Uhuru peak, the highest point on the African continent

We were woken up by 1030 hrs and were absolutely not rested for the excessive amount of hours there laid ahead of us. Quietly we dressed up like the Michelin-man, seven layers of thermal wear and fleeces. It was difficult to move around in the confined tent while we were trying to get the last bits and pieces packed in our daypack. 

Just before 11pm we all met in the main tent and was checked out by our guides, was provided a hot freshly brewed tea and chocolate biscuits and shortly after 8 tense climbers headed out into the night and towards Uhuru peak at an altitude of 5895 meters. 

We have booked these specific dates for the climb due to the full moon and were hoping to get a little help from Mother Nature. Despite the many previous days of reduced visibility and rain, the night was calm with a clear star filled sky and with the moon beautifully lighting up the snow covered ground. This was just amazing and how lucky we were.

 

It was a steep beginning and so it would continue for the next 6 hours to Stella point at an altitude of 5756 meters. I was awe by the beauty of this incredible postcard-picture-perfect-landscape and looking at the mountain there stood so bold and tall was just motivation enough to keep those heavy acid legs of mine going.

In this place, so far away from civilization and life, only surrounded by the tranquility of the harsh mountain it unwillingly brought the thoughts to the bigger picture in life, the past, present and future. With so very little effort to understand a person’s place in the universe, so insignificant, so vulnerable and yet I felt so proud and touch by the greatness and the beauty I stood within. I felt so privilege.

  

Sometimes around 3am the fatigue and cold was so overwhelming.  I slipped a couple of times and was not sure if I at times was actually sleepwalking. Every step was in automatic mode and the effort to just breath became apparent. I felt lightheaded and counted 27 breaths per minutes. I felt like I have just ended a fast paced run, the heart pumping against the chest wall and lungs burning in the cold air. Feet was dragging and the only thing on my mind was just “the top”

Our water bottles had started to freeze and it became a challenge to drink the ice-cold water yet we still forced our self to remain focused, walk steady pace, breath deeply and most of all keep motivated. It was a difficult time. 

Around 5am I could just vaguely outline of the top of the mountain. Soon. We would make it. We were almost there and when we finally reached what felt like heaven and stood at Stella point it was such an emotional feeling.

The astonishment of being part of this, the accomplishment. We hugged each other, tired, exhausted and very happy. We had just completed the hardest part of the journey and now a relative flat journey to reach Uhuru peak.

The sun started to rise as we walked along the glacier towards Uhuru peak. The time did not exist, the tiredness and fatigue had varnish, I felt so alive.  45 minutes later we stood at our final goal at the highest point of the African continent, at the highest top of the freestanding mountain in the world. We made it all the way to the top.