Mt Kenya December 2027

Caro North & Ella Wright

Caro North

  • Caro is an alpinist, climber and IFMGA-certified mountain guide who has dedicated her life to exploring the mountains in all their forms. Her passion for climbing, mountaineering, skiing, expeditions and paragliding has taken her from Patagonia and Antarctica to the Himalayas, Alaska, Iran, Pakistan and beyond. Her versatility across mountain disciplines, combined with a positive and resilient mindset, allows her to approach complex projects with curiosity and determination.
    One of her most significant achievements came in 2015, when she and Christina Huber completed the first all-female free ascent of Cerro Torre in Patagonia. Other highlights include the second one-day winter ascent of the Walker Spur on the Grandes Jorasses, a free ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite, and the first ski descent of Pogranichnik Peak (5,000 m) in Kazakhstan. Her career also includes numerous demanding alpine routes, first ascents and complex, remote expeditions around the world.
    In 2022, Caro led a three-month all-female expedition to Greenland. The team sailed from France to Greenland, combining the journey by sea with their climbing objectives in the remote Arctic. They achieved the first ascent of the unclimbed East Face of Northern Sun Spire, establishing Via Sedna, a 16-pitch, 780-metre route graded 6b–7b+. The expedition also reflected Caro’s growing commitment to finding more sustainable ways of exploring the mountains and reaching remote places.
    Patagonia has become a particularly important part of Caro’s life. After numerous expeditions to the region, she now divides her time between Switzerland and Patagonia, where she has developed extensive experience on some of the world’s most impressive granite walls. She has opened new routes in Frey, Cochamó and El Chaltén, including the first ascent of a long route in the remote Turbio Valley. In Torres del Paine, she completed the first all-female ascent of the Sudafricana Route, spending 13 days on the wall.
    Caro is also passionate about passing on her knowledge and experience to the next generation of female alpinists. She coaches the Swiss Alpine Club’s (SAC) women’s expedition team, sharing her experience and helping the team prepare for their final expedition. For her, guiding and mentoring are an important part of her role in the mountains, supporting others in developing the skills, confidence and resilience needed to take on their own ambitious projects.
    With a degree in geo- and environmental sciences, Caro combines her professional expertise in the mountains with a strong awareness of their fragile environments. For her, exploration is not only about reaching a summit or climbing a difficult line, it is about experiencing wild places, pushing personal boundaries and doing so with respect for the landscapes she calls home.

Ella Wright

  • Qualifications held:

    • Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor

    • Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor

    • Ella is also supported by The North Face as part of the UK Ambassador Team.

    A bit about me:

    Growing up in Africa, adventure wasn’t just a hobby, it was a way of life. From a young age, I was drawn to the outdoors, embracing every opportunity to explore wild places. By the time I was 17, I had already discovered my passion for mountaineering at altitude, which then shaped much of my life to come.

    My journey has taken me on incredible expeditions across the globe, where I honed my leadership skills by meticulously planning, executing, and reviewing mountain bike and high-altitude adventures. Alongside that, I gained valuable experience navigating the rivers of Kenya and Uganda through rafting and kayaking, adding new dimensions to my understanding of outdoor challenges.

    In 2016, driven to explore and build my skills and credentials, I made the big move to move to Scotland. Here, I focused on earning British mountain qualifications. Today, I am proud to be a qualified Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor, a Winter Mountain Leader, and a Level 2 Mountain Bike Instructor. I’m also certified as a Gold Velotech bike mechanic.

    Every journey has taught me something new, about the mountains, about adventure, and most importantly, about people. My goal is to share that knowledge and passion with others, helping them find their own path in the mountains, whether that’s climbing, biking, or simply experiencing bigger and exciting places.

Climbing Itinerary - 5200m

  • Nanyuki to Chogoria Swiss Camp (3450m)

    • Morning

      • Meet at the Nanyuki Climbing gym and begin a 6hr drive to Chogoria Gate

    • Afternoon

      • Arrive at Chogoria Gate (start of Mt. Kenya trek)

      • Trek for approximately 2 hrs gaining 350m of height from the vehicle drop off, through forested terrain

      • Reach Swiss Camp (3450m)

      • Take in views of the transition between Afro-alpine forest and moorland (weather permitting)

    • Evening

      • Dinner at camp

      • Rest and prepare for the next day’s trek

  • Day Itinerary: Swiss Camp → Lake Michaelson (4,300m)

    Trekking time: ~5hrs
    Total amount of Altitude gain throughout the day: ~1300m

