The Steve Prescott Foundation in association with Solar King UK and Engage Mutual Assurance are attempting their most audacious challenge to date! Tackling Kilimanjaro!!! 27th August 2013.
In true Steve Prescott style this challenge will not be done the traditional way. Most attempts to tackle Kilimanjaro are over 9 days. The SPF Team will be attempting to tackle the highest mountain in Africa in 5 Days!!! This is going to be tough, it certainly is no holiday but an experience of a lifetime. Even the fittest person is not guaranteed to be successful. Acclimatisation will be main problem, the SPF with the help of St Helens RLFC will arrange specialist training with associate partners to help the team prepare for the challenge.
It has been well documented in the press over the past few months Steve Prescott MBE has had his fair share of illness problems. He has had a course of Chemotherapy, had a stent put in from his kidney to bladder and also had numerous obstructions in his abdomen. Never the less the inspirational pseudomyxoma peritonei cancer sufferer has set his sights on climbing Kilimanjaro and who would bet against him reaching the summit.
Would you like to join the SPF Team?
If the answer is yes! Then here is the important information you will require.
The Challenge will be from Aug 27th to Sep 3rd. The flights will depart from Manchester Airport 11.15 am and arrive at Kilimanjaro 01.10 28th Aug. The departure flights are Sept 3rd 02:00 arriving at Manchester Airport 15:00.
The cost of tackling Kilimanjaro is very expensive, most Charities ask their clients to raise £4,000 plus. The Steve Prescott Foundation are asking all participants to raise a minimum of £3000.
We have already received huge interest in this challenge. We have 15 places available. If you want to join the SPF Team you must pay £750 to secure your place. The final date for your application is 28th April. A further £750 must be paid by the 1st July. The outstanding £1500 must be paid four weeks after the challenge 1st October. On payment of your deposit you will also have to sign a contract. The SPF will do everything to assist you on raising the sponsorship money.
The money raised from your exertions will go to the two great charities that the Steve Prescott Foundation support which are The Christie Hospital and the Try Assist Fund which is working alongside the SPF in providing the former Haydock ARLFC player Luke Bryan with a brand new home that will dramatically improve his life and wellbeing after breaking his neck 17 years ago.
Our Base will be the Honey Badger Lodge and they will provide expert guides to get Team SPF through the challenge. Please check them out on Trip Advisor, they have excellent reviews.
OVERVIEW: Honey Badger Lodge Coca Cola Route
Known by many as the “Coca-cola route”, Marangu is by far the most popular route for climbing the mighty Kilimanjaro. This is the shortest route and can be climbed in just 5 days, however this is not always best as allows less time for acclimatisation. The Honey Badger experienced team will prepare you delicious meals and be there to answer any of your queries as they arise. The day before your climb you will receive a full briefing from our climbing team, all your equipment will receive a final check and we will be able to answer any of your questions.
DAY 1
MARANGU GATE (1,980M) to MANDARA HUT (2,700M)
HIKING TIME: APPROX FIVE HOURS DISTANCE: APPROXIMATELY TWELVE KILOMETRES HABITAT: MONTAIN FOREST
After a hearty Honey Badger breakfast your guides will come to collect you and you will drive 45 minutes from the lodge to Marangu village/gate. After registering at the gate you will begin by entering the rain forest. The misty forest will provide you with ample opportunity to sight some of Kilimanjaro’s animals. You will spend your first night at the Mandara hut, which is a group of wooden A-framed huts in a forest clearing. Each hut features 6-8 sleeping bunks with solar generated lighting. The total capacity of the camp is 60 climbers. Water is piped into the camp from springs above and there are flush toilets behind the main hut.
DAY 2
MANDARA HUT (2,700M) to HOROMBO HUT (3,720M)
HIKING TIME: APPROXIMATELY SIX HOURS DISTANCE: APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN KILOMETERS
HABITAT: MOORLAND
From Mandara you will walk along the short stretch of forest, to the base of the Maundi Crater then emerge into the moorland. At this point you can decide to make a short, but recommended detour to scramble up the rim of the Maundi Crater for your first really impressive view of the Kibo Crater. The open moorland provides you with time to see Kilimanjaro's most spectacular plants, our guides will point these out to you. After about 6 hours from here you reach the Horombo hut, where you will have hot washing water, a hearty meal and a good night’s rest.
