Bhubaneswar: Odia mountaineer Sidharth Routray has scaled the highest mountain in Africa and the highest single free-standing mountain above sea level in the world, Mt Kilimanjaro. He reached the top of Kilimanjaro at 7:45 pm on Saturday.
The elder son of veteran Congress leader and Jatni MLA Suresh Routray has already climbed the top 3 peaks in three continents of North America, South America and Africa as well as Mt Everest.
According to sources, three others – David, Rudy and Tim from Kenya accompanied him. “Jai Jagannath,” said Siddharth Routray describing his experience when he stood atop Mt Kilimanjaro. “It is always that spiritual feeling and energy at the top,’ he told Odisha Bytes as he is climbing down from the mountain.
They began their 11 km hike on the Umbwe gate to the first camp the Umbwe Cave Camp on October 19 and took the 7 km 4000 ft hike to Barranco Camp the following day. Thereafter, on October 21 they began a 3 km hike to Lava Tower and witnessed the wall of Mt Kilimanjaro.
“After a good breakfast, we could see smoke and ashes falling around us. A quick call to the rangers cautioned us about a huge forest fire coming towards us. The air quality was getting worse by the hour. We took a collective decision to best is to push higher up and aim for the summit,” said Routray.
They resumed late around 12 noon and it took them eight hours to reach the top.
“After all the pictures and the shouting we started the never-ending descent to Barafu Camp at 15,000 ft. We covered this hike down in the most painful 4 hours. We were on the top of Africa,” he said.
Routray further thanked his guides Rama and Tammy and the kitchen staff.
The young mountaineer aims to scale all seven summits of seven continents and fly the Tricolour of India and flag of Puri Jagannath Temple.
He is also recognised as the first Odia ‘Ultraman’ for completing a 512 km triathlon with a 10 km swim, 418 km cycle and 84 km run in.
Recognised as the first ‘Ironman’ from Odisha in 2016, Sidharth participated in one of the long-distance triathlon races consisting of a 4 km swim, 180 km cycle, and 42 km run in Florida.
Sidharth is currently staying in Silicon Valley in the USA.
