New speed record on Kili

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

"Kilian Jornet, a Spanish mountain climber and endurance athlete, set a new record for the fastest climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro earlier this week, making his way from the base to summit, and back again, in just 7 hours and 14 minutes. The previous record for the climb was held by Tanzanian Simon Mtuy, who made the round-trip journey in 8 hours and 27 minutes."

http://7summits-club.com/news/all/item_2019/

 

[audrey]

Wow! Do you know how much elevation was involved?

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

Wow! Do you know how much elevation was involved?

The article does not state, but presumably he ran the Marangu ("Coca Cola") route, so gained 3915 m in about 45 km. Article also does not state what part of his 7 hr 14 min was up and what part down, but if he took two thirds of that time to go up, I calculate an elevation gain of about 805 m (2642 ft) per hour, which is not too shabby at high elevation (i.e., we are not talking the Whites here).

 

[FARMER]

the article says 5 hr 23 minutes to the summit

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

the article says 5 hr 23 minutes to the summit

So, only 728 m (2387 ft) per hour on the way up. But, I must have misread the Marangu Route distance, as 45 km in less than 2 hours down would be continuous 4-minute miles.

 

[kltilton]

That's pretty fast. I don't see anyone breaking 7 hours anytime soon.

 

[B the Hiker]

I spent more time than that on summit day alone.


Brian