Kilimanjaro David Hurst

18th Climbed mt Snowdon

2011-03-21T13:27:00.001Z

Climbed highest peak in Wales 3,560 ft.
visibility at the top was down to 30m wind picked up so it was a bit chilly.

Mt Monadnock, New Hampshire, USA July 2010

2010-08-02T08:39:00.000+01:00

I was able to climb Mt Monadnock 3,165 feet (965 m) during a recent trip to Jaffrey New Hampshire. Its apparently Americas most climbed mountain although climbing the red route (steep and rocky all the way) I saw only two other people on the way up and four people at the top!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Monadnock

Evening Echo Follow up

2010-07-05T08:29:00.002+01:00

I did it!

2010-07-01T15:29:00.000+01:00

About 2pm on the 25th June 2010 I climbed to the top of Mt Kilimanjaro. What a fantastic experience.

Last training session on Sunday 14th before we leave on the 17th

2010-06-14T08:24:00.000+01:00

A super stroll organised by 42 Clubs David and Jean Jacobi, described by him:

" starting from the Prince of Wales Pub at Stow Maries commencing at 10.30. The walk which is 5.75 miles takes us across open country past the 1st world war airfield of Flambirds and on to Purleigh. Purleigh is the birthplace of the Washington family and there is a commemorative plaque for George Washington, the first president of the USA.

From there we go through Howe Green and back to the Prince of Wales for lunch. "

16 days to go

2010-06-01T09:46:00.000+01:00

The trip is getting close now. I am trying to get a bit of walking in each day if possible. I have had all the jabs, have brought all the gear needed so now just have to keep injury free and look forward to 17th..

Keep track of our climb on Facebook and twitter

2010-05-19T09:54:00.000+01:00

This is rather nifty the climb organisers post updates on our climb to Facebook and twitter

Fan us on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kiliwarrior-Expeditions/243827527249

Follow our Tweets from Kilimanjaro!
www.twitter.com/kiliwarriors

Check out my fellow walkers blog

2010-05-18T09:07:00.000+01:00

Another view of the 3 peaks walk at the weekend with pics

http://roofofafrica.wordpress.com/

Yorkshire 3 peaks 15th May 2010

2010-05-17T09:04:00.000+01:00

As part of out training for Kilimanjaro we decided to take on the Yorkshire 3 peaks challenge, to climb the three highest peaks walking between them some 25 miles in under 12 hours. I am pleased to report we managed it in 10 hours exactly.
Info here http://www.3peakswalks.co.uk/walks/yorkshire/
For aerial photos of the amazing countryside you walk through http://www.penninehelis.co.uk/york.php?PHPSESSID=32f6a5d95af999072eb99b2cb882ecab&gclid=CMvs7MzY2KECFRM_lAod_i7AKA

Feds cooking breakfast at 6am. We camped the Friday night, walked Saturday camped that night dinning on pot noodles and returned Sunday.

The views were stunning and weather perfect. Its a long walk with three steep climbs Pen-y-ghent, then Whernside and finally up Ingleborough a steep up and down!

I took this photo as we headed towards Whernside.

Ambergate circular walk via tram museum

2010-05-12T09:25:00.000+01:00

Super walk Sunday afternoon ( all part of the training) met up with Mark in Belper and we parked at Ambergate station. We were out for 3 hours or so probably walked 7/8 miles finishing with couple of miles along the canal. Mark was very keen I take a picture of him with the tram that we passed as the walk crossed over the tram tracks at the back of the museum.

I am still training

2010-05-04T09:14:00.000+01:00

The blog may have gone quiet but I am still training. Gym and swimming twice a week and a at least one 3hr plus walk a week. Yesterday took a loop approx 10 miles from home via a very chilly Barling sea Wall.

Weekend after next off to do the Yorkshire 3 peaks. Three highest peaks in Yorkshire in 12 hours, 25 miles with 9,000 ft of ups and downs, oh and camping either side, oh and going with Feds who is ex forces.. Killi lads are coming too so should be good practice and team building..

