Mera Peak and Kilimanjaro, both of which are known as straight walk-up trekking adventures. Due to almost non-existent technical segments, both of these mountains are popular among beginners as a preparation ground to conquer the 14 tallest mountains in the world, also known as 8,000-er peaks. However, even as the preliminary ground for the bigger adventures, the conquest of both of these mountain peaks doesn’t come easy.
Mt. Mera Peak (6,476 meters) and Mt. Kilimanjaro (5,895 meters) both have significant elevation jump points and are equipped with their own set of challenges. So, to answer is Mera Peak harder than Kilimanjaro question, we will have to properly understand the adventures of both of these fascinating mountain peaks from the base ground.
So, let’s consider the several difficult factors of both of these adventures and determine which one is harder, once and for all.
Is Mera Peak Harder Than Kilimanjaro?– Altitude Difficulties
Human bodies are not capable of quickly adapting to significant elevation jump points out of the blue. As both Mera Peak (6,462 meters) and Kilimanjaro (5,895 meters) are adventures in high altitudes, Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is a major concern on both of these slopes.
Thus, the difficulty level of both adventures depends upon the fact that how many acclimatization days the expedition includes. Naturally, the higher number of days for the body to adapt to the high-altitude environment, the higher chances for success at the summit. In general, the Mera Peak expedition lasts around 14-18 days, whereas Kilimanjaro is approximately 5-9 days long. So, in terms of acclimatization and pace, the Mera Peak is certainly easier than the quick-paced elevation jumps on Mt Kilimanjaro.
The success rates on both of these amazing peaks also determine the altitude struggles of the climbers; the success rate of the Mera Peak climbs above the 90% margin, but the successful summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro hovers around 45% to 65%.
Temperature and Weather
After the altitude comparison in ‘Is Mera Peak harder than Kilimanjaro section,’ let’s move on to weather and temperature factors on both of these mountains. Mt. Mera Peak, situated in the Himalayas, is covered with snow throughout the year, so it is a typical high-altitude snow and ice adventure. Passing through the icy segments and glaciers is the norm in any high-altitude adventure in the country.
The temperature on the most popular and highest trekking route in Nepal is moderate and stable during the peak seasons (spring and autumn). The temperature during the day hovers around 10°C during spring and around 12°C in autumn; however, it can drop to -11°C to -4°C during the night and early mornings. But during off seasons, especially in winter, the max temperature of the region is around -4°C and drops as low as -20°C.
On the other hand, the expedition to the tallest mountain in Africa, Mt Kilimanjaro, passes through more favorable routes than the cold and harsh Himalayas. The climate in the lower region of the only freestanding mountain in the world is hot and humid at the lower altitude and starts to significantly take a peak with the altitude gain. Quite similar to the Mera Peak in the Himalayas, temperatures of Mt. Kilimanjaro fluctuate between days and nights.
The temperature in Kilimanjaro hovers around 21°C to 32°C during the daytime and can drop as low as 0°C to -26°C during the night.
Is Mera Peak Harder Than Kilimanjaro: Trail Difficulty
Mera Peak, in the Khumbu region, is a close range to the tallest mountain in the world, Mt Everest (8,849 meters), and consists of three peaks, Mera South (6,065 meters), Mera North (6,476 meters), and Mera Central (6,461 meters). Popular as the training peak for starter mountaineers, it is not a tough peak, nor is it a walk in the park. Mera Peak has received PD grading in the Alpine Grading Sytems, which means it is a slightly difficult climb. Previously, it was graded F Grade as an easy and straightforward route.
As the climbers have to spend several days at an altitude above 5,000 meters, it is quite difficult to successfully scale the 6,000-er Mera Peaks without enough acclimatization days. Mera Peak also has some technical segments, but they are not too strenuous; with proper preparation and some mountaineering training, it will be a piece of cake.
The minimum distance you will be covering in the Mera Peak expedition is approximately 125 km. If you have any experience in high-altitude trekking like Everest Base Camp Trek, the Mera Peak adventure won’t be that vexing.
Unlike the popular trekking route, Mera Peak enroute to the Everest Base Camp trek with sufficient teahouses along the route for the most part. Kilimanjaro adventure mostly features fascinating outdoor accommodation facilities, you find camping fun, this adventure will be something you will treasure forever. The straight ‘walk-up’ trail in the world’s only free-standing mountain doesn’t feature any technical segment, it can be climbed without the need for mountaineering equipment like a harness, ice axe, and ropes.
The trekking distance to Mt. Kilimanjaro averages from 37 km to 90km (longest Northern Circuit Route). With successful ascent to summit percentage at 45% to 65%, Mt. Kilimanjaro has been graded a difficult climb. Regardless of the missing technical segment in the mountain, successful scaling to the top requires proper planning, also, physical and mental preparation.
Physical Fitness Demand on the Mountains
As you will trekking through diverse landscapes in the Himalayas, it will be best if you stick to legs and strength training for Mera Peak. You will cover an average distance of 6-7 hours during this adventure with frequent uphill ascent and downhill hikes, so building up endurance and leg muscle is very crucial. You could include stair training, pull-ups, sit-ups, and other regular exercises that will help build your stamina and strength.
Similarly, for the Mt. Kilimanjaro adventure, you could add up specific exercises to stimulate the relevant muscle training. Even though the Kilimanjaro region doesn’t involve steep hiking segments like Himlayas, it will be better to start preparation with the same mindset at least 8 weeks prior to the adventure. A good physical condition will boost confidence and will have a positive impact on mental determination.
Hiking practice with a backpack or rucksack weighing 25-30 kg suits well for both adventures as you will get used to carrying weight for the adventure.
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Conclusion
So drawing the curtain to the ‘Is Mera Peak Harder than Kilimanjaro’ question, we have compared the several factors that determine the difficulty level of any adventure. The shorter period with quick elevation jump points makes the Kilimanjaro expedition slightly difficult in comparison to Mera Peak, even though the three-peak mountain is at a higher elevation.
However, for the rest of the difficulty factors, they are pretty much alike. Now, it’s up to you whether you want to explore the world’s only freestanding mountain or the magnificent and alluring hidden gems of the Himalayas.
