Author: TranquilKilimanjaro

Birdlife on Mount Kenya reflects the essence of a natural and wild ecosystem. From the noisy and colourful sunbirds flitting between alpine flowers to the stunning Abyssinian ground thrush, all contribute to one of the most spectacular montane ecosystems in the world. The abundant forest and diverse birdlife are the result of a fortuitous combination of climate and altitude, which has produced a variety of different habitats in a relatively small area. This rich environment has been created by the birds and their habitats, which have an intrinsic value to Kenya and the global community. Many individual species are attractive to birdwatchers and may in the future provide the basis for ecotourism. For instance, the Mount Kenya robin chat a highly localised Kenyan endemic, is a great attraction for tourists wanting to find birds that they cannot see in Europe. The historical records of Mount Kenya, a towering extinct volcano that stands at a height of 5199 meters, have been successfully erased. The mountain, situated in central Kenya just south of the equator and a short distance from the town of Nanyuki, has a fascinating array of tracks including the north-western Sirimon Track, the Naro Moru Track, and the south-eastern Chogoria Track. These tracks offer hikers thrilling adventures and abundant opportunities for capturing breathtaking photographs. With its majestic peaks rising above the clouds and its enchanting landscapes, Mount Kenya has long captivated the hearts of tourists from around the world. Surprisingly, despite its popularity, the mountain and its forest have remained relatively unexplored until recent times. The significance of Birdlife in Mount Kenya is rooted in the critical role that birds play in the lives of the local Kenyan people and their surroundings. This holds particularly true for Mount Kenya and its Forest Reserve. The names used by the Kikuyu

Mount Kenya, which is the tallest mountain in Kenya and the second highest mountain in Africa, is one of the water towers in the country. It is also the source of numerous rivers and streams that flow into the mighty Tana River, which is Kenya's longest river and the location of one of the largest water reservoirs in the country, the Masinga Dam. Additionally, the Ewaso Nyiro is the lifeline of the arid north. Water is essential to the survival of millions of people, both upstream and downstream, who rely on the mountain. Despite being located directly on the Equator, the mountain has relied on the water that has been sourced from the numerous glaciers that begin at an elevation of 15,000 feet above sea level over the course of several centuries. Even though a drought warning has already been issued for the region, the glaciers are rapidly melting, and it is anticipated that this process will swiftly accelerate. It has already been reported that any rivers and streams that were located near the mountain had dried up. The first scientific expedition to Mount Kenya was led by the well-known British geologist Dr. John W. Gregory in the year 1893. However, the team was unable to surpass the ice glaciers and reach the peak of the mountain. A blanket of ice and snow covered the summit of the mountain. Before beginning his descent, he remained at an altitude of 15,000 feet for several hours at what would subsequently be referred to as the Lewis Glacier. Batian, which is located at an elevation of 17,340 feet, was the first mountain to be conquered by Sir Halford Mackinder and two friends. They arrived at the summit at midday on September 13, 1899. To reach the summit of the mountain, they had to

Konyi (LÁSZLÓ VÁRKONYI) was without a doubt one of the most celebrated and most experienced Hungarian expedition alpinists in the world of mountaineering, holding the Hungarian record for climbing without bottled oxygen (in the spring of 2002 he reached 8750 metres on the normal route of Everest on the Nepal side, where he was forced to turn back due to the weather). The year he began climbing mountains was 1971 when he was only 15 years old. He was born in 1956. Before shifting his attention to peaks that were eight thousand meters in height, he travelled through the High Tatras, the Caucasus, the Pamir, the Andes, and the Tian Shan-t as well. There were three eight-thousanders that he participated in excursions to, and he reached the peak of two of them. “I hope I’ll be able to sing ‘there’s nothing above me but clear skies’” This is how László Várkonyi bid farewell to his friends and family in a telegram that he sent before departure for Everest. In a phone call that he made a week ago from Base Camp, which is located at 5,300 meters on Mount Everest, he stated that he would be absent for a period of time. He was a humble man who would gently refuse the label "conquered" despite the fact that he had scaled numerous peaks that were 7000 meters or 8000 meters in height. In total, he had travelled to Everest, the highest mountain in the planet, eight times. At this point, after his ninth effort, he continues to remain there indefinitely. Konyi was the only Hungarian to have successfully climbed to an altitude of 8750 meters without the need of any additional oxygen. He did not want to make use of the cylinders since, in his opinion, doing so would be

Alan Paul Rouse popularly known as Al Rouse, was born on December 19, 1951, in Wallasey. He began his climbing journey at the age of 15, tackling challenging routes in North Wales. Rouse attended Birkenhead School from 1963 to 1970 and then Emmanuel College, Cambridge, until 1973. However, his passion for climbing often took precedence over his studies, leading to an ordinary pass degree in Mathematics. Rouse was renowned for his exceptional talent as a rock climber, mastering difficult routes such as 'The Beatnik' on Helsby and soloing 'The Boldest' on Clogwyn Du'r Arddu. He was part of a competitive group of climbers who pushed the boundaries by soloing challenging routes. His mountaineering endeavours extended beyond Wales, with notable ascents in various locations worldwide, including Scotland, Patagonia, the Alps, and Nepal. Rouse became a professional mountaineer, engaging in lecturing, guiding, and writing, while also serving as an advisor to the outdoor equipment trade. In 1986, Rouse led a British expedition to K2, the second-highest mountain in the world. Despite facing challenges, including unsuccessful attempts to establish camps on their chosen route, Rouse and a team of climbers persisted. Eventually, they reached the summit on August 4, 1986, but tragedy struck during the descent. A storm trapped the climbers at Camp IV, leading to a life-threatening situation. Despite efforts to descend, Rouse succumbed to the harsh conditions on August 10, 1986. He left behind his girlfriend, Deborah Sweeney, who gave birth to their daughter, Holly, shortly after his death. Rouse's legacy as a skilled climber and adventurous spirit endures, though his life was cut short during the 1986 K2 disaster. Through the establishment of a memorial garden and the placement of a Heritage Blue Plaque, the Friends of The Breck have paid tribute to the great mountaineer Al Rouse, who was

Paul Preuss, born on August 19, 1886, in Altaussee, Austria, was an Austrian alpinist known for his daring solo climbs and his advocacy of an ethically pure style of alpinism, an excellent chess player, tennis player, ice skater, and very multilingual, he spoke English, French, German and Italian. His early years were marked by a childhood illness, polio-like in nature, which left him partially paralyzed at the age of six. Despite this setback, Preuss developed a passion for the mountains, often accompanying his father on excursions and later pursuing summits on his own. After completing his education in plant physiology at the University of Vienna and Munich University, Preuss embarked on a climbing career characterized by remarkable achievements. At the age of twenty, he began climbing at a high level, achieving his first significant solo ascent, the Pichl-Route on the North Face of the Planspitze, shortly before his twenty-second birthday. Preuss's climbing career was distinguished by numerous solo ascents and first ascents, totalling over 1,200 climbs, with a significant portion done solo. He excelled not only in rock climbing but also in snow and ice ascents, as well as ski mountaineering. Despite his preference for solitude on the mountains, Preuss was known for his amiable personality and close friendships with fellow climbers, including women like his sister Mina. Throughout his climbing endeavours, Preuss maintained a commitment to ethical purity in alpinism, advocating against the use of artificial aids such as pitons and ropes. He believed in climbing in a style that relied solely on the climber's skill and judgment, rather than technological advancements. His views sparked debates within the climbing community, leading to the Mauerhakenstreit, or piton dispute, in which Preuss argued for a return to a more traditional, minimalist approach to climbing. Some people would wonder, "Paul who?" You