Speedy Ascent of Mount Kenya
The twin summits of Mounta Kenya with Point John (4883m) in the foreground on the right. The Batian summit (5199m) is on the left with the Nelion summit (5189m) to the right as seen from MacKinder
News Link: German climber Felix Berg has set two possible speed records on Africa’s Mount Kenya.
Berg wrote on Summitpost.org that he stepped onto the rock at 8:55 am climbing to the Nelion summit (5189m) in 56 minutes. After a short break, and some rappelling, he then climbed to the Batian summit (5199m) in 1 hour and 17 minutes. “I did not take the time from MacKinder’s Hut and back,” Berg said in an email. “I was quite slow on the way down because I was dehydrated but it was roughly 5 hours total.
The previous record for the Nelion was a team ascent at 2 hours and 45 minutes by Alex Fiksman (and partner). The Kenyan Wildlife Service rangers climbing team made an ascent at about 3 hours and 30 minutes.
The Gate of the Mists and Batian seen from the summit of the Nelion. Felix Berg / Summitclimb.de
Hiking up the Naro Moru Route with the giant groundsel plants in the fog. Photo by Felix Berg / Summitclimb.de
Reflection of Mount Kenya in a lake on the Chogoria Route. Felix Berg / Summitclimb.de
Early morning light and climbers at the start of the normal route to the Nelion. Felix Berg / Summitclimb.de
Berg’s ascent was witnessed by a shocked crew of local guides, porters and rangers stationed at MacKinder's Hut where he reportedly won a bet of climbing the peak in less than an hour.
Date of Ascent: February 8, 2009
Sources: Felix Berg / Summitclimb.de
