Beautiful views of the Western Breach. There is access to Kibo Crater, including the Terrace, Northern Glaciers, Inner Cone, Ash Pit, and fumaroles.
The base for ascent from this side of Kibo is the Lava Tower Hut. It can be reached from the Shira Plateau, the Machame or Umbwe routes, or the Southern Cicuit. This route is very steep and is recommended only for very fit and capable groups. An ice-ax is useful. You can go around the glaciers but sometimes snow covers the entire breach and makes passage difficult.
Directions
From Lava Tower Hut you climb the slope behind the hut that leads past the former Arrow Glacier Hut (now buried under an avalanche). Continue up its slope through the cliffs of rotten rock. In the middle is a rocky ridge like a staircase that requires a scramble (also be careful when you descend to find this same gap in the rocks). You arrive on the floor of the Crater just north of Furtwangler Glacier at the western foot of the central Ash Cone.
Distances
(Barranco Hut to Lava Tower Hut: 3 hours)
(Shire Hut to Lava Tower Hut 3-4 hours)
Lava Tower Hut to the Crater floor: 7-9 hours
From entering the Crater it is about 1 1/2 hours to ascend to Uhuru Peak, and 1 hour on to the inner crater and Ash Cone.
Note that from Lava Tower to the Peak and back would take virtually a full day. It is best to start out before dawn to ensure a safe return in daylight; or else bivouac inside the Crater.
Huts
Lava Tower Hut - 4600 m. This is an unfurnished uniport which sleeps 8. Water is in the stream near the hut. There are no toilets.
Special Thanks to Thomson Safaris and Tanzania National Parks for contributing Tanzanian information.
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