Pics from walk yesterday:

Training continues with a walk at the weekend

2010-04-12T08:55:00.000+01:00

Super weather on Saturday and three of us set off to conquer Southends highest peak Hadleigh Castle. The lads i walked with are getting ready for the 3 peaks so we had to do it at a good pace and went up any steep bit we could find, sometimes twice! So Leigh to Hadleigh Castle, to Benfleet, back along the sea wall and a few times up Leigh Hill.. Three hours and 7-8 miles.

Southend Evening Echo write up 24th March 2010

2010-03-30T10:18:00.000+01:00

Southend Evening Echo left a message on Andrews blog and asked if they could interview one of us. I think they thought we we all based in Southend. Had a chat with their reporter Kathy and they sent round a photographer. They took this photo on the Tuesday and Wednesday it was in the Southend Evening Echo. I promised to give them an update on our trip when we return.

Day one in the Alps 7545ft Aiguillette des Houches

2010-03-23T11:45:00.000Z

So day one walking in the Alps. Fantastic weather. My thanks to my guide Phil from www.alpinetreks.co.uk

We parked and put on snow shoes for the first time ( think tennis rackets strapped to your boots).

We climber up though the tree line to approx 4900ft along a winding path, then out into the open stopping to eat our lunch in front of two alpine huts. Then push on up to summit. Planes passing, below us in the valley, para gliders rising on the thermals and in the distance the rumble of avalanches.

Phil told me I was on the second person to make it to the top of the people he had guided on the route.

On the way down a small avalanche happened in front of us and stopped 300 yards away from us. No danger to us and amazing to watch.

Day two 5900 feet below Mt Blanc

2010-03-23T11:07:00.000Z

So three days walking in the Alps. This is day two.
my guide was Kingsley from http://www.fatmarmot.co.uk/ accompanies by his avalanche dog Max. We walked up through the tree line to the summit. Over my shoulder is Mt Blanc.

On way up we saw Linx Tracks a rare sighting as only 60 or so in the alps.

Brisk walk over Southend on sea's highest peak.. Hadleigh Castle

2010-03-15T08:43:00.000Z

Sunday morning at 7am I left home and walked to the train station, caught 7.38am to Benfleet exited on the North side of the train tracks and climbed north up towards Hadleigh Castle then on to Leigh on sea along the seafront and home at 11.30am. Approx 10 miles walked.

Looking forward to end of next week altitude training, snow shoeing in Alps

2010-03-08T10:19:00.000Z

If you think this is going to be an easy walk read this..

2010-03-05T09:05:00.002Z

This is the blog of a group who climbed Killi this week.

Highlights the challenge ahead..

http://www.humanedgetech.com/expedition/amg/

Itinerary

2010-03-04T09:08:00.000Z

19^th June – Day 1

We begin our trek around noon at an altitude of 7500 ft. The walk is absolutely beautiful and our pace is slow to assist with acclimatization. Along the way we may see fresh elephant dung! Fortunately these elephants are very elusive!

An hour or so after starting the climb, we stop for lunch. The rest of the climb is mildly strenuous at times but the hills are short. Some of the downhill stretches are quite steep so we use our poles to prevent us from slipping and sliding!

We continue to climb slowly and reach our camp about 2 hours after our lunch stop.

Our camp is in the montane forest at 8,764 ft. Tonight we will have about an hour or so before dinner, so we have some time to get organized for the evening.

We must eat well tonight. At the higher altitudes we may lose appetite so these first few days are important for building up energy reserves. We must also drink at least another litre of water before going to bed.

Darkness comes early in the forest and the clear sounds of the night remind us that we are far away from home. We are finally camping on the slopes of Kilimanjaro!

20^th June – Day 2

Breakfast is at 7:30 and we start our walk at 8:30am. The hike from the Forest Camp to our lunch stop is easy. After lunch, we will hike mostly uphill for long steep stretches until we arrive at the Shira Ridge. The last hour will be an easy stroll across the plateau. We start off with a short steep climb. In the early morning the colobus monkeys are noisy but they are hard to spot! After about 2 hours we stop for a quick snack— we eat energy food such as peanuts and chocolate bars.

In the open landscape we can now see the trail ahead as it winds along the ridges of Shira. It is clear that we have some hiking to do before this day is over! About 3 hours after leaving Forest Camp, we will reach the top of a hill where we can see our lunch stop in the clearing below.

The downhill walk is pleasant and we increase our pace a bit. After lunch, we will hike mostly uphill along the Shira ridges.

