Altitude sickness is the most dangerous part of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Deaths on Kilimanjaro are primarily attributed to altitude sickness. It is the biggest risk because Kilimanjaro has extreme and rapidly varying weather conditions, and it is a high-altitude trek. The Western Breach route is the most dangerous way to reach Uhuru Peak, and the summit night is the hardest part of the climb.
What is the most dangerous part of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro?
The most dangerous part of climbing the mountain is illness from high elevations. High-altitude illness is responsible for the majority of fatalities. Each year, 30,000 mountaineers climb and 10 individuals die, so the fatality rate is 0.03%. Altitude sickness affects 60-77% of climbers. The altitude is nearly 3.7 miles (5.9 kilometers), and the air’s oxygen amount is 50% of ground level. Danger rises with quick ascent; ascent exceeds about 304.8 meters (1,000 feet) between camps above 3000 meters (9,842.5 feet).
Symptoms include headaches, nausea, and dizziness. Exposure to weather is serious, because peak temperatures drop to 20°C (68°F). Exposure to cold, wind, and being dehydrated makes tiredness and fatigue worse. Hypothermia is a threat. Threats like crevasses are not a concern, because the mountain does not have major glaciers. Avalanches and rockfalls pose limited threats. Threat is limited to the route along the Western Breach, and operators avoid the western side of the mountain. Altitude sickness is the most dangerous part but acclimatization helps with altitude sickness. Longer routes like the Lemosho route and the Northern Circuit route are recommended as they help with acclimatization.
What is the Barranco Wall on Mount Kilimanjaro?
The Barranco Wall on Mount Kilimanjaro is a rocky, steep natural obstacle on the southern slope. It is also called the Great Barranco, and “barranco” means gorge. The wall sits between lower camps and higher altitudes, and its presence dominates Barranco Camp, which is why climbers on the Shira path face it in the morning.
The geology is volcanic, and the wall formed approximately 100,000 years ago. A landslide cut away the southern face during post-eruption stabilization, after volcanic activity stopped. This is tied to the collapse of Kibo’s crater, which happened between 150,000 and 200,000 years ago.
The altitude at the base is just under 4 kilometers. From there the Barranco Wall climbs to just over 13,780 feet (4,200 meters), a height increase of roughly 663 feet (202 meters). The wall itself is about 844 feet tall (257 meters). The path has switchbacks and narrow ledges, traversing rocky outcrops and areas. The ascent uses a stepped trail, but scrambling is needed – navigating requires one hand and both feet of contact, and it rates as class 2-3 on the climbing difficulty scale. There is no technical climbing due to the available help and the trail design.
A section near the top is narrow: hikers hug the wall at lovers’ ledge, where a 12-meter-wide boulder called Kissing Rock touches the path. Because the air is thinner at this altitude, the challenge needs half a day, with climbers moving slowly over exposure and narrow paths.
Is the Barranco Wall on Mount Kilimanjaro known as the Death Wall?
No, the Barranco Wall on Kilimanjaro is not known as the Death Wall. The Barranco Wall has the nickname Breakfast Wall, because climbers climb it after breakfast. It is called the Great Barranco Wall as well. The Barranco Wall rises 257 meters (843 feet) from base to top. The slope is steep but it is not a vertical cliff, and it does not need technical rock climbing expertise. The path takes one to two hours to climb, and it has a well-used winding trail. The slope has no steep drop-offs, and the risk is manageable with slow deliberate movement. The Barranco Wall scares some hikers initially because it looks imposing from a distance but the height hides how easy it is to climb. The danger is exaggerated by the way it looks, and by photographs from certain angles. The death toll of the Barranco Wall is zero and there are no recorded fatalities. The Barranco Wall is known for its friendly atmosphere. Hikers line up in single file, and they hug the cliff at the lovers’ rock, a narrow section near the top. That is when the hikers meet the Narrow gap. The Barranco Wall has climbers as young as 10 and adults over 70.
