that was a cool sighting today: people on the top of the volcano. Quite unusual view though tourism is expanding there but because the climb starts around midnight to reach the top just before 6 am to admire the sunrise on Mt Kilimanjaro (with a bit of luck )and then go down again usualy after a couple of hours for the visit on top. So by the time the airplanes start to fly around, everybody is out....
the other day, I gave a web site about the volcano, run by a scientist named Fred Belton. He is precisely visiting the volcano and the area these days. Maybe he is one of these 4 persons...
full view of the crater. The 4 specks on the very right side are people. The whitish crown is the new crater since activity started in August '07. The old flat plateau used to stop at the dark edge.
there was only a slightly veil of white smoke but a strong smell of rotten eggs.
here are the guys, near the crater edge. Notice the footprints. Curious to know the thickness of the ash, how hard it was to move in it. This picture here has just been enlarged for clarity. Thanks to my fabulous Nikon D200 for allowing such enlargements. No, am not on Nikon payroll (but if they contact me....). But now am slightly jealous 'cos my girlfriend, Karine, got a D300!! Well am just waiting for the D400 in 2 years I bet....
they're in the middle of the picture here, tiny dots. In comparison with the 4 people, one can sense the huge size and thickness of that crater.
I've climbed that thing twice, once when a bit of lava was flowing out. Quite a wonderful unforgettable experience. We had stayed overnight, quite tired after the climb and 20 kg of gear to carry on but worth. We slept through the night nevertheless the roars from the thin chimneys. Pictures soon one day....
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