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Rebecca Nchereri

One of the founders of Team Kilimanjaro, the first woman to make a speed ascent of Kilimanjaro, and still part of the team today.

Rebecca has climbed with John since 2002, when she pulled him out of a crevasse on Everest’s north face. She is married to Joseph Nchereri, who climbed with John on his very first ascent of Kilimanjaro in March 2000, so the people who were there at the very beginning are with us still.

  • 13:16:37Speed ascent, 21 May 2005
  • ~6 yearsBefore her record was beaten
  • 6,250 mCrevasse rescue on Everest, 2002
The record From the beginning
Rebecca Nchereri, co-founder of Team Kilimanjaro
2005First women’s speed ascent of Kilimanjaro

The first women’s speed ascent

On 21 May 2005 Rebecca set out from Marangu Gate to climb Kilimanjaro against the clock. Administrative delays at the park held her start until around noon, so she climbed through the afternoon and into the night, and reached the summit a little before two in the morning, in high winds and a snowstorm.

Hers was a timed ascent only, and she walked down. The men’s record is attempted almost every year; Rebecca’s stood for about six years before it was beaten.

  • 13 h 16 min 37 sMarangu Gate to the summit
  • UnacclimatisedAccompanied and supported
  • 21 May 2005Summit a little before 02:00, in a snowstorm

Verification: GPS profile · Altimeter and heart rate · Summit photo · GPS track files · Heart rate and altimeter files

From the very first climb

Team Kilimanjaro’s story begins with John’s first climb in March 2000, and the people who were on the mountain with him then are part of it still.

  1. March 2000

    The first climb

    John climbs Kilimanjaro for the first time, from Marangu Gate to the summit in a single day. Joseph Nchereri, one of his support crew, climbs with him from Kibo Hut, 4,700 m, to the summit.

  2. 2002

    Everest’s north face

    Rebecca’s first expedition with John. High on the Main Rongbuk Glacier, at around 6,250 m, John falls into a crevasse, and Rebecca rescues him.

  3. June 2004

    Team Kilimanjaro begins

    Rebecca and John found Team Kilimanjaro and begin guiding climbs on 30 June 2004.

  4. May 2005

    The first women’s speed ascent

    Rebecca climbs from Marangu Gate to the summit in 13 hours 16 minutes 37 seconds. The record stands for about six years.

  5. Today

    Still part of the team

    Rebecca is still part of Team Kilimanjaro, and is married to Joseph, who was on the mountain with John that first day in 2000.

John Rees-EvansFounder, record holder and expedition leader. About Team KilimanjaroWho runs it, and how we work. Why Team KilimanjaroWhat we optimise for, and why.

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Kilimanjaro from Lake Duluti
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