Kilimanjaro’ Western Breach is a beautiful and breathtaking place but represents the most dangerous route to Kilimanjaro’s summit, of the three options currently sanctioned by Tanzania National Parks.
Staring Point: Arrow Glacier
Camp (4,871m/ about 15,980 ft).
The Western Breach or Arrow Glacier Route is the most Challenging route to the top of the Kilimanjaro and not without risk. The Western Breach isn’t actually a route to the summit; in fact it is a part of one of the other routes. The starting point of this climb is at Arrow Glacier Camp (4,871m/ about 15980 ft). This camp can be reached via the Lemosho, Shira, Machame and Umbwe routes. Of course it’s possible to reach the Western Breach via the other routers, Rongai and Marangu, but these routes ascent the Kilimanjaro from another direction.
The Western Breach ascends 2,800 ft (850m) in about 1.25 miles (2 km), and requires some scrambling (climbing on hands and feet) at certain points. This route is a very beautiful route, but as mentioned above not without risk. In 2006 failing rocks killed three climbers and it’s hardly impossible to evacuate climbers in trouble. One part of the climb exists out of rock steps. If an emergency appears before these steps and an evacuation is required you should climb further to Stella Point en descend from this point. This last scenario is the only exception on the Kilimanjaro to the universal rule of immediate descent following a climber’s succumbing to a serious altitude-related condition.
Besides all the risks the Western Breach is a wonderful route along the Furtwangler glacier to Uhuru Peak, the highest point of the mountain. To enlarge the chance of reaching the peak you should assault the summit at least at 05.30 hour, earlier is even better.
After you reached Uhuru Peak you’ll descend most likely to Stella Point and form that point down to one of the lower camps. The descending is the same as on the other routes, depending on which way you take down the slopes of the Kilimanjaro.