SACRED directly support 98 children with schooling, and with the projects we have undertaken to date we now have a positive daily impact on 5,227 children.
In itself it is fantastic
achievement for SACRED to reach so many and it would not have been
possible without your help and support you have given so far.
SACRED need more funds to continue and expand our work – and this
year we hope – with your help - to raise £50,000 from sponsorship
of our second Mount Kilimanjaro climb. The team, making the
grueling climb in March 2010 in aid of the children, is made up
from employees of Grundfos Pumps and their customers (who
incidentally are paying all of their own costs!). Every penny
collected will go toward the ongoing projects that we are working
on and will enable us to touch even more young lives.
Please do what you can to support them
by visiting www.justgiving.com/C4MC
and donating whatever you can afford to this worthwhile cause. To
see what
impact SACRED has on the children please visit 'The Children'
section
(under 'Projects') in this website to hear directly from
them.
Please read the below are the details of the 6 day expedition so
that you can understand what a challenge this climb is and how
difficult it can be for those involved,
Day 1
Marangu gate – Mandara Hut 2700m
Hiking time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Forest
From the gate, you ascend a cleared
ridge trail to Mandara Hut. The cleared trail is the fastest way to
Mandara, but opportunities to see wildlife or enjoy the forest are
limited due to the heavy foot traffic. An alternative is to ascend
along the parallel forest trail and descend on the main trail. The
forest trail branches off to the left, a few minutes after the
gate, and follows the edge of a stream through the under growth.
About halfway (1 hrs from the gate) you can choose to cross the
stream and rejoin the main trail, or continue on the forest trail.
Both trails continue on opposite sides of the stream, merging about
one hour before Mandara Hut Marangu-Mandara Hut. 1830m-2700m. 3-4
hours trek. Transfer to Marangu Gate at an altitude of 1,860m. The
path to Mandara Hut, the first overnight stop, passes through rain
forest and takes up to four hours.
Day 2
Mandara Hut – Horombo Hut 3720m
Hiking time: 5-6 hours
Habitat: Moorland
From Mandara Hut the trail passes through a short stretch of forest and skirts the base of Maundi Crater, crosses a meadow and a wooded stream, then emerges into grassland. It is well worth the short detour to scramble up to the rim of Maundi Crater for a superb view of the mountain and its surroundings. The trail crosses numerous moorland ravines before ending at Horombo Hut, which is set in a rocky valley with a fine stand of giant sceneries or groundsels. Leaving behind the forest and following the ascending path through alpine meadows on to the slopes of Mawenzi. Horombo Hut is reached after about six hours and is 11km from Mandara.
Day 3
Acclimatization day
Hiking time: 4 hours
Habitat: Alpine desert
From Horombo Hut you take the so called upper route to the zebra rocks. Here you have reached 4000m (1.5h). You keep on walking up to the saddle which lies in-between the two major peaks of Kilimanjaro, Kibo and Mawenzi. From here you have a good view across the Kibo desert. You also see the track which leads you to Gilmans Point on the next day. You will return to Horombo Hut for Lunch and have the afternoon to relax.
Day 4
Horombo Hut – Kibo Hut 4700 m
Hiking time: 5-6 hours
Habitat: Alpine desert
From Horombo Hut there are two trails to the Saddle. The right fork is very stony and eroded and is the most direct route to the Saddle and Mawenzi. From the Saddle (about 2 hrs from Horombo), there are trails to Mawenzi Hut (hr) or Mawenzi Tarn Hut (2 hrs) and across the length of the Saddle to Kibo Hut (3 hrs). The left fork from Horombo Hut is an easier trail and emerges on the Saddle much closer to Kibo and about one kilometer from Kibo Hut. The landscape now becomes rockier and Rugged until the Saddle is reached. Kibo Hut is the overnight stay.
Day 5
Kibo Hut – Summit Uhuru peak 5895m – Horombo Hut
Hiking time: 10-12
Habitat: Ice-capped summit
The trail to the summit lies directly behind Kibo Hut, to the west. It is normal to start this day’s climb at 2 am or earlier. (The reason for this is to see the sun rise over Mawenzi from the top of Kibo, the loose stone scree is frozen- making it easier to climb, and you can get back in good time). The first part is an uneven trail, which leads to the Hans Meyer Cave, a good rest point. After that, the trail makes more regular switchbacks most of the way to the top, with a last scramble over rocks to Johannes Notch and Gillmans Point. From there, the trail continues along the rim past Stella Point to Uhuru Peak. An early (2.00am) start to make the steep and demanding final ascent through the snow. By daybreak you should be at the rim of the crater at 5,685m. Time and weather permitting the final push to Uhuru Peak should take about 45 minutes. At the top there are stunning views of the ice walls offset by rugged rocks. After a fast descent to Kibo Hut for a meal and rest continue to descend to Horombo Hut
Day 6
Horombo – Marangu gate 1830m
Hiking time: 5 hours
Habitat: Forest
An easy descent to Marangu Gate then transfers to Moshi. Dinner and celebration!!