This is Seth checking in from the summit of Kilimanjaro (19,340 feet). Everyone in our group has reached the top! The weather has been spectacular all day. We watched the sunrise from the crater rim and have been enjoying the warmth. It's all down hill from here!
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall
Seth Waterfall checking in from the Roof of Africa.
We're at high camp!
We pulled into Barafu Camp (approx. 15,000') today right at noon. When we awoke this morning a weather system had moved in overnight. We were sandwiched between a low layer if clouds an an upper layer of clouds. As we began our hike the clouds enveloped us and it began to rain. After an hour the rain turned to snow which is much better for us. All in all it was a fun day of hiking.
We are about to have lunch after that it will be relaxing time until dinner an a few hours after that we'll begin our summit push! Wish us luck.
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall
Dear Craig and Team -
thinking about you on the final push to the summit! watching the “snows of kilimanjaro” got a peak of the summit - more snow in 1952! Hope the weather clears and you have a great end to the climb. glenn and friends
Posted by: glenn on 9/17/2011 at 10:07 am
Peter and all, just read Seth’s report at 15,000…good luck with the weather and the final leg of the climb..we’ll be watching!!! mother & dad
Habari!
This is the Kili team checking in from the top of the Barranco Wall. We've just ascended the steepest part of our trek. We started this morning at 12,600' and have climbed just over 1,000 vertical feet. The views of the Heim Glaciers on the upper mountain were awesome this morning. The clouds have come in now which will give us pleasant hiking conditions the rest of the way.
Tomorrow we will ascend to high camp!
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall & Team
Hi this is Seth, checking in from 15,000' on Kilimanjaro.
We have enjoyed another great day on the mountain. As we left our Shira Plateau Camp we ascended to 15,000' and everyone on the team reached a new high altitude record today. This is a great mountain to push your personal altitude records as our packs are light and we are ascending without crampons, ice axes and other alpine climbing gear. We're about to drop back down about 2,500' to our camp for tonight. Tonight's camp is set at the base of the great Barranco Wall, a steep canyon emerging from Kilimanjaro's southern side.
We will check in again tomorrow.
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall
Hello from Seth and the Kilimanjaro crew.
We are on the trail heading to the Shira Plateau. Today we got our first view of the mountain since we've been in Africa. The 'Snows of Kilimanjaro' are are fully in view. Everyone is enjoying meeting folks from all over the world while we're hiking. We'll check in tomorrow when we are on the way to Barranco Camp.
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall
Jambo! This is the Kilimanjaro team checking in from 9,800' on Kilimanjaro. Today we completed our first day on the mountain and arrived at the Machame Camp in good style. It was a great day for walking with overcast skies which kept the temperature very comfortable. The trail was a bit muddy for a bit today but our camp is nice and dry. We're hanging out in our kitchen tent now having popcorn and tea. After that we'll have dinner and then it will be time to crawl into our tents for our first night on the mountain.
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall
Hi, this is Seth with a quick check-in from Arusha, Tanzania. All is well here at the Dik Dik Hotel. Everyone is getting ready to embark on our journey tomorrow. Today we had a great breakfast under mostly cloudy skies. Everyone had a great time getting to know each other and the group is meshing nicely. After reviewing the trip itinerary we moved on to a gear check and a talk about how to pack for the mountain. Those activities took up most of the morning. After lunch we took a ride into downtown Arusha where we visited the local market as well as the 'Cultural Heritage Center' curio shop. The clouds cleared off in the afternoon and the temps warmed up considerably. We are all psyched up to start the trek tomorrow and are looking forward to a great climb on Kilimanjaro.
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall
Jambo!
Thought you might like to know that the Canucks have just nailed Tonga 25-20 in the rugby world cup competition. Cool aye?!
Hope you’re all well..
From the Kiwi
Posted by: Kristine on 9/14/2011 at 2:02 am
Sending Craig and team all the best from family and friends! Hope you are all enjoying the climb, can’t wait to hear more on the next blog.
Hello from Tanzania! This is Seth along with the Kilimanjaro Team. Everyone has arrived on schedule and we have just enjoyed our first evening at the Dik Dik Hotel. The hotel staff is really great and the food they serve here is top notch, which was very welcoming after our long travels.
Tomorrow we will take the first step towards the mountain by prepping our gear and packing. After that we all plan to head into the city of Arusha to experience the market there. We'll check in again tomorrow.
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall
Hello this is RMI Guide Mark Tucker checking in from the Dik Dik Hotel in Tanzania. We completed our safari today after an exciting night at the Kikoti Camp. There were elephants just outside our doors last night and literally brushing up against the tent. We returned to the Dik Dik to collect all of luggage, rest and relax. We had another great meal here before being transferred to the Kilimanjaro International Airport for our out bound flights.
Thanks to all of our team members for a great adventure. We hope to you all another time!
RMI Guide Mark Tucker checks in as the trip comes to an end.
Jambo!
Today we visited the Ngorongoro Crater. It was a bit cloudy and cool on the way in this morning so we visited with the friendly Maasai Village for dancing and shopping. The hut life may not be for everyone but it is their way of life and they have adapted just fine. Visiting the village is a nice option to pick up some handmade trinkets and support the local economy, then down in the crater we went. Still a bit cool so we were all glad to have brought some of our fine First Ascent warm gear to make the safari vehicle ride more comfortable. The cats and rhino tried to hide but our pro spotter-of-a-driver was able to point out these magnificent animals. We were in awe of all the types of animals that lingered around the beautiful forest of huge Acacia trees. Luckily we spotted some lions just before we left the park entrance just beyond the crater.
The team is doing well and looking forward to our five-course dinner at the luxury Plantation Lodge.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
Congrats to all
Posted by: Tom on 9/18/2011 at 4:50 am
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