Mount Kenya Techinical Climb through Chogoria Approach using South-East Face Route

South-East Face Route. Technical Climbing on Mt. Kenya via the Chogoria approach 6 Days

(A Typical itinerary)
Day 1
Pick up from hotel at about 0800. It's then about 3 1/2 hours from Nairobi to where we collect the porters and guides (as required). Into the Mt. Kenya forest for the 22 km drive to the Park Gate at 2,850m. Dependent on road conditions, these 22 km have been known to take all afternoon to do and in really wet conditions it is possible that the top four or five km may be impassable. Night, dependent on clients wishes, at the Meru Mt. Kenya Banda's or at roadhead a further 7 km from the Park Gate.
Day 2
After breakfast and sorting of porter loads we set off up the mountain at a nice and easy pace . A slightly longer walk via Lake Ellis gives scenic views of Mugi, Ithunguni and the Giants BilliardsTable, whilst if we follow the river near roadhead, upstream for about 3 km, the foreground scenery and flora is particularly beautiful. Lunch by the stream banks then it's time to cut up the left hand hillside to our camp at about 3,600m, well away from any of the more "touristy" areas.
Day 3
From our campsite, we continue to move up through the moorland zone. As this area of the mountain is still off the beaten track, there are no paths to follow, and on each trip we vary the area we walk across. After about an hour, traverse left and join a ridge (slight path to follow) and join the normal Chogoria route to Minto's Hut after about 4 hour walking. Lunch at a small stream crossing then 45 min on to a camp near Minto's Hut and next to one of the tarns. Very short afternoon walk over to superb views across to "The Temple" and down to Lake Michaelson.
Day 4
An early morning departure for the 2½ hour walk to Austrian Hut. Starts gently up the valley for about 2 km. It's then hard left and steeple up for about 45 min (on scree slopes) to Upper Simba Tarn. Another short scree slope leads to the to ridge, right of "The Tooth" before dropping down the other side for about 50m and then contouring across to the Austrian Hut. Leave the hut before noon and cross the Lewis Glacier to the large boulder and scree slope leading to the start of the climb. Arrive Howell Hut on the summit of Nelion before 1700hrs.
Day 5
Up early again, then (weather permitting), across Batian and back to Nelion before heading off down the climb to arrive at Austrian Hut by 1300, Minto's by 1500, and roadhead before 1800. Night at roadhead / Meru Mt. Kenya Bandas.
Day 6
Return to Nairobi at and be dropped at your hotel.