Main Info
- Day One: Kilembe (1,450m) to Kalalama (3156m) (Alt gain: +1706m). The first day involves a long steady climb through montane forest and bamboo to a campsite at Kalalama in the heather zone.
- Day Two: Kalalama (3156m) to Mutinda (3810m) (Alt gain: + 654m). The route follows the Kamusoni river to a campsite at the base of the 4200m Mutinda Towers outcrop.
- Day Three: Mutinda (3810m) to Lake Kopello Overlook (4185m) (Alt gain: +375m). Above Mutinda, the trail traverses open moorland to reach a camp at the Lake Kopello viewpoint.
- Day Four: Lake Kopello (4185m) to Mount Baker Base Camp (4160m) (Alt loss -15m). A day of ups and downs skirts the flank of Mt Luigi da Savoia to reach a campsite beside a tributary of the Butawu valley.
- Day Five: Mount Baker Base Camp (4160m) to Mount Baker (4842m) (Alt gain: +682m). An early start is required to climb to Freshfield Pass and Mount Baker before cloud obscures the views. Descend to Lake Kopello or Mutinda Camp.
- Day Six/Seven: Descent from Kopello (a 2350m descent) or Mutinda to Kilembe.
Variations
In addition to the Mount Baker route, the Kilembe Trail offers shorter and longer treks. This route is superbly scenic, reaching the dramatic heather zone by the end of the first day, and most casual hikers will consider the 3-day ascent to Lake Kopello Overlook a more-than-adequate Rwenzori experience. Keen mountaineers, on the other hand, can continue up the Butagu Valley from Mount Baker Base Camp to a Mount Stanley Base Camp on Scott Elliot Pass prior to ascending Mount Stanley.
