MOUNT KENYA
central Kenya
July 2001
At 17 Ian stood on top of Mount Kenya – Africa’s second highest peak – with a group of school friends. The ropeless trek took them to Point Lenana at an altitude of 4,985m. It was as far as they could go without the need for specialist equipment, and less than 220m below the true summit.
“It’s been a hard 11km trek today, though not as hard as yesterday, when the tropical heat was stifling.
Sleeping at over 4,000m it reaches a bitterly cold low of -10 Celsius.
I’m increasingly proud of our progress. It’s an early start for what is supposed to be a hard day. A steep scree slope takes us nearly an hour; leading to our highest point: Point Lenana. Too soon we begin down the other side towards Mackinder’s Valley.”
Sleeping at over 4,000m it reaches a bitterly cold low of -10 Celsius.
I’m increasingly proud of our progress. It’s an early start for what is supposed to be a hard day. A steep scree slope takes us nearly an hour; leading to our highest point: Point Lenana. Too soon we begin down the other side towards Mackinder’s Valley.”