    Morning

    • Breakfast at camp

    • Begin scenic trek along a ridge overlooking into the Gorges Valley

    • Enjoy expansive views and changing landscapes as elevation increases

    Midday

    • Lunch break with a panoramic view overlooking Lake Michaelson

    • Great opportunity for photos

    Afternoon

    • After a packed lunch a short hike to camp with a gentle traverse, followed by a descent to Lake Michaelson campsite

    Evening

    • Optional: explore the lakeside area or take time to rest and recover

    • Dinner at camp and overnight at Lake Michaelson

  • Day Itinerary: Lake Michaelson → Simba Col (4,550m)

    Trekking time: ~3hrs
    Altitude gain: ~250m

    Morning

    • Breakfast at Lake Michaelson

    • Depart around 9:00am for a fairly short trek to Simba Col

    • Ascend steadily with beautiful views of the surrounding peaks

    • Pass through rugged alpine terrain as you gain elevation

    Midday / Early Afternoon

    • Arrive at Simba Tarn Campsite (Simba Col)

    • Camp will be pre-set, and lunch will be served upon arrival

    • Rest, hydrate, and prepare mentally and physically for the summit push the following day

    Afternoon / Evening

    • Relax and enjoy the views from high camp

    • Early dinner and rest for an early summit start next morning

  • Day Itinerary: Simba Col → Point Lenana (4,985m) → Austrian Hut (4790m)

    Trekking time: 4hrs
    Altitude gain (to summit): +435m
    Descent: -195m

    Early Morning

    • Start at 4:30 AM for a sunrise summit of Point Lenana (4,985m)

    • Enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding peaks, valleys, and on clear days even Mount Kilimanjaro

    • Warm drink and photo opportunity at the summit

    Post Summit Descent

    • Begin a short descent of 1hr to Austrian hut from the summit, where breakfast will be waiting.

    • Arrive at camp and settle in, rest, refuel, and prepare for the upcoming technical climb of Batian via the ‘South East Ridge’ route, Summiting both Nelion and Batian.

    Evening

    • Gear check and briefing with your climbing team

  • Technical Climb Overview: The South East Ridge of Nelion crossing the gates of mist to Batian – Mount Kenya

    • Access: Start from Austrian Hut

    • Start Time: Very early, often before dawn with head torches

    • Approach: Cross the scree field , then scramble up scree to the base of the route.

    Climbing Experience:

    • The first pitches are physically demanding due to cold temperatures and the long day ahead

    • Usually complete the first two pitches before first light

    • After sunrise, climbing becomes more enjoyable as muscles warm up

      • Location: The South East Ridge goes up the South East face of Nelion, once summiting Nelion there is a short descent and climb back up to Batian, this section is called the gates of mist.

      • Ice and rock: It’s a technical alpine climb that combines rock, snow, and ice, depending on the season.

      • Best season: The South east is usually climbed in the dry season (December - January), when the rock is less icy and more stable.

      • Exposure: The face gets early morning and late afternoon sun, making it cold in the shade but spectacular at sunrise and sunset.

      • Rock type: The mountain is made of syenite, a type of intrusive igneous rock, solid and rough, great for gripping during climbs.

      • Volcanic origin: Mount Kenya is the remnant of an ancient volcano, once higher than Kilimanjaro, erosion sculpted the current jagged peaks.

    Timing:

    • The ascent to Batian’s summit typically takes 6–8 hours

    • Descent - 6hrs following vaguely the line of ascent

  • Final Day Itinerary: Descent & Celebration

    • Morning

      • Begin a slow descent down the Makinder valley

    • Afternoon

      • Arrive at the trailhead to a packed lunch

      • Transfer back to Nanyuki where the trip ends.

Booking your Mt Kenya trip 

    • Accommodation on arrival in Nairobi on entry and departure

    • Transport airport to hotel on arrival and departure

    • Transport to start of the trek

    • Accommodation on the night after descending the mountain

    Whats Included on the Trek and Climb:

    • Qualified Mountain guides

    • All Technical gear used to climb, including helmet and harness.

    • Assistant guide (Up to date red cross first aid certificated)

    • Camp Crew (s)

    • Cook (s)

    • Porters

    • 3 inch mattress

    • Pillow

    • Sleeping bag (-18 Celsius rated)

    • Thermal liner

    • Heavyweight Mess Tent

    • Lightweight tables

    • Comfortable chairs

    • Pulse oximeter

    • Altitude health checklists

    • First aid

    • Toilet tent

    • Group / minibus transfers

  • Air Rescue on Mount Kenya

    Air rescue operations on Mount Kenya are conducted by Tropic Air, based in Nanyuki.

    For anyone trekking or climbing on Mount Kenya, this rescue cover is included in the package.

  • Click here for TREKKING ONLY

    Click here for CLIMBING (this includes the trekking to Lenana and the climbing of the technical summits)