HIKING MT. KENYA- THIS IS MY SUMMIT STORY

It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves. Sir Edmund Hillary

I grew up on the slopes of Mt. Kenya. I went away for school and later got my first job on the slopes of Mt. Kenya so I have seen this mountain almost everyday of my entire existence. Here comes the interesting part… despite all the above I had never set foot in Mt. Kenya forest until 13/2/2021 when my friends took me for a pre-birthday hike. Although short, the day hike was such a beautiful experience I promised myself I would go back and hike all the way to the summit later that year.

I then went on a mission to find the best package that would fit my budget and accomodate the fact that I had not taken a similar challenge before. After months of searching, I finally got a package that worked for me in October 2021. My guide and I agreed to do it in December which meant I only had 2 months to prepare.

Day 1: 30/12/2021 (Old Moses to Shipton’s camp 14KM)

Myself, the guide and a group of 10 people met in Nanyuki. It was a diverse group that included 2 pre-teens, 3 highschool girls and 5 adults.

We drove up to old Moses camp where our hike began. It wasn’t a hard walk perse but it had rained quite a bit which made it uncomfortable. We also had to stop for long periods to wait for everybody in the group to catch up & it was also extremely cold. All these factors slowed us down so much that the first group made it to Shipton at 8PM others at 10PM while others never made it. I had carried all the appropriate warm gear but still I can’t put to words how cold I felt that night…So cold I wanted to cry but I didn’t have the energy to. The team that arrived at 10 tried to wake me up for dinner but I had just started getting warm so there is no way I was going to get out of my sleeping bag.

I only took a few photos on this day since all my energy was focused on walking and keeping warm.

A glimpse of the peaks

Day 2: 31/12/2021 (Shipton’s to point Lenana & back to Old Moses 28KM)

We woke up at around 2.30AM so as to leave camp at 3.00AM. This is the point I was informed that the rest of my group would not be going to the summit therefore I had no one to guide me. The circumstances leading to this situation is a long story.

I was determined to summit and after what felt like forever, I found a solution (read guide). We started the trek at 4.20AM and within the first 20 minutes I knew it wasnt going to be a walk in the park.

My new guide, Karuku, was very patient with me. At some point my body stopped cooperating with me but he kept encouraging me. Catching the sunrise gave me a glimpse of the beauty that lay ahead. This is the point I said a very short prayer that went something like this… “Dear God, thank you for bringing me this far. Please give me the strength to keep going to appreciate the beauty of your creation and please keep me from getting sick”. I said the prayer loudly because weuh… situation was tough. I pushed through thanks to Karuku and other hikers who had already made it to the summit gassing me up. It took me 4 hours and when I finally got to the summit at 8.20 AM, instead of a sense of accomplishment for what I had just survived, I felt relieved that it was over.

It is really beautiful up there but I only stayed for 20 minutes. I couldn’t help thinking about the long walk back to old Moses. After all, it was the last day of the year and I couldn’t agree to another night in the cold.

Harris Tarn

Karuku and I walked back to Shipton where we had breakfast and he handed me over to my Porter who would be my company back to Old Moses.

This day tested my gangsta in more ways than I can ever put to words. It is the hardest thing I have done but you know what, I would totally recommend it. That whole experience gave me a chance to reflect, be in silence while appreciating the mountain landscape and test my limits while having moments of introspection that I will forever cherish.

If Mt Kenya is on your bucket list, here are some tips based on my experience.

1. Prepare for the hike mentally and physically. The Aberdares and Mt Kenya day hikes are a good way to help your body acclimatize. 2. Listen to your body during the hike. Altitude sickness is serious and can kill. Some of the symptoms are nausea, headache, shortness of breath and feeling lightheaded. If you feel any of these please talk to your guide. 3. I can’t emphasize enough on proper gear. Here is a basic checklist from my guide. (waterproof hiking boots, rain jacket and trouser, warm jacket, warm trousers, warm socks for the night & light socks for trekking, warm beanie, warm gloves, light shoes, sleeping bag and walking sticks (not mandatory). This list may vary depending on the number of days you intend to be in the mountain and the weather patterns at the time. PS…this is a very basic list but it worked well for me. 4. I have said this here before but I will say it again… You conquer in the mind so no matter how hard it gets listen to your mind but also know your limits.

If you have been to Mt Kenya and have more tips please share them in the comment section. If you are interested in a Mt. Kenya day hike or summit check out proudly Laikipian Travels Instagram for a customized package.

Thank you for reading.

May we have the best year yet full adventures and things that set our souls on fire.

Love and love always,
Mukuhi.