We reach our lunch stop around noon. It is time to kick back and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. This is another opportunity to eat and drink as much as we can.

After lunch we immediately start a very steep hike for about 30 minutes, and then we follow one ridge after another—hiking higher and higher as we get closer to the upper slopes of Shira.

Around 2:30pm we reach the high-point of the day and turn west for an easy 20-minute walk to the western edge of Shira. Suddenly, on the right, we see Kibo for the first time!

To the north and north-west, we see the Shira Plateau and we take a short rest and photo opportunity before we hike the final stretch across the plateau to Shira 1 Camp at 11,529 ft. We reach camp before 4pm. In the late afternoon the clouds often clear away and we are treated with a magnificent view of the Western Breach in the distance!

21^st June – Day 3

Breakfast is served at 8:00 and we start our walk before 9:00am. Today’s hike is short with just one steep section at the end of the trek. The Shira Plateau is truly beautiful with interesting plants, rock formations and several water streams. When we wake up this morning we will see the sun rise behind Kibo, and this magnificent view will be in front of us all day. We start with a very short climb before the trail flattens out for a very pleasant walk. To our right, we can see the Shira Cathedral and behind us the Shira Ridge will slowly fade into the distance. We are hiking at an altitude of 11,500 ft but most climbers have no problems with this part of the trek. Early on in the day we cross a refreshing stream, reminding us to stop frequently and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Then it’s a short uphill walk to a section that reminds us of the heath zone of yesterday. We are now in an area well-known for eland and buffalo, so we look for fresh tracks. Soon we cross back into moorland and the lava ridges of Kilimanjaro now appear closer in front of us. Our next camp is on top of the first major ridge, but we still have another 2 hours to go! On the left, we follow a stream with many caves. In the old days, this was lion country and the caves were lion hideaways. We also see a 4×4 track used by the rescue vehicles. Around noon we reach the lower areas of a steep ridge. On our right we can hear the peaceful sound of a fast-flowing stream. From the top of the ridge the views are spectacular! To the north, we see the Western Breach, and to the south we can see the Shira Ridge where we left from this morning. It is 1pm and we are at Fischer Camp, so named in memory of the guide who died on Everest. We are at 12,864 ft. We eat a late lunch and visit the Fischer memorial before taking a shower and a well-earned rest. At this height some climbers begin to experience mild AMS headaches. It is crucial to drink plenty of water and to eat well.

22^nd June – Day 4

Breakfast is served at 8:00 and we start our walk before 9:00am. Today’s hike to a camp just west of Lava Tower is short, but it’s steeper than yesterday with at least 2 long uphill sections. The day starts with a short steep section. Due to the altitude, some climbers will feel less energetic than yesterday! It is time for energy drinks and bars. As the sun rises higher, the views are stunning. Looking towards Kibo we can see the trail ahead crossing several ridges and valleys. Behind us, the Shira Ridge, Shira 1 and Fischer Camps are fading in the distance. After an hour or so, Mount Meru appears in the distance. We get an idea of how far away we are from Arusha! After the initial few ridges, the scenery starts to change. We are leaving the moorland and are now in the alpine zone. These are inhospitable conditions where it freezes every night. Plant life is reduced to mosses, lichens and a few everlasting flowers. The trail can now get very dusty and we spread out a bit to avoid each other’s dust! Wet bandanas and wet wipes come in handy to keep our faces clean! The first of a few long uphill stretches awaits us about an hour into the trek. As we slowly make our way uphill, we can see the Machame route camp sites. The long uphill hike continues to a point where our trail meets up with the Machame route. Here we take a break while watching many large groups walk by. It is strange to see so many other climbers. Until now we basically had the mountain to ourselves! After the break, we follow the convoy of trekkers and porters to Lava Tower. Along the way, we climb down a steep gap in the rocks before we reach the final uphill stretch of the day. The last uphill walk is long and seemingly never-ending! But then we see the recognizable shape of the Lava Tower and we are only a few hundred yards away from our camp.

We reach Sheffield Camp around 1:15pm. Today’s climb was the hardest so far due to the altitude of 14,940 ft. Some climbers are starting to lose appetite. We must focus on eating and drinking as much as we can! After lunch it’s time for a shower and a nap. Tomorrow is a rest day to help with acclimatization!

