Travel Information
Trekking on the mountain
Any body with good health can climb Mt Kenya but its necessary to be in good shape physically as so exersising regulary is recomended.Below are some advices that we give to our clients for a successful summit:
Golden rules ~ improving acclimatisation
There are a couple of key rules that can make a huge difference to your climb
‘Pole Pole’. You will hear this from your guides. It means slowly, slowly and this applies to you pace on the mountain. This is especially important for the first 2 days where the altitude does not feel like a limiting factor and you are tempted to set a fast pace – for most people that is the normal reaction but it is the wrong one! Your body will be dealing with trying to acclimatize over the next few days and stressing it out and over exerting your body will have a negative impact on acclimatization. Your guides will set the pace and you may find it almost intolerably slow – bear with them it’s for a good reason.
Drink. Drink lots of fluids. Hiking up steep hills at normal altitudes generates quite a lot of sweat and at altitude your body can be using up to 3 times the amount of water and so keeping hydrated is essential. Every so often your guides will simply stop you and at these points have a drink. In pack water carriers (camel bak, platypus and so on) are also great as you can easily keeping drinking all day long). A good test to see if you are drinking enough is that your urine should be clear and copious. If it is yellow then there is a good chance that you are dehydrated and you should take immediate steps to counter this (i.e. drink water). Your guides also carry extra water – so don’t worry about running out. From our experince, some people may wish to take Diamox. If you wish to take Diamox (acetazolamide) then you must consult your doctor first. Diamox is a sulfa-based drug and some people are allergic to this compound (Your doctor or physician will be able to advise you on this). Note that for serious forms of mountain sickness – specifically HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Edema) and HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema) the only cure is removal from altitude. Our guides’ decision on removal from altitude is final (note that it can be the case that in non serious cases you may meet the group at a lower camp).
Starting off from accommodation
We normally like to get to the trailhead relatively early, especially on the busier routes. We will advise the start time in the actual briefing. The key thing is to be prepared to depart the night before hence:
- Pack your day sack and include
- Waterproofs
- Camera / video
- Water bottles (bottled water can be provided at the trail head, but if you want to you can always fill up at the lodge).
- Poncho / umbrella (dependant on season)
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Extra snacks if you have them
- First aid kit if you have
NOTE: on all days try to keep your day sack as light as possible. Your porters have been hired to carry most of your gear and carry extra gear will only make you more tired and stress your body out more, making it harder for your body to deal with the altitude.
Pack your back pack for the porters. This should have everything else you require on the mountain. If you have extra baggage for an onward trip, or things that you find you do not need post kit check, then these need to be put separately and can be left with the hotel or with the KG MTN EXPD driver that transfers you to the mountain who will return it to the KG MTN EXPD office for safe keeping. Please, if you do want to give all the porters a t-shirt or some other gift that you have brought with you, there is no need to carry it for the whole trip, simply ask us to bring it to the end of the climb!
The gate
After transferring to the gate your guide will head off to fill in the necessary paper work whilst the mountain authorities and your crew arrange all bags into correct weights. When all the formalities are complete you set off with your guides. Your porters will catch you up later on, pass you and set up camp by the time you arrive.
To the first camp
The first day is a good chance to get to know your guides and they will also be on hand to explain and describe some of the flora and fauna. This first day is an ideal opportunity to start a few good habits:
- Drink lots of fluids
- Eat snacks as often as you can
- Walk slowly
Day to day routine
Each evening and morning your guide will brief you. This briefing will include:
- How the day went, how your pace was and how to improve your performance
- What lies ahead for the next day
- What time tea and hot water will be brought to your tent
- What time you need to get up
- Breakfast times
- What to include in tomorrow’s day sack
- Departure time from camp
- Where lunch will be (in next camp or en route)
- Approximate arrival time / walking times It is also a good opportunity for the guide to see how everyone is eating and feeling. Be very open and straightforward so that the guide can assess you.
Good feedback is essential for the guides to be able to monitor your progress.
