There is this popular gnome that goes… Everybody dies but not everybody lives. Ever wondered why this saying has circulated and gained traction over the years? I mean, why do people say it? How deep is the meaning attached to it?
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6X5ABYfFkz4
Journey to Lenana Peak
Well, as I live and breathe, this statement holds absolute truth – especially when the latter comes as a result of misguided decisions or a quest to fill a void through adrenaline rushes originating from a negative headspace. For this reason, curious souls from different walks of life, coming from disparate yet distinctively unique points on this world, existing on this ginormous green and blue ball that sustains life itself; still seek to find this renewing clarity. And needless to say, it comes through nature. Just imagine this… High mountain peaks that make you realize just how much beauty goes unnoticed, even in the tiniest of details that life has so gracefully offered to us while we are busy chasing it.
The silence that overwhelms you, so profound that you can feel the faint thumping of your heart in your ears… almost as if for a second, you are a god. Views so breath taking, the breeze in your hair, the gust of fresh air reactivating your system and waking your inner child up, everything the light touches laid before you like a painter’s canvas in detail, and every physical feature you wanted to see from above actualizing before your very eyes. These adrenaline activities always bring a sense of clarity to the mind and soul, pushing your body beyond your physical limits and goals, all to feel alive again. Oh how this fond desire awakes your sleeping spirit as you set your eyes on the summit… and once there, the overwhelming ripples of emotions you are trying to piece up and understand moves up and down your spine to the tips of fingers. Electric excitement is the way I would put it. And where else to capture this special memory, solely and in the flesh than by going up Mt. Kenya, an ancient extinct volcano and the second highest peak in Africa. Fun fact, she was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. So you know you’ll be carrying a piece of history in your hearts till the end of time.
About Mount Kenya
Mount Kenya stands at 5199m tall, boasting as the tallest in Kenya, and the second-highest in Africa. With it comes several summits; which is basically the highest points of the mountain. They are namely: Batian, Nelion, and Point Lenana. Now, climbing a mountain has its challenges, and with every challenge comes a chance to embark on an adventure, testing your wits and your ability to conquer it. The Batian peak in the North Face, the highest peak of the mountain, standing at 5196m, is preferably climbed during the northern hemisphere’s summer, running from June through to August. This is because the mountain is on the equator, and so the sun will be slightly to the North, hence less ice and snow and some warmth for your racing heart. But wait! There’s more peaks!
The Nelion peak is in the South Face, 5188m tall, is trekked around the period of December to March, when the sun is on the route. The last peak is Point Lenana, standing at 4985m. People prefer the scenic Mt. Kenya route to Mt. Kilimanjaro’s (5895m) because of the abundant wildlife, stunning mountain lakes, and amazing wilderness views. Lenana Peak which is 4985m high is the most feasible route to trek with a panoramic view of the jagged volcano peaks, wide valleys, and stunning savanna making the experience challenging yet exhilarating at the same time. I kid you not, this is a one-time experience in Africa Mountaineering.
Mt Kenya Hiking via Naromoru-Chogoria Route
The Journey from the County’s capital, Nairobi City, takes about 4 hours on road en route to the Naro moru destination. This is a local town close to the mountain base. Here, you will find a heated swimming pool, tennis courts, squash court, sauna, horse riding, bird watching, bars, restaurants and lounges, beautiful grounds for your heart’s desire, rooms with private bathrooms and a fully equipped Mountain Store for all your hiking needs!
Day 1: Naromoru to Met Station
The Naro Moru is the route most travelled by during the climb. The 17km Paved roads with signposts for the purpose of navigation lead to the park’s entrance, 2400m above sea level. At the entrance, the road continues on to the Meterological Station, a pathway culminating to 3050m. The ascension, stay and descent usually takes 3 days. This route is blessed to have bunkhouses at the camps, so carrying a tent is not a necessity. Well, unless you want to camp then have at it! Just as the yin and yang analogy states how the universe is governed by a set of two opposing and complementing principles that can be observed in nature, the friendly terrain is meets a section known as the Vertical Bog – a steep marshland of open uncultivated upland, typically covered with heather. This will be after you get through the African rosewood forest (hagenia) forest on a beautiful breath taking footpath that flows to the edge of the forest. On this blissful journey, you get the chance to be free and be yourself in the most natural state of mind, as you enjoy stunning wildlife views of the Waterbucks, Antelope, Olive Baboon, and the Sykes Monkey, all inhabitants of the forest there.
