Hiking Kilimanjaro Day 5: Summit Day!

We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open. ~Jawaharial Nehru

Waking up at 11:30 PM was a complete whirlwind. Exhaustion and anxiety had crept in and decided to permanently reside with me.

I was so thankful for Rakhi because she did such a wonderful job of encouraging me by reminding me we had worked hard for this moment. Having another girl of this trip turned out to be one of the best things that could have happened. Not only was I checking something awesome off my bucket list, I made a new friend for life in the process.

Before leaving camp, we nibbled on a Cadbury chocolate bar that Arnold had given us which in retrospect was not even close to enough food for summit night. But the chocolate was a treat and at the time I didn’t have much of an appetite because of my nerves and the altitude.

Arnold and our porters warned us that the higher up the mountain we progressed, the more our appetites would decline. Their best advice was to force feed ourselves even if we didn’t feel hungry. Our goal was to drink at least three liters of water on the summit hike. After some fast conversion math, I found that three liters of water is almost 13 cups. And we were supposed to drink this in an eight to ten hour time frame. I felt like a camel taking in enough water to last me across the Sahara desert.

For the summit hike I bundled up in layers upon layers of clothing. I wore a spandex, moisture-wicking workout tank, a long sleeve base layer, my red University of South Carolina t-shirt, a fleece jacket, a windbreaker, and gloves on top. On bottom I wore long underwear, hiking pants, and two pairs of socks beneath my boots. I also wore a fuzzy turtle fur over my ears and my USC baseball cap. I am sure that I looked identical to Ralphie’s little brother Randy in my dad’s favorite movie “A Christmas Story” because all of my layers added 15 pounds to my figure.

Even though I was wearing many layers, stepping out of the tent into the frigid night air was like hopping into an ice cold shower. Miserable. I hate being cold and at home I am usually bundled up in a sweatshirt. I turn on my cars seat heaters in the summer for goodness sake. Arnold told us the temperature was in the mid-20s, however with the wind chill the temperature felt a lot colder.

At 12:15 we officially began our hike to the summit. It was pitch dark and looking up the mountain I could see a dotted line of tiny headlamps. I clicked my headlamp on and joined the line of lights leading to the summit.

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

There’s a 40% chance it’s already raining [as she stands in a downpour]. ~Mean Girls

Does preparing for the unpredictable seem impossible? Well that’s just what you have to do because on this trek you will experience many ecological zones and go from equator-like weather to what seems like Antarctic weather in a matter of mere days. You will climb below through, and above clouds, in tropical sun, rain and snow, through a forest, across a desert and finally on ice fields to the summit. As the weather is unpredictable overall, you will need to be prepared for wet days and freezing cold nights.

Are you the kind of girl who dreads going to class or work on a day that it’s pouring rain? On a dreary and humid day do you worry about your hair frizzing to the size of Texas? While I reluctantly face the rain on my way to class by wearing my bright pink rain jacket, I definitely would rather stay curled up in my warm bed than venture into downpours. 

If you’re like me, the idea of hiking Mount Kilimanjaro in rain showers is less that appealing. Therefore, it’s really important to choose the time of year that the weather is ideal for yourself.  There are two rainy seasons on Mount Kilimanjaro, from March to May and again from November to January. Hiking during the rainy season will definitely make for not as crisp and picturesque photos, and potentially a more difficult trek due to hiking through the mud initially and misty or snowy conditions later.

Not a fan of cold temperatures? This may not be a problem at the beginning of the hike where temperatures are on average 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. However, prepare to bundle up at the summit at night time where the temperature becomes chilly ranging from -15 to 0 degrees Fahrenheit. As your hike to the summit takes place in the middle of the night (more on that later!), you will need to prepare yourself for brisk weather. And by brisk I mean brutally cold weather that is more frigid than the mean girls in from your high school years or your icy mother in law.

One of the best times to climb the mountain is during the dry season from June to October. Though it is the coldest time, this is the most popular time to go. The warmest months of January through March are the second most popular time. January, February, and September are said to be the best months for climbing due to little rain, warmer temperatures, and their overall ideal weather conditions. 

I trekked Kilimanjaro during the month of June. To learn more about the weather during my hike, read future posts about my trip!

*Thanks to my roommate & best friend Katie for today's quote inspiration! You rock!

My favorite pink Northface rain jacket I wore up Kilimanjaro

P.S. Happy Valentines Day loves! Have a wonderful day celebrating love with family and friends!