Last night at 9:30 pm PST Dave Hahn called from the Kilimanjaro summit! Please click the audio button below to listen to his update from the Roof of Africa. 7:48 am PST By any measure, this was a big day. For one thing, it began yesterday. At 11:30 PM precisely, we woke at 15,200 ft to begin our summit attempt. The moon was brilliant, high clouds and wind were non-existent... It was the perfect night for climbing. Our team assembled in the dining tent at midnight to swill coffee and porridge. By the time we were walking out of camp at 12:30, we'd already sung a few rounds of happy birthday to the 18 year-old twins, Max and Simon. Philip Mbise, our lead guide, brought the team skillfully, politely, and steadily through a hundred potential traffic jams. Everybody was out and on the move, but many were having the normal difficulties with the altitude, the terrain and the cold, so by merely keeping our team at a rock-steady "Pole Pole" pace, Philip passed team after team as we worked higher. Most of us didn't turn our headlights on until just before the crater rim, when we tore through a moon shadow. We hit Stella Point -on the rim- at 5:30 AM, still in darkness, but with an enchanting light show going on between imminent daybreak in the east and moon mania in the west. One hour later... at exactly 6:30, the sun rose and our entire team arrived together at Uhuru... The true summit of Kilimanjaro and Africa. It was cold, we'd been wearing down jackets for the last few hours to the top, but it was an absolutely magical and beautiful moment. There, at 19,340 ft, we celebrated those birthdays, the bonds of family and close friendships, and the wonders of the world. As we watched, a shadow of Kilimanjaro formed in the atmosphere to the West, exactly coinciding with the only landform breaking the surface of the cloud sea, the 16,000-foot pyramid of Mount Meru. As if that weren't enough, the full moon sat just above the twin apexes of ethereal and stone summits in the sky. We took pictures, hugged one another and wandered about wide-eyed and exhilarated. We left the summit at 7:00 and two hours and fifteen minutes later, this strong team was back in high camp. We had a grand feast of a brunch, capped off with a birthday cake which was hand delivered to Barafu from Arusha just yesterday. And then, at 11 AM we skedaddled and headed for Mweka Camp. Walking in pleasant weather, we reached camp at about 10,000 feet by 2:15 -earning a restful afternoon lounging in our forest camp. The shoutouts today go to our own team... All of whom broke their previous altitude records. Special mention to 14 year-old Ella Green who absolutely crushed the day. To 16 year-old Zach Ginn, who would have gone on for another 5,000 feet if the mountain hadn't abruptly ended at 19,340. To our three 18 year-old brothers... Tyrone Green, Simon and Max Mount each of whom demonstrated uncommon discipline, maturity and good humor on a long tough day. The loudest of shoutouts to Philip, to Freddy Kileo, to Gama Samvel, to Naiman Metil, to Venance Vicent, and Said Mwanja for flawless guidance. Best Regards, RMI Guide Dave Hahn

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