Mount Kenya - Irresistible To Climbers and Trekkers

Mount Kenya straddles the equator and stands at 5199 meters high. Its beautiful snow-capped peaks and imposing height have attracted adventurous climbers and trekkers for years.

The mountain somewhat stands unjustly in the shadow of it's slightly loftier cousin Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 meters), as most people who conquer it after conquering Mount Kilimanjaro attest that it is more challenging.

Mount Kenya is the source of the name of the Republic of Kenya. Its highest peaks are Batian (5,199 m), Nelion (5,188 m) and Point Lenana (4,985 m). Batian and Nelion are only for technical climbers, whereas Point Lenana can be reached by trekkers.

The stratovolcano was created about 3 million years ago. Before glaciation it stood at 7,000 meters high. It was covered by an ice cap for thousands of years, resulting in its very eroded slopes and numerous valleys radiating from the centre.

Since 1900 the glaciers have been rapidly retreating and 7 out of 18 have disappeared.

Mount Kenya National Park, established in 1949, occupies an area of 2,800 sq km and protects the region surrounding the mountain. The park has an abundance of wildlife, mineral springs and unique montane and alpine vegetation with 11 species of endemic plants.

History
The first European to report seeing the mountain was Dr Johann Ludwig Krapf, a German missionary, from Kitui in 1849, a town 160 km away from the mountain. The sighting was made on 3 December 1849, a year after the discovery by Europeans of Mount Kilimanjaro.

The mountain was first climbed in 1899 by Halford Mackinder, with guides César Ollier and Joseph Brocherel. They reached the summit of Batian at noon on 13 September, and descended via the same route.

On 6 January 1929, Percy Wyn-Harris and Eric Shipton made the first ascent of Nelion. They climbed the Normal Route, and then descended to the Gate of Mists before ascending Batian.

In February 1938 Miss C Carol and Mtu Muthara became the first woman and African respectively to ascend Nelion, in an expedition with Noel Symington, and on 5 March the same year Miss Una Cameron became the first woman to ascent Batian.

In 1943 three Italian prisoners of war detained at POW Camp 354 near Nanyuki escaped to climb the mountain then returned to face the music. The mountaineering classic No Picnic on Mount Kenya by Felice Benuzzi tells their story.

On Kenyan independence in 1963 Kisoi Munayo raised the Kenyan flag at the top of Mount Kenya. He died in 2007 and was given a heroic funeral attended by Kenya's third president Mwai Kibaki.

Find out about climbing Mount Kenya and further information on Mount Kenya National Park tourist attractions and accommodation.

Article Source: Paul_M_Banks

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Interesting Facts About Mount Kenya

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Mount Kenya is one of the highest peaks in Africa, second only to Mount Kilimanjaro. At an elevation of 12,549 feet, the glacier-topped mountains provide an excellent source of water for much of Kenya. Here are more fast facts about the mountain that named the country.

1. Mount Kenya is an inactive stratovolcano. It has spewed out lava that quickly hardened, thus creating the conical shape it is famous for. If the mountain is cut crosswise, visible layers of lava, tephra, pumice and ash will be found according to the sequence and type of volcanic spews. The rich soil makes a perfect habitat for a variety of plants.

2. A 715 square-kilometer National Park sits around the center mountain. The park is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 for its geologic characteristic. It is a famous tourist spot and it receives 16,000 visitors per year.

3. There are four ethnic groups that live around Mount Kenya. The Gikuyu are the growers or agriculturists. They take advantage of the high fertile soil at the western side of the mountain. The tribesmen build their houses with doors facing the mountain, as they believe that it is God's throne on earth. This practice is observed by the Embu tribe, who says that Mount Kenya is the sacred abode of God. The Ameru has made the east and north slopes their home, while the Maasai are semi-nomadic people occupy the northern part of the mountain with their cattle.

4. The center of the mountain has a similarity with the Alps' terrain. The peaks have a craggy nature and alpine plants grown in rock crevices. The peaks each have a name with the highest one reaching to 17,057 feet high, and it is called Batian. The first known climbers of Batian reached the summit in September, 1899. It took them three attempts before they successfully got to the top.

5. It is more difficult to climb Mount Kenya than Kilimanjaro. The first is listed in The Seven Summit, a popular bucket list for mountaineers around the world. It requires special equipment and tested rock climbing skills to get to the twin summits of Batian and Nelion.

6. This equatorial mountain has an equal number of hours for day and night. The sunrise and sunset occurs at 5:30 almost constantly every day. There's also just one minute of difference between the shortest and the longest days.

Kenya is definitely different from home. The country promises an adventure to all visitor, an experience that will be retold countless times. For more travel tips and adventure guide, visit Travelingeast.com

Article Source: Heather_J_Scott