Western Breach route open again?
I've seen that Kilimanjaro tour operators are now running Western Breach climbs again, after the route was shut down for several years following a fatal rockfall accident. Does anyone know what's been done about safety on the route ? Was the campsite relocated, or the path rerouted, or do Western Breach climbers just have to accept a higher risk factor?
Turtle says "pole pole"
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Just returned from Kili last week, camped at the Lava Tower, which is close to the Western Breach. From there we took an acclimatisation hike up to Arrow glacier camp, where there were people preparing to ascend the breach. Officially the National Park will not sanction climbs up there but companies will take you; you have to sign a disclaimer absolving them of any risk re rock fall danger/injury/worse. If you decide to do it, and get into difficulties, the National Park Rangers say they will not help, I find that hard to believe, but you never know. During the night we camped at Lava Tower, there was an avalanche/rock fall higher up the mountain, the noise of the rock fall lasted for about two minutes, it was pretty loud, we thought it was thunder at first, but our guides later confirmed it was a rock fall. As far as I know no one was caught in it.
I am grateful for the above posting as it echoes the caution that we have been consistently encouraging since January 2006.
Certainly it will be possible to find blogs online reporting that a group has successfully summitted via the Western Breach without experiencing rockfall, but we are convinced that the incidence of rock fall is on the increase and that exposure to potentially lethal rockfall is a very real risk nowadays.
We recently summitted via the Breach without event with a military group, but undertook the climb very reluctantly and would strongly advise climbers to consider alternative assault routes.
The location of Arrow Glacier Camp (4871m) has not changed, and the route remains essentially the same as prior to January 2006.
Climbers are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the contents of the website that is dedicated to informing decisions on whether or not to climb this route. Please see www.westernbreach.co.uk
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