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Kit for Climbing Kilimanjaro?

What did you find useful or pointless when you trekked up Killi??

15 years ago, December 16th 2008 No: 1 Msg: #57685 Delete Edit

thecrashpacker
The Crashpacker

B Posts: 170

I need some of the experience of the travelbloggers!
I'm heading up Kili on January the 5th - what kit would you suggest taking? I'm off to Zan first and afterwards, and travelling most of it independantly so i don't want to over pack.

I was thinking:
Thermals.
Worn-in boots.
Lots of layers that are removable, rather than one massive 5 seasons coat.
My Snowboarding coat.
hat, gloves of course.

I was going to hire a 5 seasons sleeping bag, but take a sleeping mat with me, as they cost 25quid to hire, and only a fiver to buy.

Should I hire the big massive jacket? Will i be warm enough with thermals, layers and a branded Snowboard jacket? I'm not looking forward to lugging it around Zan with me!

Was also taking:
Flask for tea (essential english thing)
Binoculars.
Spare batteries for camera.
Silk sleeping bag liner.
Headlamp....

Anything else essential/fun/useful/comfortable/inspiring???

I'm pretty new to this trekking and if i go in fancy shop they'll make me buy lots of stuff i probably won't need...i need the TB advice please! Reply to this

15 years ago, December 16th 2008 No: 2 Msg: #57690 Delete Edit

Ali
Ali Watters

B Posts: 5,200

I haven't climbed Kili - but every mountain I have climbed - the torches are the weakest thing when hired - batteries dying, weak beams - so a good head torch with a couple of spare battery sets would be my essential. Some assents are made in the dark - to arrive for dawn. Hope some Kilimanjaro veterans have more specific advice for you 😊 Reply to this

15 years ago, December 17th 2008 No: 3 Msg: #57750 Delete Edit

ThroughMyEyes
Sofia Mona Holzer

B Posts: 148

Diamox (Acetazolamide) - a drug to help acclimate/prevent Acute Mountain Sickness

I did this trip back in 93. The problem back then and I believe still exists today, is that it is routinely done at a much to rapid accent (3 1/2 days up to 19340ft). This is the main reason that a large percentage do not make it to the top. It is a very easy climb, just the rapid ascent is the big issue. My advice....take the drug and take your time. It is an incredible experience.

Probably do not need the big massive jacket and your layering is a good idea. Binoculars not that important on the climb (is for the safaris). I was travelling for 5 more months after the trip, so I bought some souvenirs and surrounded it with some my layered cold weather clothes that I would not need for the rest of the trip. Suffice it to say, when mom got the box a month later, she opened it to quite a stench.

One more thing....Good UV protective sunglasses due to the altitude/snow. I kinda fried my eyes. Reply to this

15 years ago, December 17th 2008 No: 4 Msg: #57751 Delete Edit

ThroughMyEyes
Sofia Mona Holzer

B Posts: 148

My bad, did it in 98
Reply to this

15 years ago, December 17th 2008 No: 5 Msg: #57781 Delete Edit

Leon Melinda
Leon and Melinda

B Posts: 2

I climbed Kilimanjaro in 2004 and again in 2006. Both times via the Machame route.

Your guide will provide you with tea at stops throughout the trip,
rather keep 2 litres of clean water with you to keep hydrated.
It also helps a lot with acclimitisation.

Spare batteries for camera..but keep them warm (inside pocket in your jacket) on the colder days
or they will not last very long.

Sleeping bag - (down filled) as warm as possible sleeping bag you can get.
It gets very cold at the last camp. (Barafu)

Headlamp with spare batteries. Very very very important for summit night.

Gloves. Inner (fleece) and outer (waterproof snow gloves.

2x Walking poles. Helps a lot with climbing steep inclines and also takes some stress of your knees.

Wrap around UV protective sunglasses for eye protecting against wind, sun & snow reflection.

Warm beanie/fleece to cover your face against cold winds.
Reply to this

15 years ago, December 17th 2008 No: 6 Msg: #57792 Delete Edit

Katherine Howell
Chook

B Posts: 10

Hi Ross,
I climbed kili last year (machame route)... my suggestions would be...
1. take trekking poles (can hire there) - very helpful to take some of the load off your legs.
2. make sure your boots fit well - i lost both big toenails b/c of poorly fitting boots
3. barafu camp and the summit are bloomin' freezing and you'll want as much warm gear as possible (esp a warm sleeping bag and thermals/jacket/beanie or balaclava/gloves). the actual summit hike is not that cold, but any time you stop for more than a couple of mins, you'll be wanting to put all your gear on
4. head lamp with spare batteries - summit hike in the dark, need a light, head lamp better than than holding on to a torch as some of the summit hike is a scramble where you need your hands
5. strongly consider taking diamox... rapid ascent and reasonable chance of altitude sickness. don't be silly and try to push on if you are really unwell up there - people do die up there from that.....
6. spare batteries for camera - spectacular up the top and you don't want to have run out of batteries!!!
7. take a thermos to keep your water in for the summit night hike- water in camelbaks and regular flasks will freeze while you are hiking and then you'll have nothing to drink....
8. take lots of chocolate bars/energy bars/energy gels - the summit hike is very long and you'll be really tired. these things are easy to force down to keep you going...
Enjoy the hike - it is amazing.
Kat Reply to this

