Expert warns of dangers on the newly opened Western Breach Route

January 6th 2008.

One of the leading authorities on Kilimanjaro is warning trekkers about the dangers of the newly reopened Western Breach Route.

The route, which was closed for almost two years following the deaths of three trekkers in a rockfall in January 2006, was recently reopened in December. The only approach to the summit that climbs up the western slopes of Kibo, the trail is always seen as a more adventurous, tougher alternative clmax to the Machame, Umbwe, Shira and Lemosho trails than the standard summit trail via the Barafu Campsite.

However, John Rees-Evans, who was part of the investigative team into the original accident, has expressed major doubts that he still harbours about the safety of the route, and the wisdom of reopening it to trekkers.

In an email to climbmountkilimanjaro.com, John Rees-Evans, who runs the trekking operator Team Kilimanjaro, explains that he feels that there is currently a 'dangerous level of ignorance about the Western Breach and people are committing to it willy-nilly, while being poorly apprised of some of the rather sober realities.'

Whilst explaining that he is currently accepting 'serious bookings for Breach assaults,' he does not 'recommend the option as a safe one and that climbers need to be aware that they will be exposing themselves to a much higher level of risk than on the alternative assault routes, especially now that TANAPA have opened the south side of the Stone Train.'

The Stone Train is a prominent column of rock on the Western Breach Route. In John's original recommendations following the investigation into the tragedy, he proposed a new route that avoided the southern side of this Stone Train as he felt that that section of the trail was too dangerous, with a sheer drop below it. It is KINAPA's decision to ignore this recommendation that has worried John.

Indeed, so perturbed is he that he has set up a new website, www.westernbreach.co.uk, in which he hopes to inform trekkers of the continuing dangers of climbing on the Western Breach Route. As he explains:

'Yesterday I therefore quickly threw up a website informing people about the Western Breach. Although visually there’s apparently nothing missing, content-wise it’s very incomplete as yet, but before too many people book the route and some get badly wounded (which I believe is not unlikely) I would strongly advise people to read it – even in its present form - and especially to watch the videos before committing to climb the route.'

Whilst it is heartening to see on of the trekking operators showing such a degree of responsiblity towards the general public, it is concerning that others are blithely booking their clients on a Western Breach climb with apparent disregard for their safety.

No doubt this is a story that will run and run. We will keep you informed of all the latest developments.

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