Doc Martin 75th Birthday Kilimanjaro Expedition Dispatch

June 14, 2012 – Rest at Barranco Camp

We have made it to Barranco camp at the base of Kibo’s spectacular Breach Wall. We are 13,000 ft above sea level.

It’s been a long day and a beautiful day. The entire group is really performing well. This is a good group for a steady and continuous pace.

We started climbing this morning at 8:20 from Umbwe camp at 9,900 ft. We climbed first through the forest where we had to occasionally step off the trail so our amazing porters could go bounding by with our duffels on their heads! As we climbed higher the trees thinned out as we entered the zone of the giant Senecios Trees. This is a much more arid, desert environment. We are getting closer to the summit of Kili which is gleaming white with snow this time of year.

This will be a two-night rest camp. Everyone is healthy and doing well but they will enjoy the rest. Everyone is very excited that tomorrow there will be no packing of duffel bags! A second night here at 13,000 ft will aid in acclimatization before we continue toward our goal of the summit of Kili.

Charles is healthy and happy to have a rest day at 13,000 ft.

The zone of giant Senecios Trees

The team is all settled at our camp.