Mt Kenya Base Camp Ascent

When ascending a mountain such as Mt Kenya one passes through numerous distinct ecological and climatic zones. It seems that for every 250-300 meters rise in altitude one enters a new zone.
Pictured here at well over 4,000m altitude is the East African Montane Moorland Zone characterized by sparse scrub brush and tufts of hardy grass with primitive-looking Lobelia and Giant Groundsel. The temperature swings are extreme, ranging from 25ºC or higher during the daytime to -5ºC at night. This is not what one might expect directly on the equator--but, of course, the altitude determines the climate.


This image came from a 35mm negative shot from a Yashica ELECTRO 35CC camera, scanned by an HP Scanjet G4050 and restored using multiple Photoshop operations.