DAY 3
HOROMBO HUT (3,720M) to KIBO HUT (4,700M)
HIKING TIME: APPROXIMATLY SIX HOURS DISTANCE: APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN KILOMETRES HABITAT: ALPINE DESERT
After breakfast you continue to trek through the alpine desert habitat. From Horombo there are two trails to the "Saddle" (which refers to the area located between the peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo). There is an upper route (right hand fork) and lower route (left hand fork) to choose from. The upper route (right hand fork) will be very familiar, as you will have climbed most of it the previous day towards Mawenzi hut. It is very stony and eroded. The recommended lower route (left hand fork) is much easier and nearly an hour shorter. From Kibo hut, the summit is only 1,195m above you and you will make your final ascent the same night. The team will help you to prepare your equipment and clothing for your summit attempt. You will go to bed at round at about 19h00 and try to get some precious rest and sleep.
DAY 4: (SUMMIT ATTEMPT)
KIBO HUT (4,700M) to UHURU PEAK (5,895M) to HOROMBO HUT (3,720M)
HIKING TIME: APPROXIMATELY EIGHT HOURS TO REACH UHURU PEAK AND ANOTHER SIX HOURS TO DESCEND TO HOROMBO DISTANCE: APPROXIMATELY SIX KILOMETRES ASCENT – AND A FURTHER TWENTY ONE KILOMETRES DESCENT HABITAT: STONE SCREE AND ICE-CAPPED SUMMIT
At about 23h30 you will be awoken and will make a move into the night. You will head to Hans Meyer cave (5,150m). The path then zigzags up to Gillman’s point (5,681m) on the crater rim. Many climbers find this walk the most mentally and physically challenging aspect of the climb. From Stella Point you will normally encounter snow all the way on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa and an achievement you will remember for the rest of your life.
The walk back to Kibo hut from the summit, takes about 3 hours. Here you will have a well earned but short rest and collect the rest of your gear, before heading down to Horombo hut. The route is not difficult and will take you down the rock and scree path into the moorland and eventually into the forest. Here you will rest and feel proud of your achievement.
DAY 5
HOROMBO HUT (3,720M) to MARANGU GATE (1,980M)
HIKING TIME: APPROXIMATELY SIX HOURS DISTANCE: APPROXIMATELY TWENTY SEVEN KILOMETRES HABITAT: FOREST
After an early and well-deserved breakfast, you will continue a 6 hour descent passing Mandara hut, and down to the Marangu gate. Here you will receive your certificates; those climbers who reached Gillman’s point (5,681m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5,895m) receive gold certificates. You will be picked up and brought back to Honey badger lodge for a warm welcome, a cold celebratory drink and a hearty meal.
COST: £3000 minimum
INCLUDES
o Full briefing before your trip
o Park fees
o Camping fees
o Rescue fees
o Food (3 meals per day)
o Water
o Salaries (guide, cooks, porters)
o Transport to and from the mountain for yourselves and the crew
o Lunch box for the first day
o Crew park fees
o Administration fee
o 2 night’s accommodation (bed only) at Honey Badge Lodge for before and after your climb
o Certificates of achievement
o SPF Tracksuit, 2 x SPF Polo Shirts, 2 x SPF T Shirts
EXLUDES:
Visas
Travel insurance (Sponsors of the SPF Insure Risk Management are looking into a group booking)
Alcoholic and Non-alcoholic beverages
Additional personal equipment
Gratuities*
Additional activities for after the climb e.g. safaris, waterfall visit, massage etc
*GRATUITIES
With regards to gratuities, there is no agreed mechanism for this, though it is somewhat expected that climbers will tip the crew. This does not refer to the company per-se, rather the porters that you climb with. We encourage climbers to give this directly to the porters, or to the guide who can then divide it accordingly. Previous in groups tend to put between 60 -130 dollars per client into a pot that can then be divided amongst the crew. Of course this is not compulsory and is entirely at your discretion.