Nova Analytical Systems: #173 - Nova tech climbs Mount Kilimanjaro

One of the technicians here at Nova climbed Mount Kilimanjaro recently. This wasn't a service call. It was just…well...‘because it was there’.

From Wikipedia:

Mount Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcanic mountain in Tanzania. It is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain in the world at 5,895 metres or 19,341 feet above sea level.

The Uhuru Peak/Kibo Peak is the highest point on Kilimanjaro. This peak is where Norm, our technician, ended the up-hill portion of his trek. The Mountain as a whole has 5 distinct climate areas that change with altitude. It begins with dense forests that slowly transition into lighter, sparser growth. This eventually turns into type of alpine grassland. Grasses later give way to a rocky, lunar landscape. At the peak, a glacier dominates the area. Some of the photos below show these various climates.

Climbing a mountain of this size has its challenges to say the least. The physical climb, the wind and cold, the reduced O2 levels at upper elevations, and other conditions begin to wear on a climber after a few days. Pre-climb training is a very good idea. Various techniques are used along the way to help acclimatize the hikers to the conditions. Norm reports that maintaining a controlled pace for a long time in those conditions can add an unexpected emotional burden to the climb.

Norm and his climbing partners camped at various places on the way up the mountain. It was their intention to make it up to the peak in time to see a sunrise. Some of the photos he took below say it all.

Mountains and Analyzers

We have sold engine exhaust analyzers for high altitude use in the Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzstan). A facility located somewhere in the Tien Shan Mountains at an elevation of 4000m / 13,100ft is using our analyzers for mechanical maintenance of site equipment.

These analyzers can be used in high altitude conditions if they are calibrated correctly. However, it is important for customers to let us know if they are using the instruments in extreme conditions. This may require design changes to help make the instrument suitable to the application.

A few years ago, we sold a portable SO2 analyzer for high altitude use in measuring volcano emissions. I believe it was in Hawaii. The customer was quite pleased with the performance of the instrument, but accidentally dropped it into a volcano. So a few weeks after receiving the first instrument, they bought a second unit. Many Nova analyzers are classified as ‘weather-proof’, but not volcano-proof!

I noticed this very interesting article recently in Wired magazine about unusual carbonatite lava that originates in only a few spots on earth. The most notable example is Ol Doinyo Lengai, also in Tanzania, about 160kms (100 miles) away from Kilimanjaro. Check it out

The Pics

Here are a few of Norm's Mount Kilimanjaro pics:

Mount Kilimanjaro - forest climate before
approaching foothills.

Mount Kilimanjaro - forest climate before approaching foothills.

Mount Kilimanjaro - alpine grassland climate.

Mount Kilimanjaro - rock & scrub landscape.

Mount Kilimanjaro - rocky landscape.

Mount Kilimanjaro - close-up of bird on a rock.

Mount Kilimanjaro - Stella Point is about 100m from the top-most elevation.

Mount Kilimanjaro - on top of the glacier at Uhuru Point.

Mount Kilimanjaro sunrise.

Mount Kilimanjaro - Here is Norm's panoramic shot of the sunrise. The curvature of the earth is visible from this high vantage point.

Mount Kilimanjaro sunrise.
Taken towards another direction just shortly after the sunrise pictures above.
At this angle and time, blue light becomes dominant.