Altitude Training for Kilimanjaro near Georgetown

[Alex]

We are a group of 4 flatlanders (2 over 60 years old) training for a Mt Kilimanjaro climb in September. One of us has been to 15k in the Andes and we’ve all had multi-day backpacking trips. This is our ”pressure test” of equipment and preparation with 7 weeks to go. Sleeping in Georgetown starting 7/31 (the Friday night) to begin to acclimatize. Hiking locally to about 11k ft on Saturday. Then Sunday and Monday for the real altitude and vertical tests.

We were planning to climb Grays and Torreys on the Sunday and Monday but a bunch of folks on Reddit are saying the parking situation is awful. They said we should look into 13ers, but all I can find are Argentine and Edwards, which are much farther away and hence an even earlier start to get parking and, eventually, off the summit. So what about a direct climb of Grey Wolf? There are no routes posted I could find.

Any wise advice you can give would be great. Thanks!

I am also a flatlander and climbed Kilimanjaro when I was 56. Nothing terrible elevation wise.
If it is not too late to adjust your plans, I would suggest to climb Mount Meru first as the acclimatization. You would have another beautiful mountain with excellent view of Kilimanjaro (it is less than 50 miles between the two), and it is 14900', so, very good acclimatization before Kilimanjaro. We've actually done so and were able to cut 8-day route to Kilimanjaro into 6 days without any problems.

Regarding the mountains near Georgetown, first of all, Guanella pass road starts at Georgetown, so, you at least have Bierstadt (14er), Squaretop, Wilcox in addition to Argentine and Edwards.
Also, if you look at the North side of I-70 you have Pettingell, Bard, Parnassus, Robeson. I've done Bard and Parnassus in combo, but somebody mentioned Robeson as well in one day.

[mtn_nut]

We are a group of 4 flatlanders (2 over 60 years old) training for a Mt Kilimanjaro climb in September. One of us has been to 15k in the Andes and we’ve all had multi-day backpacking trips. This is our ”pressure test” of equipment and preparation with 7 weeks to go. Sleeping in Georgetown starting 7/31 (the Friday night) to begin to acclimatize. Hiking locally to about 11k ft on Saturday. Then Sunday and Monday for the real altitude and vertical tests.

We were planning to climb Grays and Torreys on the Sunday and Monday but a bunch of folks on Reddit are saying the parking situation is awful. They said we should look into 13ers, but all I can find are Argentine and Edwards, which are much farther away and hence an even earlier start to get parking and, eventually, off the summit. So what about a direct climb of Grey Wolf? There are no routes posted I could find.

Any wise advice you can give would be great. Thanks!

I am also a flatlander and climbed Kilimanjaro when I was 56. Nothing terrible elevation wise.
If it is not too late to adjust your plans, I would suggest to climb Mount Meru first as the acclimatization. You would have another beautiful mountain with excellent view of Kilimanjaro (it is less than 50 miles between the two), and it is 14900', so, very good acclimatization before Kilimanjaro. We've actually done so and were able to cut 8-day route to Kilimanjaro into 6 days without any problems.

Regarding the mountains near Georgetown, first of all, Guanella pass road starts at Georgetown, so, you at least have Bierstadt (14er), Squaretop, Wilcox in addition to Argentine and Edwards.
Also, if you look at the North side of I-70 you have Pettingell, Bard, Parnassus, Robeson. I've done Bard and Parnassus in combo, but somebody mentioned Robeson as well in one day.

Altitude acclimatization doesn't last that long. Sleeping at progressive altitudes (adding ~2000' per night) gives you a lot more benefits than briefly going higher, and you loose it faster than you gain it.

I would also recommend doing Meru first. I did Meru first, and you get to see a lot of wildlife (monkeys, buffalo, warthog, giraffe) at and below the first camp. The summit hike is a little more technical than Kilimanjaro with a little scrambling where you use your hands, and if you descend on the 3rd day after summiting, it's a long day (4000' up, 10,000' down). It was a little frustrating that you have to hike with the park ranger anytime your below the second camp because they are usually pretty slow. Depending on if you do a two night or three night itinerary, you'll sleep at 8100' at the first huts and 11700 at the second huts, vs sleeping at 4500' in Arusha or 3000' in Moshi.

So if you do one night in Arusha, 2-3 nights on Meru, and then go on to Kilimanjaro, you will be already very well acclimatized.

I did 1 night in Moshi, two nights on Meru, another night in Moshi, and then was able to do Kilimanjaro in under 72 hours with no significant altitude issues. I did Rongai up, since you start higher (the new trailhead is at 7800'), and slept the first night at second cave (11400'). I ended up going straight to kibo hut for the second night, but if you want to spend more time on the mountain, mawenzi tarn camp adds more miles, but gives you a night at 14k before moving to Kibo at 15,500'

My extra advice is only tip at the bottom after the trip on Meru, especially for the mandatory park ranger. Also, make sure your guide introduces you to any local Arusha porters on Meru before you climb, and make sure to only tip them at the bottom as well. Lastly, for tips, only bring untorn newer USD. Any older or slightly damaged money makes things difficult.