15 years ago, December 18th 2008 No: 7 Msg: #57867 Delete Edit

thecrashpacker
The Crashpacker

B Posts: 170

we;re taking the longer Rongai route so hoping to climb slower.

thanks guys!

what stuff did you take that un-essential?? what would you take again.

sunglasses are top tip, thanks! Reply to this

15 years ago, December 18th 2008 No: 8 Msg: #57899 Delete Edit

Leon Melinda
Leon and Melinda

B Posts: 2

When packing in sweets, please keep in mind that soft energy bar type of sweets
can get extremely hard in the cold weather which makes them almost impossible to chew.

Also take some cold drink powder and water purification tablets/drops along.
The tablets make the water taste of chlorine so the cold drink powder will mask that.

Also take your own toilet paper and a lighter/matches to burn the used toilet paper, or a bag to carry it along with you till the end.

Don't take too many pairs of clothes along. I used probably 3 shirts and 1 pair of pants for the whole trip.
The is excluding my sleepwear (long johns/long sleeve vest).
Take new underwear for every day though. I'm sounding like my mother now....

You will be very dirty and stinky in the end but that's part of the adventure.

Your porter will carry about 16Kg of your clothes & extras in a seperate bag.
You are only required to carry your own warm gear, water and snacks for the day.

Always carry your raincoat in your daypack, it can start raining anytime.
Reply to this

15 years ago, December 22nd 2008 No: 9 Msg: #58188 Delete Edit

Going Global
Marc

B Posts: 102

You list "headlamp" as one of the things you "were also thinking". Yeah, that's essential.

Everyone else has pretty much covered it. I also did Rongai and was thankful for the extra day to acclimatize.

I didn't do any diamox, but I swear this stuff had magical properties when we reached the head-splitting heights.

http://www.5hourenergy.com/

I don't know if it's available outside the States...but I was dying on the summit climb and after some of that, my altitude issues got much better. There still wasn't any oxygen to breathe, but there's no cure for that... Reply to this

15 years ago, December 23rd 2008 No: 10 Msg: #58190 Delete Edit

thecrashpacker
The Crashpacker

B Posts: 170

anyone know if Malerone is cheaper over there than in england? 4pounds a tablet here!!
Reply to this

15 years ago, December 23rd 2008 No: 11 Msg: #58209 Delete Edit

Katherine Howell
Chook

B Posts: 10

I think Malarone is expensive everywhere... not the best option if you're planning on taking it for a while unless you're made of money!!! Reply to this

15 years ago, December 23rd 2008 No: 12 Msg: #58238 Delete Edit

Going Global
Marc

B Posts: 102

When I got to Africa I was told repeatedly that all the long term expats don't take any of the prophylactics. But rather there is a remedy kit you can get at the local pharmacies...they keep one of these handy in case any of the symptoms arise. I forget the name of this though. Has anyone else been advised like that?

Katherine - you live there now...do you take anything or do you just react to it if you get sick? Reply to this

15 years ago, December 27th 2008 No: 13 Msg: #58403 Delete Edit

Katherine Howell
Chook

B Posts: 10

Hi Marc,
Am actually back in Aus now but anyway... while I was there I started off taking prophylactic meds and ended up stopping and just being careful about bites. What you do really depends on where you're going (and the malaria risk in that area), how long for and what other medical conditions you have. I've actually had a bit of a rant about this on a previous forum so I won't go on about it here. Yes there are medications you can buy from pharmacies as 'over the counter' medications (ie no prescription) in Africa to take if you are sick (most of them are combination medications with an arteminisin drug in them, but it does vary depending on where you are), but the safety of that approach varies depending on what kind of medical back up you have around where you'll be etc... probably best to sort your individual situation with a travel doc before going... Reply to this

15 years ago, January 19th 2009 No: 14 Msg: #60703 Delete Edit

thecrashpacker
The Crashpacker

B Posts: 170

Hey everyone - WE DID IT!!
what a trek, but really worth it, every step of the way.

As a spot of feedback on this thread and advice for future climbers...

CLOTHES: Coats/ fleeces with a zip up the front, to allow you to cool down easily. Layers are deffo a good idea, rather than one massive coat.

Scarf/'shmook' to keep the wind/sand off

water proof trousers.