As a general guideline:
- Tea & hot water: 6.30am
- Breakfast: 7.00am
- Briefing: 7.30am
- Depart: 8.00am
- Lunch: depends on whether lunch is en route or in camp, but around 12pm to 1pm
- Afternoon tea: 3 – 4 pm
- Evening tea 6pm
- Dinner 7pm
- Evening briefing: 7.30pm Most people tend to go to bed fairly short after dinner, but you can stay up writing trip reports, or even playing cards
The summit bid
For most routes the final summit bid is a little different. Here are the key stages and what to expect: Evening briefing: at this point your guide will go over the day’s events and also how the summit section will be tackled. Your guides will have assessed your performance over the previous days and if necessary, may want to start some members of your group slightly earlier – this is especially relevant in large groups. The starting time for most routes will be at 4.00am. Hence. The target is to try to reach the summit by sunrise. Before you go to sleep: you will be wearing most of your cold weather gear in the morning as so the main things you need are:
- Water
- Camera and film and batteries
- Energy bars
A good idea is to set out your clothes in the order you will put them on – inner layers first, up to the outer layers. When you wake up: you will be given a wake up call. From here you dress, put your boots on and make sure everything you take in your daypack is packed and then go to the mess with your daypack where you will meet your guides and have a hot drink and check over last minute items.
Departing: we always have guides at the front and back(in case of big groups) of the group keeping pace and checking your performance. Your guides set the pace. On most routes its 3 hours to reach point Lenana.
POINTS OF NOTE
Hygiene Hygiene is very important on the mountain, and so fresh underwear, fresh socks and washing are all important. Hot water is provided in the morning by your tents and when you get in to camp. Water is also available after you have been to the toilet with soap. All crew members are also under strict instructions to maintain a very high level of hygiene.
WHAT HAPPENS IN AN EMERGENCY?
Role of the guide(s) One of the main roles of your guides is to make sure that you are safe, and in the eventuality that you do have to go down, the whole team is on hand to make sure that this is done quickly and efficiently. Importantly they will be able to discern whether it is necessary for you to go down or if resting at the same altitude is safe.
Communications
Our guides have both radios and mobile telephones and have communication lines with both Mt Kenya rescue team and the KG MTN EXPD operation manager on 24hrs basis.
Evacuation routes
Depending on where you are on the mountain, a different exit point may be used. vehicles are allowed onto the most road heads weather permitting. To get an evacuee there our work together to either make a stretcher, use a KWS stretcher (if available) or even carry the person if necessary. At least one person assigned is an assistant guide. A key aspect of our climbs is to try, wherever possible, to make sure that a guest can walk out safely by themselves. Our guides will decide if you need to turn around and their decision is final. Please respect this.
After the mountain ~ Options
If someone does decide to go down, then depending on the exit point, our vehicles may drive up as far as the track allows to meet you and then we will drive you out of the mountain. From here there are the following main scenarios:
1. The guest does not or did not have signs of altitude sickness and is physically ok. They are then transferred back to a hotel to rest. We monitor their performance and keep in regular contact and the ops manager visits them to make sure everything is ok.
2. They have had mountain sickness but appear fine. The guest is taken to a good hospital nearest to their accommodation in either Nanyuki or Nyeri for a checkup before being transferred to a hotel to rest. We monitor their performance and keep in regular contact and the ops manager visits them to make sure everything is ok.
3. The guest had a severe case of mountain sickness or other forms of sickness / condition and may still be feeling discomfort. In this case they go straight to cottage hospital in Nanyuki and are treated. If it is a very serious case we would arrange for flying doctors to effect an evacuation to Nairobi . Hence, having your emergency contact details and insurance details is of paramount importance. We monitor their performance and keep in regular contact and a manager visits them to make sure everything is ok. This also applies to while in Nairobi as well – we have an office based in Nairobi and a KG MTN EXPDN employee would visit. For the extra transfers and any medical costs and accommodation KG MTN EXPD would charge the client at cost price and if payment is a problem at that immediate time then we can make sure everything is covered and can be paid back at some later point.
