We all slept much better than last night. After 3 nights in tents I think we are all starting to get used to roughing it! We had a late breakfast at 8:00pm as this is a relativly short day for us. After having some porridge and toast we set off for the daunting Baranco Wall.
We started up the Baranco Wall shortly after 9:00. Our progress was slow as the path is very narrow, and the high number of trekkers, guides and porters lead to massive traffic jams on the tight mountain trail. The Branco Wall is the only part of the Lemosho route that requires some scrambling and a small bit of climbing. There are a few sheer cliffs but the trail is wide enough that its not too hair raising.
After only 50 minutes of climbing we reached the top of Baranco Wall, and were rewarded with a great view of the valley below, and Mt Meru off in the distance. We had clmibed up to around 4233m, but would now decent again to Karanga Camp.
The trail to Karanga Camp was quite dusty and flat. Apart from getting stuck behind some annoying spandex clad, walking poled, French people who slowed us right down whenever the trail got steep. (Walking poles are no use when you are climbing!!!) Be warned, just before you reach Karanga Camp there is a beig valley which you must decend into. Due to the way the trail lies it looks like its a flat trail all the way to Karange, but this certainly caught us all by suprise!!
At Karanga camp we decided to treat ourselves to some cans of coke. I think they were about $2 each, but it was the best $2 I ever spent! To ocupy ourselves we also set about building a rock pyramid. Ours was well better than any of the others I saw on the mountain....for sure. As night fell we got some great views of the summit.
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