Mt Kenya - the highest campsite...

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As we felt ok with the altitude (with the help of Diamox!) we skipped the acclimatisation day and instead used this day to hike the 5km up to the next hut which would significantly cut down the night hike tomorrow morning. Whilst holding the dodgy toilet door shut for Chavaunne I got a lovely view of a mountain eagle! There were also several rock hyrax handing around the camp.

The hike started with a nice gentle incline up the valley then went steeply up the scree slope, which we needed to take very “pole pole”! The only vegetation up here was some moss, lichen and a scattering of pretty yellow flowers. After what felt like ages but was only a few hours we made it over the ridge down to the Austrian Hut at 4790m by 12:10. Point Lenana looks close from here!

After hot chocolate and lunch we wandered around taking several photos then went for a very short walk (30min) up the next section of track and back with James. We had an early supper at 5:30pm (main course of spaghetti, sauce & cheese!) then got an early night as we had to be up and ready to leave by 5am. Luckily less windy up here, though much colder – I fully utilised the cords in my sleeping bag to close the face gap to a narrow slit!

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Photos

Naro Moru Route, Mt Kenya

Austrian Hut camping
Mt Kenya

Rock Hyrax
MacKinders camp, Mt Kenya

Upper Teleki Valley
Naro Moru Route, Mt Kenya

Only vegetation on the scree slope
Naro Moru Route, Mt Kenya

Jagged skyline
Naro Moru Route, Mt Kenya

On the Naro Moru Route
Mt Kenya

First view down the east side of the mountain
Mt Kenya

Mt kenya peaks
From Austrian Hut

View of the summit from our tent
Austrian hut, Mt Kenya

Lake Michaelson (I think)
From by Austrian Hut, My Kenya

The track to Point Lenana
Mt Kenya

On the track up to Point Lenana
Mt Kenya