OTHER AILMENTS
Dehydration: Dehydration is caused by a lack of fluid in your body. As already indicated, your body uses a lot of water at altitude and so drinking as much fluids as possible should be a major goal. Consider these times and potential sources of fluid:
Ø Breakfast: porridge, hot drinks, water (approx 1 liter)
Ø Hiking: water bottle (approx 3 liters)
Ø Lunch: fruit juices, hot drinks, water (approx 1/2 liter)
Ø Afternoon tea: hot drinks, water (approx 1/2 liter)
Ø Dinner: soups, hot drinks, water (approx 1 liter)
Ø In bed night: water (approx 1 liter) This guide simply shows places where you may be able to get fluids – drinking 7 liters a day is probably a tad excessive!
Blisters: Badly worn in hiking boots, or new boots are the main culprits for a blister. Blisters can vary in their seriousness and this will affect your ability to walk. To avoid this please train in your boots and get them worn in. Wearing in a pair of leather boots can take time – sometimes at least a month and so be wary of this in your preparation.
Golden rule: if you feel a hot spot developing, stop and sort it out. A hot spot may be where you are experiencing friction and rubbing and is likely to develop into a blister. Having blister patches and good socks and well worn in boots are ideal to avoid this.
Cramp: Cramp is normally the result of muscle fatigue, overexertion and or dehydration. Hence, keeping hydrated and not overexerting yourself if essential. Light stretching normally helps the cramps go away in a matter of minutes.
Sun burn / wind burn: The amount of harmful UV rises as you ascend. Having high factor sun block is essential (see packing list). This should be applied at the start of each day. A small tub of Petroleum jelly is also very handy for chapped lips and moisturising hands as well.
Sprains: Sprains are not that common as long as people take our advice and do not rush. Areas where you are particularly at risk are in the forest section, some rocky sections such as the mid way up to the summit as well as on your descent. Hence, a slow pace and care are ideal. For those with weak joints due to previous sprains, breaks or ligament tears, be prepared! Having and wearing if necessary a support for the injured muscle / joint is far better than overstressing the injury and not being able to go all the way to the summit!
Staff on the trip:
You will be accompanied by one of highly experience guide, a cook and 3/4 porters who will carry your bag, food and tent.
Tipping:
A little note on tipping: there are sometimes different expectations when it comes to tipping from different nationalities and found expectations are quite often in line with cultural norms back in respective home countries. In Kenya tips are customary in most service industries and the mountain is no different. Nonetheless it is not obligatory and KG MTN EXPD pays well compared to many other operators and in comparison to average Kenyan wages.
How and when to tip
You will often find that the subject of tipping comes up at the final camp, and that is often a good place to arrange the final tips and if in doubt your head guide can always help out.We try to keep tipping as transparent for the crew as possible. Ideally tipping should be done at the gate after the climb and so having change (dollars or Kenya shillings are the best) is a good idea. Otherwise we have to organize tipping later on back at base. It can feel a little odd dealing with tips – but you can always use our guides to distribute the tips. Therefore, if possible, please do try and have tip money on you at the start of the climb and complete tips at the gate.
Guideline amounts
These figures are designed to be a guideline based on what have become normal tipping amounts over time. Remember that you should not feel obligated to pay exact amounts and if you feel like giving more or less then please do – it’s a tip after all! Here is the guideline:
Guide per day - $15
Cook per day - $ 10
Porter per day - $ 5
ALTITUDE AND ALTITUDE SICKNESS
Please note: this information has been collected from a number sources, which include medical journals and outdoor training guides. It is not meant to be a definitive source of information, but is designed to give our guests a basic understanding of the environment and reactions that the body may face at altitude as well as the inherent risks. Our mountain guides are trained to ensure that you are monitored at all stages and are able to recognize various forms of mountain sickness and their severity and to take appropriate steps. Their ability to make these decisions is also based on years of experience on the mountain and so their decisions must be adhered to at all times.