23^rd June – Day 5

Acclimatization Day!

Today we dry out our clothes and we focus on our bodies.

Those who still suffer from mild AMS should go on a 2-hour acclimatization hike to higher ground and back. Regular headache pills normally relieve the mild throbbing symptoms. Climbing to the top of Lava Tower (30 minutes) is a good way to gain altitude. But be careful since there is some scrambling involved.

Those who feel tired should rest and try to restore energy with energy drinks and food.

Either way, we listen to our bodies and we discuss our concerns with the guides. They will suggest various remedies (such as Diamox) depending on the situation. Drink plenty of water!

24^th June – Day 6

Today is a very short but very steep climb. We depart at 10am and reach Lava Tower after only 35 minutes. After Lava Tower, we cross a small stream and then it’s a hour-long steep uphill trek on loose scree (gravel). The views from the top of this ridge are amazing. Looking back we see the Sheffield Camp and our trail. We are now in the vicinity of the Great Barranco to our right. In front of us, we face another steep climb to a series of rocks. This section takes about an hour as our pace has slowed down to allow for the gains in altitude. Above to our left are the edges of the melting Arrow Glacier. The scramble section at the top of the ridge poses no problems. Once on top of the rocks, we face a short but steep trek over loose stones. We are careful not to twist an ankle. We reach Arrow Glacier Camp at around 12:15pm in time for lunch. This camp is at 15,978 ft and we can feel the cold. This is no place to lounge outside and we retire to the mess tent or our own tents to warm up. Fog or icy rain is common in the early afternoon and visibility is poor so we normally postpone picture taking until early evening when it clears up and the Western Breach becomes visible high above us. We are 1 night away from our biggest challenge—the Western Breach! We normally do a rescue drill this afternoon. We are at a serious height and everybody (including the porters) must understand how our rescue equipment works.

25^th June – Day 7

For many, this is the day they’ve been thinking about. We don’t recommend climbing the Breach at night – there is a danger of falling rocks but experienced guides know how to best avoid the unstable areas. It will be a steep climb at altitude but the views are spectacular. We zig-zag our way up the Breach to slow down our ascent and to negate the steepness. Breakfast is served at 5:00am and we start our walk at 5:30am. It is safer to climb the Breach in the early morning while the ground is still frozen. The first part is gentle as we step carefully over loose boulders. Looking back, we can see the porters in the distance at our Arrow Glacier camp. On clear mornings we can see the Lava Tower and even the Shira Ridge—we can almost trace our path to this point! Within the first hour we reach an easy scrambling section after which we can see the Barranco Wall and camp site in the distance on the left. We stick to the rocky path and try to reach the safety of the rock rib as quickly as we can, which we then follow all the way to the lunch spot. The walk is very steep but in general it is a comfortable slow hike to the ridge. We rest often to enjoy the stunning views below and above us. Energy drinks and snacks are now in high demand! The magnificent rock formations are a bit unstable and our guides will keep a watchful eye on our surroundings. There are 4 scrambling sections on this route. The second one is a giant stair case. The reward is waiting at the top of the stairs —a 30-minute lunch break at about noon. Many climbers are surprised to learn that the crater rim is only 90 minutes away! Luckily the scrambling part is over. What’s left is a very steep hike to the rim— made more complicated by the thin air. We have to dig deep here but the excitement of reaching the rim is pushing us upwards. And at 1pm then we are there! On our left, we see the Northern Ice field and on our right, the Furtwangler glacier. We begin a 30-minute walk past the glacier to the foot of Uhuru Peak—the site of our Crater Camp at 18,500 ft! We have reached the snows of Kilimanjaro! It is about 2pm and some of us will head straight to the tents to relax before lunch. Others may walk to the glacier to touch it. After lunch a few tough souls may walk to the actual crater and back — a 90 min hike. We have come a long way and have mastered the Western Breach!

26^th June – Day 8

Summit day!

We have only 800 feet to go but it won’t be easy. Spare a thought for the hikers on other routes who started their summit attempts at midnight! It will take about one-and-a-half hours to reach Uhuru Peak. We will not be alone – others have been arriving since 6am. Soon we will be able to have a photo opportunity next to the famous posted sign at the top.

