Author: TranquilKilimanjaro

As someone who always carries a camera, people often approach me during climbing trips, wondering if bringing a camera is a good idea. In response, I always answer with an enthusiastic YES! It's truly worth it to bring your camera along. The photographs captured often yield astonishing results. One particular scene comes to mind, where four climbers and a crow were braving strong gusts of wind just below the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. I almost forgot my camera in the tent that day, but luckily, I quickly dashed back to retrieve it at the very last moment. The stunning shot I managed to capture was well worth the extra effort. While there is already a plethora of information available on the internet regarding outdoor camera usage, much of it does not specifically cater to the harsh conditions present when taking cameras up mountains. These conditions are significantly more severe compared to what the internet articles presume. Therefore, the insights shared in this article reflect solely my personal opinion. Capturing the breathtaking beauty and unique experiences of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is a desire shared by many adventurers. Whether you're a seasoned photographer or a casual snapshooter, knowing how to effectively use your camera on Kilimanjaro can make a significant difference in the quality of your photos and the preservation of your equipment. In this guide, we'll explore essential tips and techniques for camera use on Kilimanjaro, including the choice between point-and-shoot cameras and SLRs, how to carry your camera, considerations for cold weather use, battery management, handling moisture, and maximizing your camera's potential in various conditions. I will provide a detailed description of what has proven successful for me throughout the past two decades of capturing outdoor photographs, which includes six climbing adventures to East African mountains without ever encountering a

The Central Pangean Mountains were an extensive mountain range that stretched from the northeast to the southwest. This range was located in the central part of the supercontinent Pangaea, existing during the Carboniferous, Permian, and Triassic periods. The mountains were the product of a collision between two large landmasses, Euramerica (also known as Laurussia) and Gondwana, which occurred during the formation of Pangaea. At its peak, during the early Permian period, the Central Pangean Mountains reached heights similar to the present-day Himalayas. Today, remnants of this colossal mountain range can still be found. For instance, in North America, we have the Appalachian Mountains and Ouachita Mountains, while in Europe, remnants include the Bohemian Massif and Massif Central. The formation of the Central Pangean Mountains involved several mountain building periods, including the Acadian, Caledonian, Alleghenian, Mauritanide, and Variscan orogenies. The eastern sections of the range are also referred to as the Variscan Mountains. A fascinating geological fact worth noting is that the Appalachian Mountains, the Atlas Mountains, the Scottish Highlands, the Watkins Range, and the Scandinavian Mountains were all part of a unified mountain range in the past known as the Central Pangean Mountains. Formation and decline The majestic Central Pangean Mountains came into existence as a result of the tremendous collision between Euramerica and northern Gondwana during the Variscan and Alleghanian orogenies. This remarkable event took place approximately 340 million years ago, during the Carboniferous era, and reached its completion at the dawn of the Permian era around 295 million years ago. At its zenith, the range stood tall with its imposing peaks. However, during the Permian era, the mountains endured severe physical and mechanical erosion as a consequence of relentless weathering. As a result, the peaks were diminished by about half of their original size by the Late Permian

Jon Krakauer, born on April 12, 1954, is a well-known American writer and mountaineer. He has written numerous nonfiction books that have become bestsellers. Some of his most famous works include "Into the Wild," "Eiger Dreams," "Into Thin Air," "Where Men Win Glory," "Under the Banner of Heaven," and "Three Cups of Deceit." Krakauer is a regular contributor to Outside magazine. In 1996, he was a member of the Adventure Consultants team involved in the infamous Everest disaster. While on assignment to investigate the commercialization of the mountain, eight climbers tragically lost their lives in a storm. Krakauer wrote about this incident in his book "Into Thin Air," which received several prestigious awards, such as Time magazine's Book of the Year. It was also a finalist for the 1998 Pulitzer Prize in General Nonfiction. Early Life and Climbing Krakauer was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, in 1954. He grew up in Corvallis, Oregon after his family moved there when he was two years old. At the age of eight, his father encouraged him to start climbing, and by the time he was ten, he had already reached the summit of Mt. Rainier. In addition to climbing, Krakauer also played tennis in high school. He attended Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts and graduated in 1976 with a degree in Environmental Studies. After college, Krakauer focused on climbing while working as a commercial fisherman and carpenter in various locations such as the Pacific Northwest, Colorado, and Alaska. In 1977, he accomplished a solo climb up the East Ridge of Devils Thumb, a challenging peak in Alaska's Stikine Icecap. He spent five weeks alone in the region during this expedition. Details of this climb can be found in his books "Eiger Dreams" and "Into the Wild". It was also in 1977 that he met

