doug’s name pitch is “Mt. Kili Gear” (.org, of course).  

I like “Project Porter.”  

We are open to suggestions!

Lexi & Dougie Love from Kilimanjaro.