But we must be prepared for an aftershock – the way down is a steep, rigorous route via Stella Point down the mountain to Barafu where we will stop for lunch. On the way down we may pass other trekkers who are still on the way up!

Many hikers are unprepared for this 4-hour ordeal down the slippery slope of scree. At Barafu we can take a good rest before tackling the rest of the way down. It is time to relax and think about our experiences of the past week. The way down to Mweka camp is a comfortable walk but rather dusty.

Overnight at Mweka camp at 10,000 feet

27^th June – Day 9

Breakfast is served at 8:00 and we depart at 9:00am.

Today is a short but steep downhill walk through the rainforest to the park gate. When it rains, the trail is muddy and very slippery. We use our poles to prevent knee or ankle injuries.

There are many other climbers on this trail and plenty of stories and experiences to share. It is noisy all the way to the gate—arrival at noon! At the gate, we are treated with a final feast of fruits and drinks, and an opportunity to buy a few souvenirs! Then we sign the register and gather for the presentation of our climbing certificates by our guides, followed by a short tipping ceremony.

Fellow climber, amusing Andrew, has finally produced his own blog

2010-03-04T09:06:00.002Z

www.roofofafrica.wordpress.com

Video clips of Moyles etc climbing Kilimanjaro for red nose day 2009

2010-02-26T09:56:00.001Z

Interesting to see some video of actual climb and preparation.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/rednoseday/climb/

Matlock Training Weekend

2010-01-25T08:20:00.007Z

We stayed at the excellent www.robertswood.co.uk B&B in Matlock run by convivial hosts Marolyn and David.

The aim was to have a good 12-14 mile walk on Saturday with a view to getting for for Killi.

So we set off from base in Matlock on a dry morning heading for Riber. After that we crossed the River Derwent ( see left first Pic)to Cromford up the High Peak Trail. Then we picked up the Limesone Way with the sun out ( second Pic). Mark decided to jump in front of the view (third Pic) we then headed for Ible where sun went in and it turned cooler and Andrew wanted to make a snow angel (4th Pic) we were doing very well up to here but a wrong turn (looking at road signs not map) sent us on a detour that added another four miles.. So we left at 9.25am stopped only for 15 mins for lunch kept a good pace up all day and got back at 5.30pm. On count back seems we did about 20 miles. Sunday was a jolly couple of hours round Chatsworth and a good time was had by all. Next month Snowdon..

Benfleet to home

2010-01-18T16:58:00.001Z

On Sunday left at 7.05am walked to Thorpe Bay station caught the 7.38am train with Paul Finch got off at Benfleet and walked home and arrived back at 11am, I would guess 10 miles walking round trip.

This is the view along the path looking east from Benfleet towards Leigh on Sea.

Winter training

2010-01-08T14:40:00.003Z

Bit Chilly here today but ideal training for cold at top of Killi..

Dogs enjoyed it.

Book on Killi

2009-12-30T10:46:00.002Z

For Christmas I received a book on Kilimanjaro thanks to my dear skin and blister.

Some stats that are a might concerning, like 10 to 15 people die on the mountain each year (apparently Tanzanian government are understandably cagey on exact number) and that Western breach ( our route to summit) was closed 2004 for a while after rock falls and fatalities..

But good news too, our route in is classified as moderate/hard and recommended as it takes 7 days giving us longer to get acclimatised to altitude.

I brought a pair of running shoes yesterday.

Plan is to use them as part of training, never been much of a jogger..

Will let you know how it goes.

Walk to the pub

2009-12-07T08:56:00.002Z

Yesterday I decided to walk to the pub for a pint.

I chose the Plough and Sail in Pagalsham, approx 14 miles from home. I set off at 8.30am and it started to rain. Rain stopped at approx 10.30am. I was soaked. It rained so hard it went through my waterpoofs. Luckly sun came out after and I started to dry as I walked. Jane met me at the pub with dry socks and it was a very nice pint in front of a log fire.

Meg and Pip enjoyed the walk. The landscape is from the North side of the Roach looking towards Barling.

Finally I meet someone who has climbed Killi

2009-12-02T17:04:00.003Z

Announce you are climbing Mt Killi and every one seems to know someone who has been there, is there or is just coming back. We should have said we were walking in Northumberland, no body's been there..

