Category: Climbing

January 7, 2006

Energizer e2 AA Lithium Batteries - my choice for Kilimanjaro

Energizer e2 Lithium Battery AA As I’m taking a number of devices up Kilimanjaro that require battery power such as my GPS, Camera and Head Torch I did a bit of research to see which batteries would be the best to use in the freezing cold temperatures at the top of Kilimanjaro.

I came to the conclusion that the Energizer e2 AA Lithium Battery would be my battery of choice for the mountain. Although rechargeables was an option, on Kilimanjaro there’s not going to be a power source for performing a recharge. According to the Energizer site the properties of the e2 battery are as follows:

  • Lithium takes up to 600 pictures while leading ordinary alkaline only takes up to 90 pictures
  • Weigh 1/3 less than standard alkaline batteries
  • Performs in even the most extreme temperatures from -40 to 60 degrees C
  • 15-year shelf life

The main area you need to address on Kilimanjaro is how your batteries respond in the cold so the temperature rating on these batteries is what got my attention. I bought 10 packs of 2 (20 batteries) to take up the mountain with me, some off e-bay and the rest from the Small Battery Company.

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January 6, 2006

Nikon Coolpix 5600 Digital Camera

Nikon Coolpix 5600 Digital CameraThis is the camera I recently purchased at Jessops which I am intending to take on Kilimanjaro with me. I needed to take a camera that uses AA batteries as all my other devices like GPS and Head Torch do and I only really want to take one type of battery up with me.

Manufacturer’s description of the Nikon Coolpix 5600 Digital Camera is as follows: -

Whether you are an experienced or first-time digital camera user, you will enjoy COOLPIX 5600 as it is so easy to use. Packed with loads of versatile features designed to make it easier than ever before to take great quality images anytime and anywhere.

The unique Nikon innovative D-Lighting function adds light and detail to dark areas on your picture. It works in the playback menu after a picture is taken. Ideal to brighten dark or backlit subjects. It works instantly and it’s pc free.

Red-eyes appear often in the night portrait photos and can ruin your picture. Now your COOLPIX camera has a solution, after activating the feature, camera detects, and then corrects most common red-eye photos. It’s fast, and it’s pc free.

Packed in a compact and lightweight body, the Nikkor 3x optical zoom lens gives you the possibility to zoom in and still see the clear and crisp detail of your subject.

Try out 16 pre-programmed scene modes such as beach/snow, night portrait or museum. Find out how easy it is to use your COOLPIX even in a museum where flash photography is prohibited.

Product Features

  • Compact size and lightweight body
  • High image quality with 5.1 Effective Megapixels
  • 3x optical Zoom-Nikkor lens
  • “D-Lighting” provides a powerful in-camera solution to repair and rescure underexposed images without the need of using PC
  • In-Camera Red-Eye Fix detects and removes the red-eyes instantly and automatically
  • 16 pre-programmed Scene Modes (4 with Scene Assistance)
  • “Help” button provides straight-forward explanations of each menu function
  • Long battery life
  • Compatible with a wide range of rechargeable and disposable batteries
  • 5 Colour Options

Most of my friends know that I have Japanese tendencies when it comes to taking photographs and on Kilimanjaro I intend to be even worse since it’s the trip of a lifetime. I’ll let you know how the camera does. As a backup I’ll be taking a disposable just in case the digital doesn’t survive the extreme temperatures and conditions on the mountain. I also have an underwater analog camera which I was given at Christmas and hope to use when snorkelling on Zanzibar after the climb.

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January 6, 2006

Three climbers die on Kilimanjaro

An interesting story just before we fly off to Kilimanjaro. Its comforting to know that this incident occurred on the Western Breach of the mountain which we are not climbing on as we’re doing the Rongai Route which approaches the peak from the North side of the mountain.

According to the BBC news story:

Three tourists have been killed in a rockslide on Mount Kilimanjaro - Africa’s highest mountain - in the north of Tanzania.
It is reported that at least one of the dead climbers is American.

One more climber and four guides were seriously injured as strong winds prompted a rock slide.

“A rapid change of weather forced several rocks to tumble and slide down the gradient,” chief game warden James Wakibara told AFP news agency.

“The rocks hit a group of tourists who were en route to the peak and three were killed.”

The accident took place at an altitude of nearly 5,000m, close to Arrow Glacier base camp.

This year entry prices were doubled for climbers, in an attempt to restrict numbers on the mountain to protect the environment.

Around 25,000 visitors climb Mount Kilimanjaro each year, compared to 15,000 visitors 10 years ago.

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