Expedition Report
The objectives for the team of two, which included one Imperial College undergraduate, was to summit Batian, the highest peak of Mount Kenya, via the north face, to search for potential new climbing routes within the Mount Kenya National Park, and to explore lesser known rock exposures in central Kenya. Mount Kenya, the second highest mountain in Africa, is of volcanic origin and is comprised of course grained igneous rock which is ideal for climbing. The expedition was planned from mid-August to mid-September, and included an initial three days in Nairobi to organise final logistics.
The team then made their way to the outskirts of the Mount Kenya National Park where they met their porter. They trekked through the rainforest perimeter which surrounds the base of Mount Kenya, however the afternoon of that day brought torrential rain which continued into the evening. The next day also saw heavy rain, as well as large hailstones and a thick mist, but the pair managed to reach Shipton’s Camp. However, the clear night sky caused the temperature to drop to below -10˚C, so the next day the pair decided to consider their options. They planned to climb over the next two nights in order to reach the summit, however five hours of heavy snow put paid to that idea, and their porter said that he had never seen the route in a worse condition. The next day brought more bad weather and as each day waiting was adding to the cost, and combined with the pair having no winter climbing equipment, a decision was made to terminate the summit ascent. The team then proceeded to summit point Lenana, 4,895m, the highest trekking peak, from which they were able to observe a spectacular sunrise.
After two days rest in Nairobi, the team then headed to Hell’s Gate National Park and its well-developed climbing areas, where they climbed Firmin’s Tower, and attempted a route up a 100m wall. The pair then travelled to the Masai Mara to experience a safari where they observed lions, cheetahs, elephants, crocodiles, zebras, giraffes and other animals. The final part of their venture was a visit to an orphanage in Kericho, where they were warmly welcomed. During their five days stay they met the orphanage staff and children, were given a tour, and helped with various tasks. At the end of their memorable visit, they were treated to a special ceremony to mark their departure.