But for the first time I have actually met someone who has been up there.

I met two brothers yesterday at the Whizz Kidz Christmas do at the House of Lords. First people I have met who have climbed Killi. They have done it twice, the first time they didn't get to the top due to altitiude and weather.

They have just come back from a trek to Everest base camp, which they said was much easier than climbing Killi.

Apparently Killi is not only physically demanding its very tough mentally! Eeek

Barling sea wall

2009-11-23T09:09:00.004Z

Sunday morning, armed with a thick head from the 41 club ladies night the night before I managed to do 8 miles from home down to Barling sea wall. I wanted to walk this part of the wall for a bit of training, but also to see if there was any rubbish to collect.

For the last 6 years I have co ordinated a group of good people to collect litter washed up along this streatch of the river. For info see

http://www.rivercare.org.uk/ and click Essex.

We have picked up approx 75 tonnes of rubbish over the years. Its made a big impact but we have to keep at it..

Weight loss tips

2009-11-09T12:17:00.002Z

Given trip next year involves bit of a hike. I decided to try out my mate Mark Nixon's mates diet of no caffeine. I extended it to no booze either and have lost half a stone in two weeks..

I must drink too much tea! lol

A plug for www.warehouse.me.uk my thanks to them for sponsoring my trip.

All set - Justgiving account is set up.

2009-10-19T10:52:00.002+01:00

http://www.justgiving.com/David-Hurst-kilimanjaro/

OK. This is how it works. I am paying for my trip to climb Kilimanjaro. As I am doing something a bit out of the ordinary ( certainly for me!) I thought why not raise some money along the way for the Southend Fund, something I already support. The Southend Fund helps charities in Southend and supports volunteers who make a huge difference to the local community.

As I am a child of the Internet I have set up this blog to keep track of my training for the climb and links to bits of info I thought might be interesting.

So all the money I raise will go to charity, to donate just follow the above link and you can see how much I have raised to date.

Walking in Chatsworth, photo by Julian

2009-10-19T09:21:00.002+01:00

Thank you Julian for this flattering photo of Mark and I. Taken on the path that runs behind Chatsworth. It was a short walk approx 3hrs before leaving for home. On Friday we walked at black rock and Saturday we did a good walk at Monsul quite testing on the steep bits..

Matlock, Derbyshire

2009-10-19T08:55:00.007+01:00

I spent the weekend in Matlock with my friend Julian Hart, staying at a great B&B http://www.robertswood.co.uk/ run by David and Marylyn.

We were joined by friend and Belper local Mark Nixon on the Sunday who led us on an interesting walk round Chatsworth. Super weather, company and walking. Pic taken of Chatsworth en route.

2009-10-13T11:22:00.001+01:00

I figure I need to get fit for this mountaineering lark so tonight I am off to the gym.

2009-10-12T11:28:00.001+01:00

I have just joined the British Mountaineering Council http://www.thebmc.co.uk/ so I can get insurance for trip.

What’s covered:
All types of skiing including on-piste, off-piste, cross-country, touring, downhill, telemark, nordic, heli-skiing, ski-mountaineering and snowboarding. Scottish Winter climbing, ice climbing, alpine climbing. All climbing in Europe and most peaks worldwide up to 6,500m.
Examples: Technical Winter climbing in Scotland. Mont Blanc and all the European Alps, Climbers' Haute Route Chamonix-Zermatt. Kilimanjaro (Western Breach route), Mt Kenya (Batian & Nelion routes). Southern Alps (New Zealand & Australia). Denali (Western Buttress only), Mt Foraker, Mt Hunter & Mooses Tooth. Chugach, Bugaboos, Cascade Ranges, Wind Rivers & Canadian Rockies. Amphu Labsta & Gondogoro passes, Tent Peak (Tharpa Chuli), Parchamo, Lobuje East, Spantik. Sajama, Antisana, Cayambe, Illiniza, Ojos Salados, Huascaran, Illimani, Muztag Ata.

2009-10-12T10:40:00.000+01:00

We plan to take the Western Breach route http://www.go-kili.com/kilimanjaro_routes.htm

2009-10-09T14:15:00.000+01:00

On the 17th June 2010 I leave to climb Kilimanjaro http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Kilimanjaro