Climbed Kilimanjaro [Pic heavy]

[lsturbointeg]

thanks for sharing

[KillBill999]

Thanks for sharing!

[phoenx]

Amazing! Thanks for sharing!

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by E90 LCI

I wonder if those altitude workout masks help for that. Did you have backup oxygen just in case?

This is what im talking about BTW:

https://jet.com/product/detail/f7eea...bg0aAh108P8HAQ

These masks actually do absolutely nothing for altitude training. All they do is strengthen your diaphragm. The only way to train for altitude is a shit ton of cardio and if at all possible, actually go higher. To give you an idea, one of the guys in our group is a regular marathon runner and trainer, and he got altitude sickness on the 4th day at about 14k feet. It's just not something you can prepare for no matter how good of shape you're in.

Originally Posted by HXS

If I was ever at the summit, I'd tear up a bit also.... but from pain and exhaustion

Congrats and beautiful pics!

Haha there was definitely pain and exhaustion too!

Originally Posted by sirdaft1

WOW! Outstanding. Thank you for sharing your experience. Just looking at those photos gives me the chills, because I would absolutely love to do this same trek. A few questions:
- What preparation did you do prior to the trip? (ie: train at altitude? Marathons? etc.)
- What camera did you shoot with?

Thank you again, incredible photos.

Q1 - Tons of cardio training, and we went to Colorado to hike at about 10k feet in the rockies to test our ability. We did 14 miles in 8hrs with no prior altitude exposure and no medication, so that gave us some confidence. If you read my reply in this message above you'll see what I mean.
Q2 - All on a D7000

Originally Posted by Uber Commuter

Amazing trip man, congrats!

Thanks!

Originally Posted by BMW F22

What camera setup were you using?

My old Nikon D7000, primarily with my old kit lens (18-105mm f3.5) because I didn't want to expose my nicer gear to the conditions on the mountain. Only shots that weren't hand-held are the night time shots. You can take great pics with pretty much any camera setup if you know what you're doing.

Originally Posted by sygazelle

Incredible journey. Incredible photos. Thanks for sharing.

Questions:

- You say you've only been 12.5k elevation prior. Is there any training you did for the additional elevation? Did anyone in your group get altitude sickness?

- What kind of general training did you do before the trip to get in shape? Did your entire group summit?

- It looks like you were just carrying day packs. How much weight were you carrying?


Thanks again. Great photos. Good for you for getting out there.

Q1 - See above for more details but; Lots of cardio, one guy (marathoner) got sick at 14k.

Q2 - More info above again but other than cardio for the altitude I did a lot of leg training and conditioning (conditioning by definition). Squats, lunges, "mountainclimbers", leg presses, and joint strengthening exercises. Everyone in our group except for one made it to the top. Including a 60y/o woman, and a Welsh guy who had like 4 or 5 surgeries on one of his knees. If you dedicate yourself, and you're willing to push yourself beyond exhaustion mentally and physically, you can do it. Your body will SCREAM AT YOU to stop, but you can't.

Q3 - Correct just day packs, most had between 10-15lbs on their backs. I had about 23lbs due to camera stuff and batteries.

Originally Posted by hl0m4n

^ questions i was going to ask in addition to:

1) why did you go with kandoo versus others such as g adventure, etc?

2) what were the 'bathrooms' like, showers available?

3) can you provide a cost breakdown of this trip?

Q1 - They had a great reputation, high success rate, and are members of the KPAP program. Plus the price was decent comparatively and we also were able to do a 4 day safari after the climb as part of their package.

Q2 - Nothing on the trails. When you're in camp there's a tiny mobile port-a-potty similar to what you'd see in a small boat or RV. Don't expect to be comfortable

Q3 -

• Flights around $2,000 coming from east-coast USA (for 2)
• Climbing cost: $5,700 (for 2)
• 4-day safari after trip: $3,300 (for 2)
• Total trip base cost including flights: $11,000

Other expenses, mostly gear but also travel insurance total around $2,500. We purchased most of our gear so we can use it on future trips, but opted to rent the sleeping bags and pads which cost $100 for both per person. They are extremely nice kit and if you were to buy the sleeping bag alone it's about $600 so I think the $50 for pad and $50 for bag are well worth it. Especially since we won't have to lug them through airports.

So all-in for a 10-day Lemosho-route climb with a 4-day safari extension (16 days total including travel days) for two people you're looking at about $13,500.

Originally Posted by lsturbointeg

thanks for sharing

Sure thing!

Originally Posted by KillBill999

Thanks for sharing!

Absolutely, very happy to

Originally Posted by phoenx

Amazing! Thanks for sharing!

You got it

[shay2nak]

awesome!

[EL Jeffe 5]

thanks for posting Welcome Back

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by shay2nak

awesome!

Originally Posted by EL Jeffe 5

thanks for posting Welcome Back

Thanks guys

[P1]

Question, and no offense meant at all, but you mentioned "climbed" but was it more "hiking" rather than climbing?

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by P1et

Question, and no offense meant at all, but you mentioned "climbed" but was it more "hiking" rather than climbing?

It's a mix of both, there are several sections that you're using your arms just as much as your legs to climb. By google's definition, I'd say it's spot-on lol.


climb
klīm/Submit
verb
1.
go or come up (a slope, incline, or staircase), especially by using the feet and sometimes the hands; ascend.
"we began to climb the hill"
synonyms: ascend, mount, scale, scramble up, clamber up, shinny up; More
2.
move with effort, especially into or out of a confined space; clamber.
"Howard started to climb out of the front seat"
synonyms: clamber, scramble; step
"he climbed out of his car"
noun
1.
an ascent, especially of a mountain or hill, by climbing.

[iEuropa]

Awesome photography, Matt! I'd love to visit this part of the world, it's beautiful. Also, on the topic of using correct terminology ^ a stack of rocks like in one of your photos is called a cairn 😉

[twin fed]

Amazing journey. Congrats!

[fecurtis]

Originally Posted by Matticus91

It was unforgettable, but by far the hardest thing I've ever done in my life.

Oh yeah, climbing two fourteeners in a day in CO ranks up there as one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life but I loved every second of it.

If you don't mind me asking, what kinda gear did you use as far as backpack, tent, and sleeping bag?

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by iEuropa

Awesome photography, Matt! I'd love to visit this part of the world, it's beautiful. Also, on the topic of using correct terminology ^ a stack of rocks like in one of your photos is called a cairn 😉

Thanks! And yes I knew what cairn was, that's why I was able to respond lol. I made that cairn and saw many others. It's also a "thing" in Iceland and Scotland. Not sure why

Originally Posted by twin fed

Amazing journey. Congrats!

Thanks!

Originally Posted by fecurtis

Oh yeah, climbing two fourteeners in a day in CO ranks up there as one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life but I loved every second of it.

If you don't mind me asking, what kinda gear did you use as far as backpack, tent, and sleeping bag?

Brutal but very worth it. Colorado is incredible too, we're thinking of moving to Denver.

Tents and sleeping bags were Mountain Hard Ware, and I was using an Osprey pack. I used the Osprey Stratos 36, and I was very happy with it