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Posts from 02/2011

Kilimanjaro:  The End of a Great Trip

Posted by: | February 25, 2011
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Kilimanjaro

Jambo!
We are all back at the Dik Dik Hotel where it all started not so long ago.  Since then, we have climbed a Big Mountain and seen wildlife galore.  We had some tough moments and most recently some very easy ones.  We have made some new friends and had a chance to visit with past ones.

All and all, we had a great time.
It was nice to have you following our dispatches.  Thank you.

I look forward to starting my next dispatch in March with Namaste, when I return to Nepal for yet another expedition on the Big Everest.

All the best,
RMI Guide Mark Tucker

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Kilimanjaro:  Game viewing in Tarangire National Park

Posted by: | February 24, 2011
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Kilimanjaro

Jambo!

Mark Tucker here calling from the Kikoti Camp, outside of the Tarangire National Park, Tanzania.  We had a wonderful game drive today, many, many animals, lots of elephant, lots of leopards.  I could go on and on and make you all so jealous.  So we are having a real fun time at this beautiful property we are at here tonight.  We will have coffee in the morning on our lanai.  Then we will be making our way back to the Dik Dik Hotel for an evening flight tomorrow.  If all works out we will be back in your neck of the woods sooner than later.

We’ll drop you a note tomorrow.

All the best,
RMI Guide Mark Tucker

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Kilimanjaro:  Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater

Posted by: | February 23, 2011
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Kilimanjaro

Jambo!
We are checking in from the fabulous Plantation Lodge in Tanzania.

We had an incredible day of game viewing at the Ngorongoro Crater.  At one point we even had a baboon in the driver’s seat of our safari vehicle.  That was kind of exciting.  We saw many of the beautiful animals that make their home in this extinct crater, lion, giraffe, zebra and elephant along with many species of monkeys and birds.

Tomorrow we head out to Tarangire National Park.  The weather has been cooperating and everyone is having fun.
Wish you were here.

All the best,
RMI Guide Mark Tucker

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Kilimanjaro: Site seeing and safari

Posted by: | February 22, 2011
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Kilimanjaro

We left the Dik Dik Hotel this morning to begin our game viewing safari.  We stopped in the town of Arusha for a little shopping for locally made gifts and souvenirs.  We continued our drive to Lake Manyara National Park and found a remote and peaceful spot for our delicious barbecue lunch. 
After a short but strong rain we finished the afternoon with a wonderful game drive in cool temperature, no dust and sweet thick air.

We are now resting and relaxing here at the Plantation Lodge, really roughing it with a four course deluxe meal.
We are off to the Ngorongoro Crater tomorrow looking for the elusive Rhino, to name just one, and then returning here another for another night at the lodge.

Life is rough!
RMI Guide Mark Tucker

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Kilimanjaro: Climb Ends, Safari Begins

Posted by: | February 21, 2011
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Kilimanjaro

Just finished a wonderful meal at The Dik Dik hotel with the whole team.

They all look about the same as when we started the climb, but I believe everyone of them has change in some sense inside. I think a greater self awareness and positive outlook on just how tough and how much they can endure was brought to life over the course of this expedition. Thank goodness for the available hot showers this afternoon it was a nice touch to have them change on the outside.

Perfect weather for our 3 hour hike to the end of the trail where we said good by to a fantastic group of local men who helped us with the climb of Kilimanjaro. Couldn’t have done it without them. Thanks so much to The Dik Dik Hotel and RMI staff for all they have done.

We will start the Safari part of the program tomorrow and I will do my best to keep you in the loop.

May it be a short time before this group gets to a new trail head for the start of another great adventure.

Cheers,
RMI Guide Mark Tucker

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Mexico:  The Trip Comes to an End

Posted by: | February 20, 2011
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Mexico

After a near perfect climb, complete with a very bright full moon and excellent sunrise casting a conical mountain shadow over the plateau below, our team made it safely back to Piedra Grande.  There we broke camp and loaded the trucks for our cruise back to Tlachichuca.  On our drive down we were able to see our day’s work with remarkable clarity.  Back in town we got cleaned up and packed before a celebratory dinner at Doctor Reyes’ house.  Everyone enjoyed a well-deserved rest in the converted factory before one last breakfast in Mexico.  Then it was off to Mexico City with views of La Malinche, Ixta and Orizaba along the way.  Thanks for a great trip everyone and great job!

RMI Guide Jake Beren

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Kilimanjaro:  Team at Mweka, Final Camp.

Posted by: | February 20, 2011
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Kilimanjaro
Elevation: 10,000'

Jambo.

Mr. Tucker here at the Mweka Camp.  You call breath easier as well as us here at the 10,000’ level.  All is going well.  We had a big day and looking forward to some great deep sleep in the thick air tonight.  We’ll have a quick hike to the gate and then back to the hotel and we’ll drop you a note from there.
Thanks.

On The Map

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Kilimanjaro:  Standing on Top, Uhuru Peak!

Posted by: | February 20, 2011
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Kilimanjaro
Elevation: 19,340'

Jambo to all. 

Well we did it, all the “Tucklings” to the top. We tried to give a call from the summit but I’ll tell you, it was cold and breezy, and a half battery wasn’t enough, the charge wasn’t there.  But I’m back down here as well as the rest of the team at our high camp, Barafu at 15,000’.

We are going to toute suite out of here.  I’m going to have to start poking a few of them with my ski pole, to keep them moving.  But we’ll get another 5,000’ to descend to the Mweka Camp.  Pretty easy to crawl into the bag and here and take a nap. But, the old machine may seize up so I’m going keep pushing them along.

Everybody did just fantastic.  Of course there were a few issues here and there and people were challenged.  Half of them said it was probably the hardest thing they’ve ever done in their life physically. And the other half, you know they were lying.  So, all is well. I’ll try and get this iPAQ thing working again and do a dispatch once we get down to Mweka Camp. I appreciate you guys all checking in. Cheers from Kilimanjaro, Uhuru Peak!

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Mexico:  Orizaba Summit!

Posted by: | February 19, 2011
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Mexico
Elevation: 18,701'

Hello everybody, this is Jake standing on top of El Pico de Orizaba, in Mexico, third highest point on the North American continent.

We did a great job today.  Everybody climbed super well.  It’s breezy, a little cold, but we’ve got stellar views in every direction had an amazing moon lit climb, barely needed a headlamp.  It was completely ideal. 

So, everybody did great and we’ll be checking in, probably late this evening with an update after we head down safely.  Thanks for all the support back home and we’ll be talking to you guys soon. 

Alright, take care.

RMI Guide Jake Beren

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Kilimanjaro:  Team at High Camp

Posted by: | February 19, 2011
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Kilimanjaro
Elevation: 15,000'

Jambo, this Mark Tucker calling. The electronic equipment up at this high camp just isn’t as strong and resilient as my climbing team so I’m resorting to this voice dispatch.  I will read what I have written that wasn’t able to be sent.

Here at high camp, Barafu 15,000’, perfect climbing conditions today some clouds in and out, a sprinkle here and there.  Just finished our lunch and had a group meeting discussing tonight’s summit bid.  The whole team did great up to here with some reasonable weather.
At midnight we will start our push to the top.  For now it’s packing and resting.
If all goes well, at this time tomorrow we will be nearing our final camp, the Mweka camp which is about 5,000’ lower than where we are right now.

So, we will try again tomorrow with this dispatch machine, maybe it’ll behave a little more.
But for now, we’ve got our fingers crossed and we will talk to you later.

RMI Guide Mark Tucker

On The Map

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