Here you go, both pieces for the Machame episode, same shape as the Lemosho ones.

Spotify episode description

It is the most popular route on Kilimanjaro, and the most famous. In this episode of The Vertical Sky Journal, we climb the Machame route, known to many as the Whiskey Route, the spirited, scenic and slightly tougher path to the summit.

In this episode:

• Why Machame became the most travelled route on the mountain
• The rainforest, the moorland and the great Southern Glaciers
• The thrilling Barranco Wall, and the climb to Uhuru Peak
• Where the Whiskey Route nickname really comes from
• Why we always recommend the seven-day version over the six

Dramatic, varied and brilliant value, Machame is the people's champion of Kilimanjaro. Here is what it is really like, and who it suits best.

The Vertical Sky Journal is brought to you by Vertical Sky, an ethical Kilimanjaro climbing company that climbs the mountain the right way, looking after the guides and porters who make every summit possible.

Prefer to read? There is a full written companion to this episode over in our Journal at vertical-sky.com.

It is the route we send more climbers up than any other, and quietly, the one we think is the most beautiful. In this episode of The Vertical Sky Journal, we walk you up the Lemosho route, Kilimanjaro's most scenic path to the summit.

In this episode:

• The quiet, remote western start that most climbers never see
• The dramatic crossing of the Shira Plateau
• The famous Barranco Wall, and the climb to Uhuru Peak
• Why Lemosho has one of the highest summit success rates on the mountain
• Why we always recommend the eight day version over the seven

Beautiful, remote and brilliantly paced for the summit, Lemosho is our flagship for a reason. Here is what it is really like, and who it suits best.

The Vertical Sky Journal is brought to you by Vertical Sky, an ethical Kilimanjaro climbing company that climbs the mountain the right way, looking after the guides and porters who make every summit possible.

Prefer to read? There is a full written companion to this episode over in our Journal at vertical-sky.com.

Altitude sickness stops more people reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro than anything else, and yet most climbers misunderstand it completely.

In this episode of The Vertical Sky Journal, we explain it calmly and honestly: what altitude sickness actually is, why it has almost nothing to do with how fit you are, and how to give yourself the best possible chance of reaching the top.

In this episode:

• Why the fittest climbers often struggle the most
• The normal symptoms to expect, and the rare warning signs that matter
• Why the number of days on the mountain is your single biggest protection
• How a good operator keeps you safe, from pulse oximetry to oxygen
• Why turning back, when it is needed, is wisdom and not failure

The honest truth running through it all: altitude sickness is largely preventable. Climb slowly, give your body time, and go with a team who watch over you properly, and the mountain becomes a great deal safer.

This is general information and not medical advice. Always speak to your own doctor before climbing at altitude.

The Vertical Sky Journal is brought to you by Vertical Sky, an ethical Kilimanjaro climbing company that climbs the mountain the right way, looking after the guides and porters who make every summit possible.

Prefer to read? There is a full written companion to this episode over in our Journal at vertical-sky.com.