Erin Ton's Kilimanjaro FKT: Shattering records on Africa's highest peak
One of the iconic seven summits, Mount Kilimanjaro represents the hallowed ground of many climbers’ highest steps on earth. At 5,895 metres (19,341 feet), Africa’s highest peak rises from tropical forest through alpine terrain featuring snow, ice and sub-zero temperatures. For most climbers, reaching the peak is a multi-day expedition. For Erin Ton, it became the second step on her quest to set the fastest known times on all of the seven summits.
A Record-Breaking Day on Africa’s Highest Peak
On September 6th, 2026, Ton established two new women’s supported Fastest Known Times (FKTs) on Kilimanjaro with times of 5 hours, 47 minutes and 50 seconds for the ascent, and 8 hours, 33 minutes and 42 seconds for the round trip. She covered 26.38 miles with over 14,000ft of climbing and descending. She beat the previous women’s supported ascent record by more than an hour and the round-trip record by over an hour and a half. Her new times mark substantial improvements on a mountain where altitude, terrain and logistics can quickly be derailed.
Ton’s Kilimanjaro achievement is the latest chapter in a career built around redefining what is possible on foot. She has accumulated an extraordinary number of FKTs across mountain routes and long-distance challenges, earning recognition for both her speed and her willingness to take on difficult mountain objectives.
Her list of FKTs span from the volcanoes of the Pacific Northwest, to the Rockies of Colorado and the high altitudes of Nepal. More recently, in February 2026, she set women’s unsupported ascent-and-descent speed records on Argentina’s Aconcagua, South America’s highest mountain to mark the first step in her quest of setting FKTs on all seven summits.
Preparation Behind the Performance
Kilimanjaro adds another dimension of showing Ton is capable of shattering records across the globe. To accomplish the record, Ton and her team had to coordinate guides along the route, along with permitting, planning their pacing around key camps and carefully managing nutrition and hydration. Even with preparation, she experienced nausea and dizziness above 15,000 feet, but she was able to work through the lows and make her way safely up and down the mountain.
Scouting the Route
Erin’s Kilimanjaro route. View full route »
The Kilimanjaro FKT route has several options with many athletes choosing to start and end in two different locations. Ton decided to start and end her journey at the Mweka Gate. Ton’s effort illustrates the value of preparation. Her team scouted the mountain beforehand using Footpath to study the route and they also completed a full summit leading up to her attempt. This studying and scouting helped establish intended splits at key camps and kept Erin on track for the record.
Erin at the summit
Behind a standout performance are countless decisions about terrain, timing, logistics and navigation. On a mountain as complex as Kilimanjaro, studying the route is part of understanding the challenge.
Congratulations to Erin and her team for completing step two in her journey to seven!
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