The 1996 Mount Everest accident happened on May 10th and 11th, 1996. Eight climbers were caught in a blizzard while trying to lower from the top of the mountain and died. 12 people died trying to reach the top of Mount Everest that season, making it the deadliest on the mountain at the time and the third deadliest overall, after the 14 fatalities in the 2014 Mount Everest avalanche and the 22 deaths caused by the April 2015 Nepal earthquake. The 1996 disaster got a lot of attention and made people wonder whether Everest should be used for business purposes. The 1996 Mount Everest Disaster resulted in the deaths of 12 climbers, making it one of the deadliest single seasons in Everest's history.  The disaster was caused by a massive blizzard that trapped the climbers near the summit, burying the ropes and making escape nearly impossible.  Despite the tragedy, expeditions on Mount Everest have continued to grow, with climbers undeterred by the horrifying stories depicted in the film Everest. A lot of hikers, like the Adventure Consultants team (led by Rob Hall) and the Mountain Madness team (led by Scott Fischer), were at a high level on Everest during the storm. People died on both the North Face and South Col routes, but more people heard about what happened on the South Col. Hall was one of the four people who died on the Adventure Consultants expedition. Fischer was the only person who died on the Mountain Madness mission. Also killed were three soldiers of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police. After the accident, a number of people wrote autobiographies. Jon Krakauer, a reporter working for Outside magazine and the Adventure Consultants team, wrote the best-selling book Into Thin Air in 1997. The book made Anatoli Boukreev, a guide on the Mountain

Everest, released in 2015, is a gripping survival film that tells the true story of the tragic events that occurred during the 1996 Mount Everest disaster. Directed by Baltasar Kormákur and written by William Nicholson and Simon Beaufoy, this biographical adventure features an ensemble cast including Jason Clarke, Jake Gyllenhaal, Josh Brolin, John Hawkes, Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, Sam Worthington, Keira Knightley, Martin Henderson, and Emily Watson. The film follows two expedition groups, one led by Rob Hall (played by Jason Clarke) and the other by Scott Fischer (played by Jake Gyllenhaal), as they face extreme challenges and fight for survival in the treacherous conditions of Everest. The talented cast's performances bring these characters to life on the big screen. The film is dedicated to the late British actress Natasha Richardson and was premiered at the 72nd Venice International Film Festival on September 2, 2015. It was subsequently released worldwide, including in IMAX 3D, RealD 3D, and 2D formats to provide audiences with an immersive and visually stunning experience. Despite a budget of $55 million, Everest surpassed expectations at the box office, grossing $203 million worldwide. Critically acclaimed, the film was praised for its realistic portrayal of the true events and received positive reviews from critics. Plot In the month of May in 1996, preparations are being made by multiple commercial expeditions at the base camp of Mount Everest for their climb to the summit. The leader of Adventure Consultants, Rob Hall, who made commercial Everest missions famous, is joined by Scott Fischer, the chief guide for their rival company, Mountain Madness. Rob's group includes experienced climber Beck Weathers, former mailman Doug Hansen, who is pursuing his dream, climbing veteran Yasuko Namba, who hopes to complete her final climb of the Seven Summits, and journalist Jon Krakauer from Outside magazine.