Day 2: Met Station to Mackinder
With the latter day’s hurdles jumped, a new day starts a fresh with a new challenge to conquer – the 6 to 7 hour trek to Mackinder Camp. Mackinder’s campsite is the second campsite encountered along the Naro Moru trekking route and is located within the Teleki valley. This point will be the stopover for the night. At this campsite, you will witness the last stages of the afro-alpine zone of the mountain. In this stretch, we come face to face, spirit to spirit with the Timberline Forest zone. This is populated by gigantic trees growing in peaceful co-existence with shrubs, carving the landscape into one dense forest. Bare witness to the shrubs and grasses which are known as the Chaparral commonly found on the drier areas on the trek. At this point, you are 1/3 away from your goal. The sky is the limit, but as you get higher up, the sky gets further away so… summit is the limit!
Day 3: Mackinder to Lenana to Meru Bandas
2.AM. The hike to Point Lenana commences. The easy to navigate paths contour up to the left side of Teleki Valley. This will take you straight to the famous Austrian hut, which is the highest hut on Mt. Kenya standing at 4790m. A common starting point for the wanderlust souls who wish to graze the Nelion from the South East Face. However, our goal is Point Lenana. The expected arrival at the Austrian Hut is about 5 am in the morning. Views of the Lewi glacier start becoming clearer and clearer as we time the sun’s graceful advent. The heaven kissing ascent to Point Lenana takes an hour, just in time to see the rays peak from the horizon. Note that this is the most challenging part of the trek because of the abundance of snow, the altitude and the air change, but the impeccable surroundings of glaciers and rock hard ice caves will have you whisper ‘you made it!’ Fixed lines that have been mounted on the mountain as the vegetation becomes scarce help in getting to the summit. The hike gets steeper, but the spikes and sticks help provide a confidence boost whenever needed. Watch the sun come up… the ultimate definition of sun kissed. Getting to the peak takes an hour.
The descent begins after the beauty and pride of getting to the summit has been experienced, internalized and enjoyed to the fullest. Memories are just a camera click away right? From Point Lenana is the 6km distance to the Minto’s camp where breakfast or lunch according to how long one takes at the Summit is served, before the further descent to the Meru Bandas, at 2950m where a 4×4 land cruiser will carry your tired but achieved bones back to Nairobi.
Peaking at Life from the Top
Ah, the cost of true happiness. When on the mountain, there are several things to note about yourself and how you would like your life to commence from that point onward. Nature’s sole goal is to bring us back to her, to help us see and appreciate the world we are ignoring. A world in which nature and humanity have to live together in an ecosystem that cannot survive without the other. A world that tries to balance climatic changes along with the human activities that are degrading her each passing day. The Mt. Kenya experience offers us a chance to look beyond what we see, test our limits and get a new sense of pride and peace that surpasses understanding from your achievement. The longing gaze into the night sky as the stars make you fall in love with a universe you cannot reach, the moon appearing closer and so illuminated as if the moon dwellers lit a bright lamp to guide your path in the dark, fireflies that make you believe that magic exists in the world, sunrises in the horizon chasing away all the fears and doubts of the night… Just spectacular. You will feel lucky that you chose nature to find yourself and peel the layers of different personalities acquired over the years until your true psyche is revealed through the tests of strength, perseverance and freedom. Feel heaven’s gates open as you breathe in the crisp cool breeze – nothing like the lower altitudes – the perspective of time changes, as if the world is at a standstill and all you can discern is your being. Reflecting. Meditating. Are you ready to hike?
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66o1M9XDAIQ
