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MOUNT KILIMANJARO EXPEDITION BLOG 2008/2009
KILIMANJARO PHOTO GALLERY FROM 2007/2008 SUMMIT SUCCESS! ! ! ! everyone on top at 8pm January 4, 2009 North America time PST CONGRATULATIONS December 31, 2008 - Tanzania Time: Tim checks in to inform me that Herman has a "Blackberry" !!!! Kudos go out to Herman. This means we are able to post updates on the teams progress.
This year on Kilimanjaro we have the teams adventure coordinator Paul Pargeter with Greg Pickel, Dana Pickel, Herman Hull and Daniel Snipes. When Tim checked in this evening they were just packing up to head out to the trailhead and will bringing in the New Year in fine form from their first camp on the mountain tonight. Edita, Gift and Regi send along their best wishes to everyone at home they met last year while working with our team on Kilimanjaro. Regi's daughter has been hand writing school newsletters one at a time to send home with the children. Tim discussed the idea of bringing a computer and printer and some ink this year and we made it happen. I can't wait to see her first newsletter. Stay tuned! HAPPY NEW YEARS EVE FROM MACHAME CAMP: Herman calls in to his wife Carol with the news that they all made it and are doing great. They have arrived at Machame Camp approximately 10,000 feet (3300m).
Each climber has to register their name and passport number with the park authorities. We loaded up our packs and watched our porters load up with our tents and provisions for the climb. Loads are carried mostly on their heads. Each step higher we felt the effect of altitude as the oxygen thinned but our bodies adjusted as we drank copious amounts of water following the orders of our mountain guides Tim and Regi. Tomorrow we will trek 6 to 7 hours to Shira Camp at about 12,500 feet. Over and out!
Jan 3- Tanzania Time: AT BARANCO CAMP- Herman steps in for another cup of Milo. Tim makes a phone call home. Dana decides to take it easy and drop down. Today was a hard day. The team climbed for 9 hours over 7.5 miles. Jan 4- Tanzania Time: At Barfu Camp. No word today but at the time of my posting (Jan. 3 at 5:30pm PST) it is Jan 4, at 0430am Tanzania time. This would have them sleeping at Karangu Camp. When they wake up they will climbing to Barafu camp at (14,950ft or 4600m). This will take about 4 hours. When they arrive they will rest and get ready to rise at midnight to begin the ascent up to Uhuru Peak (Kilimanjaro summit) at (19,340 ft or 5895m). They will don their headlamps and then head out. It will take 6 or 7 hours to reach the crater rim. Sunrise on the crater is going to be something to remember forever. The sun rising over the plains of Africa and diffuse light highlighting the nearby glaciers will truly be a world-class experience. From there they will likely take another hot cup of tea and it will be about two more hours to reach the highest point in Africa. Jan 4- North America -0745 PST Time Herman calls in to his wife Carol. They are resting right now and on schedule. They plan to get up at 10:00pm Tanzania time and go for the summit. Everyone is doing well. Jan. 5- Tanzania Time- THE SUMMIT: They will spend up to half an hour on the summit and then begin the 4- hour descent to Barafu. They will rest there for a couple of hours as they will be swacked from the long day and the altitude. It will take a few more hours to walk down to Mweka Hut, about 6 hours. Each step they will get stronger adding more oxygen to their bodies. Jan. 6- From Mweka Camp to Mweka gate it will take them about 3 hours. Once there they will drive back to the Keys Hotel in Moshi for hot showers, dinner and a warm bed. What's next?....... The morning of Jan. 7 the team will set out on an African Wildlife Safari, part two of this adventure.
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HIMALAYAN HIGH ALTITUDE SPECIALISTS since 1983
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We
first travelled by bus about 30 miles from the Keys Hotel in Moshi, to Machame
gate at the entrance to the Kilimanjaro National Park. We trekked up a single
trail to the gate and to be greeted by a throng of porters waiting for us.