How a grandfather of three from Ashton-under-Lyne fulfilled his lifelong ambition to climb Mount Kilimanjaro at the age of 66.
I was born in India and first learned about Mount Kilimanjaro in geography class at age 11. My family immigrated to Tanzania in 1963, and in 1965, while traveling through Kenya, I sawI was born in India and first learned about Mount Kilimanjaro in geography class at age 11. My family immigrated to Tanzania in 1963, and in 1965, while traveling through Kenya, I saw the mountain up close. It was then that I dreamed of climbing the world’s highest free-standing mountain. Though I moved to the UK in 1968, it took until 7:45 AM on August 25, 2016, to finally fulfil my dream.
Along with four friends—Mahesh and Narendra from Ashton-under-Lyne, Vibhakar from Bolton, and Rashmi from London—we set off on this adventure. We departed the UK on August 18, 2016, and arrived in Moshi, Tanzania, the next day.
The Trek Begins
On August 20, we started our climb from Machame Gate, trekking 10km through lush rainforest, reaching 3,021m. The next day, we ascended slowly up steep and rocky paths, reaching Shira Plateau at 3,839m, covering 7km. Day three took us across high moorlands to Lava Tower (4,600m), then a descent to Barranco Camp (3,950m), an essential acclimatization step despite gaining only 111m in altitude after a grueling 10km trek.
Day four began with the challenge of climbing the Barranco Wall, a steep but rewarding scramble. After taking in stunning mountain views, we trekked through the Karranga Valley, reaching camp at 4,100m after 6km. On day five, we pushed on to Barafu Camp (4,600m), a short but steep 6km hike, rewarded with breathtaking glacier views. After an early dinner, we rested before the summit attempt.
The Summit Attempt
At midnight, we set off using head torches, trekking over scree and rocks for five hours to Stella Point (5,750m). The sight of the ice cliffs and Mawenzi Peaks was awe-inspiring. From there, we made our final push, stopping every 15 minutes for rest. At 7:45 AM, I stood at Uhuru Peak (5,895m) in -18°C. With frozen fingers and toes, I took a few photos before beginning the long descent to Millennium Camp (3,730m), trekking 20km that day.
The Final Descent
The last 6-hour trek from Millennium Camp to Mweka Gate felt monotonous compared to the exhilaration of the summit. Nights in -5°C to -8°C conditions had been tough, with temperatures dropping to nearly -20°C at Uhuru Peak.
This expedition, my toughest yet, raised over £10,000 for RNIB, the Huntington’s Disease Association, and AMMF. As a trustee of PDM, I proudly wore my PDM jacket at the summit, promoting the cause throughout my journey. Preparing in the Peak District helped me achieve this lifelong dream.
