Mt. Kenya (Kenya) (map)

A bicycle repair shop on the way to Chagoria

Photographing children while our truck waits to be repaired [again]

Feuling up for the journey to Chagoria

A bicycle repair shop on the way to Chagoria

Repairing the truck tire [again]

Killing time at Top Hut, the building next to the Austrian Hut

Enjoying the sunset, if not for the altitude sickness

Soaking in the warm sun in front of Nelion

Our camp near the Austrian Hut

Our camp near the Austrian Hut

Nelion as seen from Point Lenana

Waking up to the sun at our camp near the Austrian Hut

Feeling full after eating

Stormy weather moves in after setting up camp near the Austrian Hut

Reviewing route beta

Chris' tent near the Austrian Hut

Ravenous after our successful ascent of Nelion (4 hours)

Looking tired after our climb

Yummy food at the Austrian Hut

The summit of Nelion

Sunset at the Austrian Hut

Sunset at the Austrian Hut

Sunset at the Austrian Hut

Lucie comes out to celebrate when we return from the summit

Group shot in front of Nelion

Soloing the "easy slab" (more like 5.5 in places) to the notch
Southwest Ridge

View from the southwest ridge, during a break in the snow
Southwest Ridge

Let's get the hell out of here…retreat!
Southwest Ridge

Batian (centered) and Nelion (to its right) as seen from McKinder's Camp
Southwest Ridge

Diamong Ice Couloir and the twin summits of Mt. Kenya
Southwest Ridge

Jim sets an anchor to wait out the storm
Southwest Ridge

Fueling up for the descent
Southwest Ridge

Horrible rappelling in the snow on the descent
Southwest Ridge

The road through the jungle to the forest gate was really bad -- 4WD and muddy

The town of Chagoria; we didn't want to hang out here very long

Shopping for expedition food

Bags of grains at the Chagoria market

We transferred our expedition supplies to the green 4WD truck; good thing too, as it was hellish 4WD

Lucie at the trailhead of the Chagoria Route

Sunrise at the Mintos Hut area

Our super cool 4WD vehicle that took us to the park gate (plus the driver)

Drinking juice boxes so we don't have to carry them

Writing in the journal at camp at the start of the approach

Our first day on the approach to Mt. Kenya

On the hike up to Mintos Hut

Our camp at Hall Tarns near Mintos Hut

Hanging out in front of the filthy Mintos Hut

Filtering water for the day in one of the lakes near Mintos Hut

Ready for the next day's hiking

Jumping a bog in Temple Fields in a forest of giant groundsel

Resting at Tooth Col

The beautiful Gorges Valley with Mt. Kenya at the head

Lucie pets a soft cactus-like plant

Just about at the Mintos Hut on our first day of the approach

Finally we can see the summits on the approach

Lakes at Hall Tarns near Mintos Hut

View from our campsite near Mintos Hut

On the endless slog up to the Austrian Hut, Lucie begins to feel sick

On the final approach to Austrian Hut

Eating at McKinder's Camp

Talking about options…should we climb another route?

Stream through the moss near McKinder's Camp

Never able to keep warm, Lucie bundles up

Hiking through a forest of giant groundsel

Our descent to McKinder's Camp went around Point John; the summit of Batian is just behind

Hiking with an umbrella to shade from the sun

Must have a little sun block

Descending back to the roadhead, just entering the jungle

Resting at the Met Station, totally beat

Our porters at the Met Station

Batian and Point John; the long ribbon of white is the Diamond Couloir

Pretty flower along the hiking trail

Repacking on the hike out

Jim washes up, first time in 2 weeks

Jim washes up, first time in 2 weeks

Descending through the jungle to the Met Station

On the final march to the forest gate, glad to be done with it

We soloed several pitches up to some ledges, then racked up here at daybreak
Normal Route

Chris leads the section right of McKinder's Chimney
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Looking down from the summit at the Austrian Hut and glacier traverse
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Sitting at a belay high on the route
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At the top of P15, Chris downclimbs into a gully and up the other side
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Jim sitting in front of the Howell Hut
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Victorious on the summit of Nelion
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Enjoying the view from the summit of Nelion
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Hanging out on the summit; the clouds are already starting to develop for the afternoon snow
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One of the many raps from the summit
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Traversing the glacier to the start of the route on a recon outing
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Zigzagging up ledges at the start of the route
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Racking up after soling a couple pitches
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Leading up to the ridge past Baileys Bivy
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Chris belays somewhere on the route
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Traversing and dealing with the ropes
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View from the summit of Nelion
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Sitting in front of the Howell Hut
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Examining the single-point rappel anchor; looks good
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Investigating the ruined Bailies Bivy
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This thing is barely hanging together; completely unusable
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