Ascending Mount Kenya via Sirimon route is on the drier side and offering easy access trail reaching Shiptons base camp. Rock climbing batian peak is the highest summit on Mount Kenya at 5,199m (17,057 ft). The North Face side standard route tackling the peak it is in condition from June – October from Shiptons Hut [4,200m] or Kami Campsite [4,500m] base camps.
The rocks hold granite rock which runs vertically and horizontally with weathered fissures but they offer good holds and friction. Helmets are recommended. Although the guide leads, it is important to have good belay skills when following and be familiar with all types of belay devices. Controlling the risks and hazards relies highly on your skills and experience as well of those of the guide. Below is an 8 days itinerary via Sirimon down Chogoria routes.
Hike Highlights;
INCLUDES IN THE COSTS;
EXCLUDES IN THE COSTS;
Altitude Gain from Nairobi; 1,500m
Hiking distance; 9km in 3 hours
Habitat; Rain forests
Accommodation; Old Moses hut with bank beds or Tent.
Meal Plan; Lunch & Dinner
Leave from your pick hotel or residence around 8.00 am and drive along the great northern highway of Kenya passing the central highlands to plain fields arriving Nanyuki town in 4 hours. Make your final snack shopping from this town, meet the rest of your climbing crew (porters) and continue driving to Mount Kenya Sirimon gate for another 45 minutes. Have lunch, check in the park and start your hiking along a paved road through rain forest with high chances of spotting wildlife. Arrive to Old Moses camp in 3 hours. Dinner and Overnight at Camp.
Altitude Gain; 600m
Hiking distance; 7km in 4-5 hours
Habitat; Alpine bush & moorland
Accommodation; Mountain tent.
Meal Plan; Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After having breakfast, leave the camp trekking along a single trail passing weather station continuing uphill transversing right crossing ontulili river reaching camp in 5hrs.
Altitude gain; 300m
Hiking distance; 7km in 3-4hrs.
Accommodation; Tent/mountain hut
Meal Plan; Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast and packing, leave camp ascending uphill which offers great views to the northern part of Kenya, laikipia plateau and the Mt Kenya peaks at a close range on a clear day. This will also help to acclamatize with altitude as the highest you’ll get is above 4,200m before reaching camp.
Altitude Gain; 1,000m.
Altitude Drop; 1,000m.
Climbing time; 7-8 hrs.
Accommodation at Shiptons Camp
Meal Plan; Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
These days gives you ample time to acclimatize and also looking after the weather regarding it changes. Ascend to base of Batian, normally taking 2 hours. The starting Grade is IV+. The first two pitches are easy for scrambling; another Grade III, then Grade II and a Grade IV to get to the amphitheatre, it is easy donkey walk to the base of Firmin Tower.
After here, you emerge to the knife edge doing Grade IV+ pitch and another Grade IV pitch before you come to a traverse that leads you to the Shipton’s notch. Rocks are quite loose and need to be handled with care. After Shipton’s notch, you will then reach Batian at 5,199 m (Highest point in Kenya and Second highest point in African continent). After summiting and taking photos, then abseil down doing a lot of down climbing to the base continuing to Shiptons or Kami Camp for dinner and overnight.
Dinner and overnight at the camp.
Hiking time from Shipton to last camp 7-8 hours.
Altitude gain; 400m, Altitude drops; 1,650m.
Vegetation; Bare Rocks, Giant Heather to Alpine vegetation
Wake up at around 0600 hours, take breakfast and hit the trail via Simba col trail following via Mintos camp continuing along the gorgeous Gorges valley to roadhead campsite in time for lunch. Afterwards continue hiking down for another 2 hours reaching Mt Kenya lodge for dinner and overnight.
Altitude Drop; 1,650m
Habitat; Giant heather & rain forests
Hiking Distance; 11km in 3-4hrs
Meal Plan; Breakfast
After having breakfast, leave the lodge and check out of the park gate and proceed hiking down through bamboo forests for 2 hours. Board a vehicle taking you down through the rain forest reaching Chogoria town. From here connect with another vehicle taking you back to Nairobi or your onward destination.
END OF THE TRIP.