DEFINITIONS OF ALTITUDE
Different altitudes can be classified as: Ø High: 8,000 – 12,000 feet (2438 – 3658 meters)
Ø Very High: 12,000 – 18,000 feet (3658 – 5487 meters)
Ø Extremely High: 18,000 + feet (5487 meters +)
Therefore, on a typical Mt Kenya hike you will pass from High altitude on your first day all the way to very high at the summit. Mt Kenya is a very high mountain.
ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES AT ALTITUDE
As you ascend Mt Kenya (more specifically as you ascend through the atmosphere) the barometric pressure decreases. The temperature also drops – for every 1000 feet around 5 degrees F (10 C per 1000 meters). The effects of these changes are a decrease in the density of air. Essentially there is less air to breath in, hence the term ‘thin air’. The percentage of oxygen remains constant at around 21%, but there is simply less oxygen molecules for a given volume of air that you breath in.
ACCLIMATISATION
As you ascend your body needs to deal with the reduced amount of oxygen available in every breath. These changes that your body makes are the process of acclimatization. The main changes that occur in the body are:
Ø The depth of breathing increases
Ø Pressure in the pulmonary arteries increases – making blood flow into parts of the lungs not necessarily used at lower latitudes
Ø The body produces more red blood cells (the protein Hemoglobin being the oxygen carrier which resides in the red blood cell).
Ø Production of more of a certain enzyme that facilitates the release of oxygen from Hemoglobin to the body’s tissues.
Ø You urinate more (altitude dieresis where the kidneys release more water from the body).
Failure to acclimatize properly therefore leads to certain symptoms – signs that your body is not adapting, or has not yet adapted, to the change in altitude.
RATE OF ACCLIMATIZATION
How quickly you acclimatize – the rate of acclimatization, is affected by a few main factors:
Ø How quickly you ascend: an ideal target rate is 1000 feet a day (305 meters per day) and even 3000 feet spend an extra day at the same altitude.
Ø The amount of time spent at a particular altitude: extra days spent at the same altitude help. The maxim ‘walk high, sleep low’ also applies.
Ø The condition of your body: being prepared and taking it easy ensure that your body is given the best chance of dealing with the changes in environment.
Ø How well hydrated you are and diet: high carbohydrate diet combined with lots of fluids are essential.
TYPES OF ALTITUDE SICKNESS
If you body is not able to deal with the change in altitude then there are 3 main types of illness that may be apparent:
Acute Mountain Sickness: a number of symptoms that indicate you are not acclimatized to your current altitude. These include a headache combined with loss of appetite, fatigue (even at rest), dizziness, mild swelling in extremities, and disturbed sleep The important thing to note is that a large proportion of people climbing Kilimanjaro do get mild mountain sickness and with rest and time your tolerance for altitude increases and so most people will be able to continue. Fluid leakage on the brain is the predominant cause of a headache and severe forms of this can lead to HACE.
HACE: High Altitude Cerebral Edema. Excess fluid leakage causes mental impairment and this can be fatal. The hallmarks of HACE are a severe headache and impairment of the ability to think. Ataxia, or the loss of coordination is an easy sign to recognize. Decent is the only cure.
HAPE: High altitude pulmonary edema – fluid on the lungs. Signs can include breathlessness even at rest, cough (possibly frothy or pink sputum), rattling breaths, lack of blood to the extremities and drowsiness. HAPE can be confused with pneumonia, but rapid decent soon differentiates the two.
Periodic breathing or ‘Cheyne – Stokes’ respirations are not an illness. Periodic breathing often happens at night whereby the climber may experience wildly fluctuating breathing cycles in their sleep. It can be quite disturbing to listen to or to suddenly wake up to, but it is not considered abnormal at high altitudes. Acetazolamide (Diamox) can be helpful in relieving periodic breathing.
The only real cure for altitude sickness is removal from altitude.
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