We'll meet up on Saturday, June 8th at 8:00pm at the Sarit Center. A small 4WD or better is required as the road from Ndonyo Njeru to Mutubio is quite rough. Let me know if you will be driving or if you need a ride. It can get quite cold in the Aberdares, you'll need a good quality sleeping bag, warm clothes and rain gear.

Costs

Rangers - 3000/day/ranger to be split among all who come

Park entry fees - Citizens - 300, Residents - 1000, Non-residents $50

Camping fees - Citizens - 150, Residents -  300, Non-residents $15

Fuel - Mutubio is 130Km from Nairobi.

As usual there will be supper buffet for 25pax (first come first served). Members 700/=, Non Members 800/=

BeanSalad

Chicken Dilruba Curry

Coconut Fish Tawa

Veg Tawa

Corn Curry (Veg)

Assorted Naans

Jeera Rice

Ras Malai (Dessert)

This is a flexible, multi-purpose trip. The basic idea is to enter through the Naro Moru Gate and camp at

the Met Station on the night of the 30th. We will hike up to Mackinder’s on Friday and stay Friday and

Saturday nights, coming down on Sunday morning. To camp at the Met Station, you will need to reach the

gate by 6 PM on the 30th. Saturday is a free day and parties can set their own objective. The club did this

about 5 years ago and we had a nice group of about 20 people on the mountain pursuing their own

interest or goals appropriate to their experience level.

Other options are to drive up very early on the 31st and hike to Mackinder’s in one day. For most, this is a

seven-hour hike, so plan accordingly. A better option might be to arrive on the evening of the 30th to Naro

Moru town, spend the night in a local hotel and then enter the park first thing on the morning of the 31st.

Hiking alone is not permitted, so need to be at least in pairs. If you are using porters, they can act as your

partner and know the trial as well.

People new to Mt Kenya will probably prefer to climbing Pt Lenana. This is a hiking trip that usually

leaves early in the morning to be at the top of Lenana for the sunrise. Others may wish to hike to other

destinations or go climbing. Day hikes to Hut tarn and other points are possible.

The cost for park entry is for a four day package which KWS website indicates is 2000 KSH for citizens

and 3500 KSH for residents. Non-residents pay 220 USD. Park fees are posted at the page listed below:

http://www.kws.org/export/sites/kws/tourism/downloads/Conservation_Fees_Jan-_Dec_2012.pdf

The MCK hut is free for members (non-members 400.00 per day), but this will probably be full. You

should plan to stay at Mackinder’s or to camp. I believe the current price for Mackinder’s Camp is 1200

KSH per night.

We can arrange porters to carry gear to Mackinder’s camp. These usually cost 1000 KSH per day. If you

wish to have a porter please contact me and I will arrange for porters for the group with Hiram. Hiking

guides can also be requested from Hiram through me. The club is not planning to have a ‘designated

leader’ for the hike to Point Lenana, but one may volunteer as the date approaches.

Mount Kenya is a high altitude environment and discomfort due to high altitude (head aches, vomiting,

etc.) is common in first time visitors. If this occurs, you should not continue to ascend. If signs persist, the

best treatment is descent. Please let others know, if you experience head aches, dizziness or nausea. For

those who do not respect these warning signs, in rare cases, altitude sickness can progress to cerebral or

pulmonary edema, both severe life-threatening conditions.

Contact: info@mck.or.ke

for General Meets/Trips inquiries email <meets@mck.or.ke>

 

James Kagambi, an accomplised mountaineer and long time instructor with The National Outdoor Leadership School (US) will be presenting a slideshow on Mountains of East Africa. He will take more on Rwenzoris and also share the new route up the Credner glacier on Kilimanjaro.

Those who wish to join us, please email me your contact details and whether you need a lift or are offering lifts in your car. All cars should be 4WD and in good mechanical condition, as the Marsabit road is very punishing! More details will be sent to those who sign-up.

Everyone will need to be self-sufficient for camping and cooking in the bush. Final arrangements will be discussed at the clubhouse on Tuesday 26th March, just before the supper night show.

Arshad Khan info@mck.or.ke

 

Finally the traverse meet is scheduled – March 5th to 10th

 

This hike will cover the full length of Aberdares from North to South. It will begin from the Twin Hills where we will camp on the night of the 5th March. This is accessed from the Shamata Gate at the North end of the park.

 

Day 1: Twin Hills over Satima peak to Table Mountain. Camping at the ponds.

 

Day 2: From Table Mountain descend the ridge and camp by a stream at the forest edge.

 

Day 3: To Mitubio gate, camping at the gate and resupply with food.

 

Day 4: Mitubio Gate to Kinangop Mountain through the Bamboo.

 

Day 4: Kinangop Mountain, over the Elephant to Njabini Forest Station.

 

We have done different parts of this route over the last two years as a club and have good GPS tracks. The hiking is moderate, but sustained. We will need to carry camping gear and food for two to three days. This trip will like all the pieces into one traverse and it should be a great wilderness experience.

 

Costs are park entrance fees and guard fees for two rangers for the 5 days. The ranger fee for two is 12,000 per day which will be split between the group.

 

Contact: Alex T and Jeff Mariner info@mck.or.ke

 

Departure Java at ABC place at 7:30 am, saturday

Afternoon : walking the lava tube

Sunday Morning : hiking around the rim of Suswa volcano

Sunday afternoon : driving back 

 

What it costs, for residents :

 

Entrance  500 KES

Car         500 KES

Camping  500 KES

Firewood 500 KES

Guide      1000 KES saturday + 1000 KES sunday

 

Contact: Rémi FRITSCH, info@mck.or.ke