Author: TranquilKilimanjaro

"How fit do I need to be to climb Mount Kilimanjaro?" this is a question that pops up regularly from concerned would-be climbers before they climb the mountain. It's a valid concern because you want to make sure that your fitness level is adequate to handle the demands of the trek, allowing you to enjoy the experience and ultimately reach the summit without significant physical issues. Climbing Kilimanjaro does not require you to be an elite athlete, but a good level of physical fitness will certainly make the experience more enjoyable and increase your chances of reaching the summit. Remember, Kilimanjaro has different routes varying in difficulty, length, and acclimatization profile. The Marangu route, for example, is considered one of the easier routes technically but has a lower success rate due to poor acclimatization opportunities, while routes like Lemosho or Northern Circuit offer better acclimatization but are longer and might require better fitness. Lastly, even with great fitness, altitude sickness can affect anyone, so listen to your body, hydrate well, eat adequately, and ascend slowly (pole pole in Swahili) to increase your chances of a successful summit. You can see the training regime and download a program for pre-Kilimanjaro trek training and fitness here. Do You Need to Be Super Fit? The good news is, while you do need to be in decent physical shape, you don’t need to be an elite athlete to climb Kilimanjaro. It's important to remember that this is a trek, not a technical climb. Kilimanjaro is often described as a long, slow ascent rather than a steep and difficult mountain climb that requires specialized skills. However, the altitude, daily walking distances, and changing weather conditions can make the trek physically challenging, so preparing adequately is still crucial. What Kind of Fitness is Necessary? Most people

There has been great news coming from the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro as a team of 23 passionate hikers from the Manchester United Foundation and avid fans of the premier league club, Manchester United (Man Utd) led by club legend Bryan Robson and Andy Mitten from FourFour Two / The Athletic made it to the top of the highest mountain in Africa for charity. Manchester United is a world-class team which plays in the top-flight football league in England, coached by Ten Haag and popular for featuring players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Eric Cantona, Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville, David Beckham, George Best, Sir Bobby Charlton, Paul Scholes and many others under their previous coach Sir Alex Ferguson. This is not the first time that Manchester United-affiliated legends or fans have climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. In 2009, Gary Barlow of Take That fame, along with Ronan Keating, took on this giant for charity. Their efforts paved the way, showing that the peak of Kilimanjaro could be a platform for philanthropy. This is also one of the various trips that Machester United Legend Bryan Robson has climbed Kilimanjaro with his lat hike being in 2013 as documented here below. Ex-England and Manchester United legend Bryan Robson climbs Mount Kilimanjaro This climb wasn't just like any other climb, it has a significant reason as proceeds to the fund raising efforts will go to charity as the Captain Marvel’s group aim to raise funds that will support education and community outreach programmes delivered by the Foundation in areas of high deprivation across Greater Manchester and beyond. Robbo and the team set departed Manchester Airport on October 6th, Sunday afternoon and spent 7 days climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, traversing various ecological zones or the mountain starting from the rainforest zone in the lower slopes, crossing the

Before we reveal the 15 most dangerous mountains in the world to climb, let us all agree that hiking any mountain or hill involves some risks in one way or the other. It is just that some mountains pose greater risks than others and if any of the mountains listed below are on your bucket list, then it would be a great time to prepare well and take serious precautions. Also, you should check if the rewards outweigh the risks before you get on that hike. To come up with this list of the world's 15 most dangerous mountains, we have taken into consideration some critical factors like mortality rates, terrain conditions, harsh weather conditions, accessibility and technical demands for their climbs as mountaineering is not just a sport; it’s a battle between human endurance and the might of nature. Scaling the world's highest peaks demands both skill and bravery, but for some mountains, the risk far outweighs the reward. 1. Annapurna (Nepal) - Known as the deadliest mountain, Annapurna has a chilling fatality rate where nearly one in three climbers who reach the summit do not return. The mountain's south face is especially notorious for its steep ice walls, frequent avalanches, and rockfall hazards, compounded by unpredictable weather patterns typical of the Himalayan region. Standing tall at 8,091 meters, this peak has a staggering fatality rate of around 32%. That means for every 100 climbers who attempt the summit, 32 tragically lose their lives. The south face of Annapurna is infamous for its avalanche-prone terrain, making every step a gamble. Climbers also face ice and rock challenges that can shift unexpectedly, while unpredictable weather patterns further increase the difficulty. It's a deadly combination of natural hazards that make Annapurna the most dangerous mountain to climb. Below are the famous

After years of speculation and theories, Andrew Irvine's foot inside a boot has finally been found on Mount Everest, his presumed resting place of over 100 years, since 1924 when Andrew Irvine, popularly known as Sandy disappeared mysteriously in the upper part of Everest with his climbing partner George Mallory. Sandy's remains were found at the base of Everest The finding was more of an accidental stumble upon by a team from National Geographic led by Jimmy Chin while coming down the Central Rongbuk Glacier on Everest's North Face route, the team found an old oxygen tank from 1933, from a British expedition that happened nine years after Mallory and Irvine went missing. This got them thinking, especially since an ice axe thought to be Irvine's was found in 1933 on the northeast ridge, quite a distance below where Mallory was discovered. This boot belonging to Sandy was discovered at an elevation of about 5300m meaning it was way below where Percy Wyn-Harris, a member of the fourth British Everest Expedition discovered Andrew Irvine's ice axe at an elevation of 8,460 metres (27,760 ft), about 20 metres (66 ft) below the ridge and some 230 metres (750 ft) below the First Step. The oxygen tank being so far down the glacier made them think that maybe Irvine's body could have also slid down further. With this in mind, they started looking around the area. A few days later, while moving through the glacier's rough terrain, Erich Roepke, one of the team members, saw something odd sticking out of the ice. As they got closer, they saw it was an old boot with part of a human foot inside. When Chin checked inside the sock, there was a red label with "A.C. IRVINE" sewn on it, which confirmed they had found

Choosing whether to climb Mont Blanc or Kilimanjaro depends on what kind of adventure you're looking for because both mountains offer different experiences. Comparing Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Western Europe vs Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa would take forever as each of these mountains is unique in its way. For starters, Kilimanjaro is over a thousand meters higher than Mont Blanc. To be honest, technically speaking, Mont Blanc takes the edge especially if you are climbing on your own since you can climb Mont Blanc without a crew or guides. Most of Mount Kilimanjaro is walkable and doesn't require any specialized skills or equipment. Mont Blanc on the other hand, you will need tools like crampons and ice axes to climb, also there are a few risks involved like, rock falls, avalanches and crevasses. This can be evident in recent research that shows Mont Blanc is responsible for about 100-120 deaths per year, compared to Kilimanjaro's which claims less than 10 lives per annum.  Altitude sickness is the main issue on Kilimanjaro and it can also be physically demanding since it is higher than Mont Blanc. Kilimanjaro is Africa's tallest peak, known for its towering height and the physical endurance it takes to climb it due to the altitude and weather changes. Climbing it means spending several days on the mountain, moving through various routes that can be either somewhat gentle or quite tough. Mont Blanc, on the other hand, is the pride of the European Alps and while it's not as high as Kilimanjaro, it's famous for needing more climbing skills. The climb is shorter but packed with steep paths and requires you to be ready for quick weather shifts. Unlike Kilimanjaro, where you might have help carrying gear, climbing Mont Blanc often means you're