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Life after Kilimanjaro........?
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We hope that you really enjoyed your trip to Kilimanjaro, and
that the challenge and rewards of going to high altitude have made
you think of other treks and summits.
Footloose can organise trips to several peaks around the world
to give you a similar exciting trip.
As on Kilimanjaro, you can go with a small group or as a tailormade
trip to suit your dates.
Here are some ideas, roughly in order of difficulty. As a bench
mark, Kilimanjaro is about in the middle.
Toubkal - 4,167m / 13,671 ft - the
nearest big peak outside of Europe. With frequent flights to Morocco
an ascent can be made in a long weekend.
Mount Meru - 4,566m / 14,980 ft -
right next to Kilimanjaro but a great climb in its own right. The
highlights are the approach through Arusha National Park, surrounded
by big game, and the fine summit ridge. Meru is an excellent way
of acclimatising for Kilimanjaro.
Mount Kenya - 5199m/17,057ft - another
African peak and you can see Kilimanjaro from here on a clear day.
It's lower and fewer days than Kili, and many people think it's
a more attractive mountain - it's certainly much more rugged looking.
You're not far from the Kenyan game parks such as Masai Mara, so
a safari can be easily included. The basic climb can be done out
and back from Nairobi in five days.
Ras Dashen - 4550m / 14,928ft - the
third highest mountain in Africa and it's in the Ethiopian Simien
mountains. It's a less distinctive peak than the others and it's
usually climbed as part of a longer trek through the range. This
coupled with visits to the historic cities of Ethiopia gives a unique
trip. The summit can be reached in six days but it's much better
to do the 10 day longer trek.
Cotopaxi / Chimborazo - 5897m/19347ft
/ 6268m/20,565ft -these are two volcanoes in Ecuador and part of
the Andes. Acclimatisation is not a great problem as when you land
at Quito airport you are already at well over 3000m. Cotopaxi is
a snow climb from a hut and takes you to the summit - the crater
edge of an active volcano. Chimborazo is higher (it's the point
furthest from the earth's centre because of the equatorial bulge)
and although it's a day climb from a hut, it's a very long day.
The high huts can be reached by car, so it's possible to do each
climb in two days. This leaves time to enjoy the other delights
of Ecuador, such as the Amazon or the Galapagos Islands.
Stok Kangri - 6137m/20,135ft - one of
the most accessible Himalayan peaks and found in Ladahk in the Indian
Himalayas. A few days walk in lead to a ridge leading to a fine
summit with fantastic views as far as the Karakoram. The whole trip
can be done in 14 days from Delhi.
Mera Peak - 6476m/21,247ft - another Himalayan
peak but in the Khumbu Valley of Nepal. A trek in amazing scenery
takes you to the summit with nearby views of Everest and Lhotse.
This is a long trip of about three weeks from Kathmandu.
Aconcagua - 6962m/22841ft
- definitely the hardest, and the highest mountain outside the Himalayas.
A difficult walk in carrying your own gear, coupled with very thin
air, means it a trip only for those who are fit and experienced,
and have already climbed Kilimanjaro or a similar peak. There are
several routes on the mountain and the shortest will take about
12 days from Santiago.
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