Factor 50 sunblock and quality sunglasses.

A way of keeping your camera close to your body heat and keeping it warm. i didnt and didnt get many photos.

Mobile phone/ipod - sounds silly, but i listened to my mp3s on my phone for alot of the long, dark trek up and it really kept me going as well as having the Theme to Close Encounters playing in the moonlight. Plus you can send a text from the top these days... dunno if thats a good thing but my mum was chuffed!

Spare camera batteries.

Didnt need Malerone for the whole trip (Zan was mozzie-less and Killi too cold) but i'm glad i took them anyway, just in case.

Good headlamp.

mittens, raher than gloves - they're warmer.

not sure if the Diamox helped but 4 of us took it and all made it up there. The descent was just as hard.

Didnt need or want poles - they seemed to get in the way - but some people loved them. I thought they were a pain.

tea in a flask was a pleasent spirit lifter at break times.

I hired a sleeping mat off the African walking compnay and it was a 2 inch thick slab of foam - brilliant for warm sleeping and shuffling around your tent on your knees. Really recommend one of them.

Wish i'd taken a geography school book as the whole place was fascinating and raised more questions than it answered, even with our amazingly knowledgeable guides.

Lots of water, Pole-Pole, and a positive mental attitude!!! yeah!

In the end i left a whole load of warm clothes, my coat and hat with the company to be given to the porters and crew. Reply to this

15 years ago, January 27th 2009 No: 15 Msg: #61455 Delete Edit

Katherine Howell
Chook

B Posts: 10

Well done! Sounds like you had a great trek. Funny re the trekking poles - I'd hated trekking poles before this trip (just thought they got in the way), but I thought they were brilliant for kili - especially for the downhill scree ski. And, I wouldn't have minded an ipod either - I had one song in my head for most of the ascent (actually just one line of one song, which gets a bit wearing after 6 hours)...... Where to next? Reply to this

15 years ago, January 29th 2009 No: 16 Msg: #61700 Delete Edit

thecrashpacker
The Crashpacker

B Posts: 170

what song was it?

I taught everyone the words to the Pina Colada song on the way there, and then as we reached the cave and the full moon was beaming down, the theme tune to Close Encounters came on my headphones... then I got our guides singing Bob Marley... baby dont worry... about a thing....

Sure it made a real difference to our spirits on the ascent!

Next..... hmmmm... Via Ferrata in the Dolomites? Reply to this

15 years ago, February 4th 2009 No: 17 Msg: #62169 Delete Edit

Katherine Howell
Chook

B Posts: 10

It was a song by an Aussie singer-songwriter called Bertie Blackman. Can't remember the name of the song, but the line I had in my head over and over and over goes, 'putting one foot in front of the other...'. As you can imagine, tres annoying after a couple of hours. Good song though. Impressed you guys had the energy to learn songs on the way up!
Hope you have a head for heights - some of the sheer drops in the Via Ferrata look pretty terrifying. Pretty spectacular scenery by the looks of it though. Reply to this

14 years ago, May 5th 2009 No: 18 Msg: #72009 Delete Edit

jbowers
Jake Bowers

N Posts: 2

Greetings,

I'm planning a trip to Kili in June. This has been some good info on what to bring. I was wondering how you fared with the sleeping bag. Did you end up renting or buying? What type of bag did you have? Does anyone know what is a suitable bag for this trip? I'm looking at a sleeping bag that says is comfortable at 0C (32F), limited at -5C (23F), and extreme at -15C (5F). Would this be sufficient? Reply to this

14 years ago, May 5th 2009 No: 19 Msg: #72014 Delete Edit

thecrashpacker
The Crashpacker

B Posts: 170

I rented mine - Partly cos i didnt want to carry all that kit round zanzibar before and after, but also because i didnt think I would want a 5 season sleeping bag that much. And they were over 80 quid in the sales.

I also hired a sleeping mat off them, which was a 2-inch thick lump of foam. Much better than the rubbish little technical mats that most people bought in england.
Wait till you get there to arrange hire - seemed cheaper, and the kit was hired from various local supplies.
Who you going with? We went with the African Walking co. and think they were great, it was booked through Exodus in the UK who were good too. Reply to this

14 years ago, May 5th 2009 No: 20 Msg: #72019 Delete Edit

jbowers
Jake Bowers

N Posts: 2

Thanks for info. I'll check out African Walking Co. I can't believe the prices for hiking Kilimanjaro. I was thinking about going with Henry Stedman's (of 'Kilimanjaro' trekking guide book fame) company which has an 8-day machame trek which costs $2285! I've also found Moshi Expedition and Mountaineering (MEM) which has a 7-day machame trek for $1350. I hear the more adventurous can actually book a kili tour once you are there, but I don't know if I'm ready to do that! Reply to this