Alpine Climb the North Face Route on Mt. Kenya

Things to know

• Covid measures in the Chogoria Route, Kenya

  57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.

  We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in the Chogoria Route, Kenya, please refer to the U.K. Government’s travel advice for Kenya or the U.S. Embassy’s COVID-19 information site for Kenya.

  Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!

• What’s included?

  What you get on this adventure:

  • • An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
    • 5 full days of hiking, trekking and alpine climbing
    • All technical climbing equipment
    • Camp crew, cook, and a team of porters
    • 3 meals a day
    • Snacks on the trail
    • Drinks on the hike (water, tea, coffee & hot chocolate)
    • All relevant park fees
    • Medical evacuation in case of emergency
    • Supplemental oxygen and pulse oximeters
    • Accommodations during the hike
    • Transportation to and from the trailhead from Nanyuki Town

  What’s not included:

  • • Transportation to Kenya
    • Transportation from Nairobi to the trailhead — available for an additional fee
    • Airport departure taxes
    • Entry visas
    • Hospital bills and international evacuation in the event of an emergency
• How fit do I need to be?

  This is a climb for experienced rock climbers and alpinists. Normally, the summit day is well over 12 hours long. While most of the climbing is on mid-5th class rock, there is one 5.9 pitch and several at a 5.8 standard. Add to this the challenge of technical rock at 17,000 feet above sea level and the alpine nature of the climb, and it amounts to a very demanding route. Climbers considering the ascent need to be solid 5.9 followers with experience on long technical routes of at least 10 pitches in length.

• What do I need to bring?

  All technical climbing equipment will be provided by your guiding service. However, if you have your own gear, feel free to bring it. You’ll need:

  • • Helmet
    • Harness with a locking carabiner, belay device, and chalk bag
    • Ropes
    • Climbing hardware (quickdraws, cam devices, stoppers, etc.)

  Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:

  • • Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 35-45L bag)
    • Rucksack with cover (around a 55-65 bag, for a porter to carry your main gear)
    • Dry bags
    • Hiking poles — optional
    • Rock shoes
    • Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
    • Warm hat and a buff or scarf
    • Sun hat
    • Warm gloves or mitts and thin liner gloves are also useful
    • Waterproof jacket and trousers
    • Waterproof gaiters
    • Warm jacket – fleece or down jacket, potentially ski jacket
    • Waterproof jacket over the top
    • Fleece tops or hiking shirts/sweatshirts
    • Base layers or T-shirts
    • Pair of trekking trousers and shorts
    • Leggings or thermal bottoms or running tights
    • Several sets of underwear – cotton best avoided
    • Several pairs of good quality trekking socks
    • Waterproof trekking boots
    • Trainers or flip flops/sandals
    • Rock shoes
    • Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
    • Favorite snack bars
    • Headtorch
    • Powerpack for charging phones etc
    • Wash kit — no showers on the mountain but you can have a bucket wash
    • Flask for hot drinks — optional, useful on summit night
    • Earplugs — optional
    • Sunglasses
    • Camera — optional (but recommended)

  For camping, you need to bring:

  • • Sleeping bag
    • Sleeping bag thermal liner
    • Pillow
    • Thick foam mat or self-inflating mat (like a Therm-A-Rest)

  Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans. Keep in mind that despite the fact that Mount Kenya is on the equator in Africa, it can get very cold. In the early morning hours, the temperature can get to about -4 degrees Celsius and as high as 18 degrees Celsius during the day.

  A porter can carry a max of 18kg/39.6Lbs, including food, accommodation, wages, etc. There will be multiple porters depending on the amount of baggage and in case your baggage weighs more, you can hire another porter for an additional fee.
  Your guides can provide all of the technical climbing gear at no extra cost. After booking, your guides will provide more details about the required alpine climbing gear.

• Group sizes and age requirements

  Group sizes and prices:

  • • For this adventure, the max client-to-guide ratio is 8:1.
    • The cost per person decreases as the group grows, so it’s the perfect opportunity to climb with friends and family!

  Alpine climbing in the Chogoria Route can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

  Min. age requirements:

  • • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
• Getting there and meeting location

  To get to the Chogoria Route, most people fly into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. From there, you can rent a car and go for a 3-hour drive to Nanyuki. Local flight options are also available. Your guide also offers transfer services from Nairobi to Nanyuki, priced at 100$.

  There are no direct flights from the US or Canada to East Africa. The fastest routes to Nairobi are usually two nonstop legs via London or another European city such as Amsterdam, Frankfurt, or Paris.

  Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, whether that’s at the guide shop in Nanyuki Town or a predetermined location. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ability of the group.

• Deposits and cancellation policy

  Registration for an adventure with your guide requires a 50% non-refundable deposit. The balance of program fees will generally be due 90 days prior to the starting date of the program. It is your responsibility to adhere to the fee payment schedule. Late payment will result in cancellation of program reservations and forfeiture of all fees paid.

  Please note that you will have to sign an indemnity form with the guide. If, following your booking, you choose not to sign it, you will receive a refund.

  If your guide has to make an alteration to the time of departure or return to the your home exceeding 12 hours between the date of your booking and the date of departure to, you can decide no to proceed with the booking. In that case, you can:

  • • transfer your booking to another trip by the guide without incurring a transfer charge but subject to an appropriate adjustment up or down to the sums payable
    • cancel your booking without penalty.

  If your guide increases the basic price of the trip by 10% or more and you do not wish to continue with the trip, you may cancel your booking and get a full refund in respect of the basic cost of the trip but your guide will not be responsible for other incurred costs.

  Should you cancel for any other reason the following charges will apply:

  • • more than 30 days before the expedition – loss of deposit
    • 20 to 29 days before departure – 30% of total cost
    • 11 to 19 days before departure – 60% of total cost
    • less than 10 days before departure – 100% of total cost.

  If your guide is forced to cancel your trip, you will be given the opportunity either to:

  • • receive a refund of the basic cost of the trip paid to African Ascents
    • transfer to another trip without charge. If there is a difference in price between the cancelled trip and the trip to which you elect to transfer your booking, your guide will refund the difference if it is cheaper or invoice you for the supplement if it is more expensive.

  If the reason for the cancellation less than 8 weeks before the advertised departure date is a lack of bookings, a compensation of $30 per properly booked person will be paid.

  Please note that booking fees are non-refundable in all cases and will be deducted from the refund amount.