The following took place between 3 Jan - 10 Jan 22
⚡️Mission: Take on the mystical Rwenzori Mountain Ranges
💥Route: Central Circuit
🎯Target: Margherita & Victoria Emanuele Peaks on Mt Stanley & Mt Speke
11 individuals, one goal!
A Mystical Thread: #UgandaUnseen #Rwenzori202
The JOURNEY: Let's start from the beginning. Touch down at basecamp. This is when it gets real. It's the point of no return.
First things first:
✅ Gear check
✅ Weight check (total of 21kgs)
✅ Technical climbing equipment check
#UgandaUnseen #Rwenzori2022
This prep day at basecamp is essential. It is time for the hike guides to do a final check to ensure everyone has everything they need on the mountain.
The weigh-in determines that everyone has a specific amount of weight in kgs for porters to carry. #UgandaUnseen #Rwenzori2022
The TEAM:
A group of 11 willing individuals signed up for this challenge. Organized and led by @_Ikanza duly assisted by @atupatience, we were ready to set off.
In the pictures: @tmsruge @elabonyo @Castard @TomanyaX @AngelaKodet @LubegaFrankk.
#UgandaUnseen #Rwenzori2022
Day 1:
Destination: Nyabitaba Camp
Elevation: 2651m ASL
The first day is when you assess your ability to continue to the summit. The beautiful trail takes you through rocky parts, attractive streams of water, and a steady incline towards the camp
#UgandaUnseen #Rwenzori2022
Day 2:
The separation: Two destinations.
One team heads off to John Mate, and another team hikes past John Mate camp to the final destination - Bujuku camp.
With everyone feeling refreshed the following morning, we set off for our next destination.
#UgandaUnseen #Rwenzori2022
More breathtaking shots taken between John Mate camp and Bujuku Camp.
📸 credit: @tmsruge
#UgandaUnseen #Rwenzori2022
Day 3: Summit Day
Destination: Victoria Emanuele Peak on Mt. Speke
5 of us woke up early at 6:30 am to start the climb to Mt.Speke's highest peak - Victoria Emanuele.
The team consisted of myself, @atupatience @tomanyax @_Ikanza & @AngelaKodet.
#UgandaUnseen #Rwenzori2022
The journey to Victoria Emanuele Peak is considered one of the more technical climbs on the Rwenzoris. It requires a fair amount of training in rock climbing. For most of the journey, you have to be on "all fours."
It is incredibly windy.
#UgandaUnseen #Rwenzori2022
Chasing Victoria Emanuele Peak is not for the faint hearted.
The journey continues: #UgandaUnseen #Rwenzori2022
Besides the incredibly technical climb, you are treated to beautiful scenes up Mount Speke.
#UgandaUnseen #Rwenzori2022
If you are to climb Mount Speke, be sure to train extensively in the following;
✅ Core work
✅ Strength training to strengthen your leg muscles
✅ Rock climbing
#UgandaUnseen #Rwenzori2022 #VictoriaEmanuelePeak
After a taste of endurance and extensive climbing, we finally arrive at Victoria Emanuele Peak, the highest peak on Mt. Speke.
Elevation: 4890m ASL
Our first summit was completed! Next mission, to chase Margherita peak!
#UgandaUnseen #Rwenzori2022
Day 4:
Journey to Elena: Our final camp before summiting Margherita peak.
We take some refreshing pictures before we leave Bujuku camp. All 11 of us still going strong and ready for the ultimate challenge
#UgandaUnseen #Rwenzori2022
Journey to Elena:
Let's take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the Rwenzoris. Unseen, Unmatched!
#UgandaUnseen #Rwenzori2022
Journey to Elena:
More shots from camp Bujuku to Elena camp.
Beauty is unmatched!
#UgandaUnseen #Rwenzori2022
I can't get enough of these pictures! Lake Bujuku as seen on your way to Elena. What a beauty!
@lubegafrankk @AngelaKodet
Journey to Elena:
#UgandaUnseen #Rwenzori2022
The Margherita glacier reveals itself to us. The mountain is alive!
#UgandaUnseen #Rwenzori2022
.@TomanyaX and Sam soaking in the views before the big day! We finally arrive at Elena hut!
Elevation: 4,970m ASL
#UgandaUnseen #Rwenzori2022
The night before the summit is the hardest. We all hardly slept. It's the nerves in anticipation of the big day.
@tmsruge seen in his cabin at Elena. @AngelaKodet @atupatience @_Ikanza enjoy an early breakfast
#UgandaUnseen #Rwenzori2022
Timecheck: 2:30am. Everyone is fully dressed, all technical gear checked, and ready to start the journey to Margherita peak.
The flashlights lead us as we keep one foot in front of the other! Slowly making our ascend to Margherita peak.
#UgandaUnseen #Rwenzori2022
At 7:30 am - The first team touched down at the highest point in #Uganda - Margherita Peak.
Elevation: 5,109m ASL
Seen in photos: @_Ikanza @tmsruge @AngelaKodet @LubegaFrankk @atupatience Sam and myself.
#UgandaUnseen #Rwenzori2022
It was an extremely windy summit. We had a window of about 2 minutes to take all the pictures we wanted before freezing to death!
#UgandaUnseen #Rwenzori2022
The rest of our team also summited a few moments later. 100% summit it was!
This team consists of @elabonyo @TomanyaX @Castard @AgabaKaahwa
#UgandaUnseen #Rwenzori2022
Brands showcase:
@_Ikanza took @RugyeyoFarm to the top, and of course @tmsruge brought @QweziBeauty to the top!
#UgandaUnseen #Rwenzori2022
After Summit celebrations on the Margherita glaciar!
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And more shots!
The girls were winning! The boys wanted out!
#UgandaUnseen #Rwenzori2022
From summit we started our hike to Kitandara hut, hiking past Elena and descending further.
At this point we are tired having woken up at 2:30am and still going hours later.
Kitandara greets us with calm and peace and a beautiful lake-view.
#UgandaUnseen #Rwenzori2022
Day 6: We start our hike to Guyoman. Our last hut in the forest before we exit the park.
Everyone is in good spirits. It is here that all the jumping shots come out.
Seen in images: @tmsruge @TomanyaX @atupatience
#UgandaUnseen #Rwenzori2022
We take a few shots at the Fresh Pass Field. Making a pledge to come back and take on Mt.Baker's Edward peak!
Our guides Sebastian and William join us in the final shot.
#UgandaUnseen #Rwenzori2022
I decided to do a speed descend and my guide obliged.
Enjoy the views!
#UgandaUnseen #Rwenzori2022
Day 7: The final stroll:
We woke up early and started our journey out of the part. The journey starts from Guyoman completes the central circuit at Nyabitaba and all the way to the gate.
#UgandaUnseen #Rwenzori2022
The Exit:
At 11:30am - @lubebafrankk and I touched down back to the gate as the first team to arrive.
All 11 of us: 10 Ugandans , 1 South Sudanese made it safely back after a successful expedition.
#UgandaUnseen #Rwenzori2022
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