Posts for Kilimanjaro from 08/2012

Kilimanjaro: Seth & Team Visit Maasai Village

Posted by: Seth Waterfall | August 10, 2012
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Kilimanjaro

We’re half way through the second day of safari and we are off to a great start.  We had an early breakfast at our safari lodge and then drive to Ngorongoro crater.  Before entering the crater we visited a Maasai village.  Once inside the crater we got lucky and have been able to see some of the big cats.  We’re about to have lunch now and then we’ll do some more game viewing.

RMI Guide Seth Waterfall

Watching big cats in the Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania.  Photo: Seth Waterfall Visiting a Maasai Village.  Photo: Jeff Martin

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Kilimanjaro: Tucker & Team at Barranco Camp

Posted by: Mark Tucker | August 09, 2012
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Kilimanjaro

Mark Tucker checking in from the Barranco Camp, Kilimanjaro climb extraordinaire.  Well, I’m looking at about ten jillion stars, beautiful night.  Let’s see here, about 10 days ago I think it was quite windy and a lot of dust. Not tonight, not today. Very comfortable climbing conditions and not to worry, the team is doing just fine.  We are looking forward to the short hike tomorrow, a late start to let the other teams get a head start on this little more rocky climb section. Not to worry, doing great, having fun, wish you were all here.  See you tomorrow.

RMI Guide Mark Tucker

Barranco Camp on Kilimanjaro. Photo: Jeff Martin


RMI Guide Mark Tucker checks in from Barranco Camp.

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Kilimanjaro: Seth & Team See Many Animals at Lake Manyara

Posted by: Seth Waterfall | August 09, 2012
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Kilimanjaro

This is Seth checking in from the shores of Lake Manyara.  We have officially started our safari!  We had a nice morning at the hotel.  Then said goodbye to Matt, who is headed home, and drove out to the edge of the Great Rift Valley.  Once in the national park we started our game viewing with what Eddie calls ‘bamboons’.  We’ve also seen elephants, water buffalo, giraffes and many others.  It’s a great warm up for our visit to Ngorongoro crater tomorrow.

RMI Guide Seth Waterfall

The team gives a thumbs up on Day 1 of their safari. Photo: Seth Waterfall Views of elephants in Lake Manyara National Park. Photo: Seth Waterfall

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Kilimanjaro: Tucker & Team’s First Views of Kilimanjaro

Posted by: Mark Tucker | August 08, 2012
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Kilimanjaro
Elevation: 12,800'

Mark Tucker checking in from Camp 2, Kilimanjaro, the Shira Camp.  Well over 12,000’.  You can see your breath tonight, a little bit chilly. What a great day.  Perfect climbing conditions. We received a little sprinkling yesterday so the dust has been settled.  We had a little cloud cover so it made quite comfortable climbing up to camp today.  Then it started to rain just a little bit when we arrived so we are already in the tents. We were fortunate enough that the mountain popped out right at sunset tonight.  We have now seen the peak. Everybody is quite thrilled with that. Lots of pictures as you can well imagine. The team is doing very well.  Everybody’s healthy and we’ve been moving nice and smooth and we’re all developing these great techniques for the summit to come.  We have a clear night and we’ll talk to you tomorrow after a pretty good-size day. We’re all looking for it.

RMI Guide Mark Tucker

Shira Camp on Kilimanjaro.


RMI Guide Mark Tucker checks in from Shira Camp on Kilimanjaro

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Kilimanjaro: Seth & Team Safely Off the Mountain

Posted by: Seth Waterfall | August 08, 2012
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Kilimanjaro

We’re back at the hotel!!!  We awoke early this morning and everyone was psyched to get on the trail.  The thought of a hot shower and a cold beer was all it took to motivate the group.

After a wrap up ceremony with our crew we dispatched with the last few thousand feet of Kilimanjaro in 2.5 hours.  Our truck met us at the national park gate and delivered us to the Dik Dik hotel.  Everyone is now prepping for a celebration dinner.  Safari starts tomorrow!

RMI Guide Seth Waterfall

The RMI July 30th Kilimanjaro Team at the Dik Dik Hotel after their climb.

