Fastest Ever Ascent of Kilimanjaro
Karl Egloff, a dual Swiss-Ecuadorian national, on 13th August 2014, is believed to have ascended Kilimanjaro in 4 hours 56 minutes, breaking Kilian Jornet's record of 5 hours 23 minutes set the previous year.
Like Kilian, Karl climbed from Umbwe Gate to Uhuru via the Western Breach, and descended to Mweka Gate. After 4 minutes' rest on the summit, he descended to the park gate in 1 hour 42 minutes. His total ascent and descent time was therefore 6 hours 42 minutes.
Video of Karl Egloff's Record Speed Ascent
Fastest Unsupported Speed Ascent of Kilimanjaro
On 22nd February 2006 Simon Mtuy ascended Kilimanjaro from Umbwe Gate in 6 hours 33 minutes. After a 3 minute rest on the summit, he spent 2 hours 46 minutes descending to Umbwe Gate. His total time for the ascent and descent was 9 hours 21 minutes and 47 seconds. Team Kilimanjaro provided the verification equipment and supplied the data to the Guiness Book of World Records.
An unsupported climb means that the athlete does not make use of any support team along the route, or any re-supply points. This means that he is required to carry all the equipment and provisions needed to complete the route from the start point to the end point, via the summit. This endeavour is substantially more difficult than a supported climb on which the athlete begins in running gear, with no need to carry warm gear needed for the summit phase, and no need to carry much food either.
Simon's main challenge was finding water at the usual sources, as most of these were dry in February, being the dry season when rivers are mostly empty.
Video of Simon's Unsupported World Record
Arusha Pedal Series club aims to organise a group ride three times a week - on Mondays, Wednesdays or Thursdays, and Saturdays. All keen cyclists are welcome to join.
We read widely divergent estimates of deaths on Kilimanjaro, but how dangerous is it really? In this post we share our own experience of the dangers.
While we've assisted people in their 70s, a 5 year old, amputees, and quadriplegics to the summit, and while in theory, pretty much everyone could climb Kilimanjaro, nonetheless, many people have told us that climbing Kilimajaro is the hardest thing they've ever done in their lives - and some of these people have been professional athletes (rugby players).