On 6 October 2026, American endurance athlete Kelly Halpin set the female unsupported Fastest Known Time on Mount Kilimanjaro’s round trip from Umbwe Gate, reaching Mweka Gate in 10 hours, 30 minutes and 56 seconds.
Nine months of planning, one clean morning
Halpin spent the eight days before the attempt scouting the mountain with guides Simon Mtuy — a two-time previous record holder — and Jackson Mtui. She camped at Umbwe Gate the night before, woke at 3:30 a.m., and started her watch at 5:00 a.m. in misty forest. The route climbed through Umbwe Cave Camp, Barranco Camp, and Arrow Glacier before tackling the Western Breach.
Cloud cover kept temperatures favourable, and she moved fast enough to stay warm in just a sun hoody, never needing gloves or a jacket. Thick cloud also meant no rockfall troubled the ascent.
A summit split and a careful descent
Halpin reached Uhuru Peak, 5,895 metres above sea level, roughly seven hours and eleven minutes into the run. Mild altitude lightheadedness near the top did not slow her. With limited water access, she carried a heavy pack — extra fuel, layers, an emergency blanket and a satellite device — and refilled only once, at a stream crossing en route to Arrow Glacier Camp.
Because Tanzanian park rules require a guide on the mountain, Mtuy ran the same route behind her with a significant head start under an arrangement approved by FKT organisers. The two never crossed paths, and Mtuy finished his own run a few hours later. On the descent Halpin walked through busy camp areas out of courtesy, her legs fatigued from the preceding week of scouting.
“After spending nine months planning a potential unsupported run and dozens of discussions about how to be respectful and work within the park regulations, I finally took off,” Halpin wrote. She arrived at Mweka Gate to high-fives and hugs from her crew, forgetting for a moment to pause her watch.
From Wind Rivers to Uhuru
The Jackson, Wyoming-based artist and endurance athlete already held the female unsupported solo FKT on the Wind River High Route. That evening the team shared a dinner of ugali at Simon Mtuy's house, with Halpin thanking the guides as “ambassadors of their mountain.”