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Kilimanjaro: Tucker & Team at Machame Camp

Posted by: Mark Tucker | August 07, 2012
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Kilimanjaro
Elevation: 9,999'

Mark Tucker checking in from 9,999’.  Camp 1 on Kilimanjaro on the Machame Route in the Machame Camp reporting all is well.  We just had a great day.  A little bit overcast.  It actually sprinkled just enough to keep the dust down.  Last trip it was quite a dusty monster but boy, conditions just couldn’t be better.  The team is climbing very well, no issues.  Great meal, no headaches.  Everybody is just climbing into their tents and looking forward to a nice rest.  Big day tomorrow but nothing these guys can’t handle.  Obviously I’ve got a couple of layers.  I’ve got my heavy coat on just to stay comfortable but it is very pleasant out tonight.  The clouds have now blown out and it is a very starry, starry night.  We have a real nice camp, a little higher than most groups, so we have our own little private Idaho, which is sort of a bonus.  As usual there are a few other teams out here but they are doing okay as well.  We are having a blast and we appreciate you guys keeping tabs on us.  We’ll report back sooner than later.

RMI Guide Mark Tucker

The Kilimanjaro Team loading up before the trek. Photo: Mark Tucker Hiking through the lush rainforest on the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro.


Mark Tucker checks in from Machame Camp.

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Kilimanjaro: Seth & Team on the Summit!

Posted by: Seth Waterfall | August 07, 2012
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Kilimanjaro
Elevation: 19,340'

Jambo!  We have descended past high camp and are on our way to our last camp, Mweka.  The summit was beautiful with zero wind and sunny skies.  We topped out on Stella Point at sunrise and reached Uruhu Peak one hour later.  As we descended a cloud layer built over the mountain and we’re currently getting snowed on.  We’re all looking forward to a nice rest.

RMI Guide Seth Waterfall

Seth & Team at Uhuru Peak, Kilimanjaro Summit! Photo: Seth Waterfall The team at sunrise with the summit glaciers beyond. Photo: Seth Waterfall A team member shows her excitement after a successful summit. Photo: Seth Waterfall


RMI Guide Seth Waterfall checks in from the Kilimanjaro Summit

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Kilimanjaro: Tucker & Team Arrive in Tanzania

Posted by: Mark Tucker | August 06, 2012
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Kilimanjaro

So, our team is now assembled at the Dik Dik Hotel in Tanzania, getting ready for our climb of Kilimanjaro.  It is a long way from the US and sometimes mother nature makes getting where we want to go (out of Chicago in a windstorm) a bit more difficult.  Nonetheless, we are all here and with most of our luggage…...two of the team are missing bags.  Our local staff has worked hard to assist us by making additional transfers to the airport to pick up our gear.  We have it pretty good in the ol’ USA, just some of the places we wish to visit are not at the same level of infrastructure and support we are used to. I look at it that we are a guest in their country and appreciate any help I can get.  Bottom line two more equipment checks tonight and some late night packing. Then we will be good to go in the morning.

We celebrated two birthdays tonight with cake, candles, singing and presents. Not a bad place to celebrate!  This is adventure travel at its best and tomorrow we start on the mountain.

It doesn’t stand a chance against this team!

RMI Guide Mark Tucker

The Dik Dik Hotel, Tanzania

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9

Kilimanjaro: Seth & Team Ascend to High Camp

Posted by: Seth Waterfall | August 06, 2012
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Kilimanjaro
Elevation: 15,000'

We’re on the way to high camp on Kilimanjaro!  The sun is out and it’s a beautiful day.  We’ll be on the trail for about three hours today and then we’ll begin our final prep for the summit push.  If all goes well we should be on top of Kilimanjaro within 24 hours!

RMI Guide Seth Waterfall

The team climbing towards high camp on Kilimanjaro.  Photo: Seth Waterfall Taking a rest break en route to high camp on Kilimanjaro.  Photo:  Seth Waterfall

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Kilimanjaro: Seth & Team Nearing Karanga Valley Camp

Posted by: Seth Waterfall | August 05, 2012
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Kilimanjaro
Elevation: 12,800'

Hi everyone we are on top of the Barranco Wall.  The team is good aside from a few stomach issues.  We’ll get a nice long rest this afternoon at Karanga Valley.  Wish us luck.

RMI Guide Seth Waterfall

An RMI Team at the Barranco Wall. Photo: Seth Waterfall Karanga Valley, Kilimanjaro. Photo: Jeff Martin Karanga Camp on Kilimanjaro (14,500 ft).  Photo: Seth Waterfall

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