Hello -
We are checking in on our penultimate day. We're in Tarangire National Park also known as the garden of the elephants. It's been a great day and we've been fortunate to have gotten close to many large animals. Tonight we'll be having our last dinner together before we all start heading home.
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall
Hi this is RMI Guide Seth Waterfall checking in from inside Ngorongoro Crater. We've had an amazing morning! First thing after we drove into the crater we came upon several lions including a large male that walked right in front of our truck. After that we found a spot where a female rhinoceros was lying down. After waiting patiently we were treated to the sight of her getting up and coming within a few hundred feet of the car. That's as close as I've ever been to a rhino in the wild! We're headed for lunch now and then off to a Maasai village.
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall
We've started our safari with a great day. We got an early-ish start from the Dik Dik and headed out of town. On the way we stopped to pick up some stuff for the road. We made good time on some rough roads and through some construction zones. It's actually great to see the government investing in infrastructure here.
Once we got to Lake Manyara National Park we had an amazing lunch at a nice little picnic spot and then headed out on the game drive.
The drive was excellent! I've been convinced for years that the 'tree climbing lions' of Lake Manyara do not exist but today I was proven wrong. It was just a glimpse of the hind quarter of the lion but now I know they're real.
We're done with the game drive now and enjoying cocktail hour at the Plantation Lodge. It's a great change of pace from the mountain. Here's a pick of the grounds at the lodge. It's a beautiful spot to spend a couple of nights on safari.
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall and Team
The Four Day Summit Climbs August 12 - 15, 2013 led by RMI Guides Eric Frank was unable to reach the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. Strong winds and precipitation prevented the teams from climbing. The teams checked in from Camp Muir shortly after 7 am where they were safe and warm in the Muir hut. The teams will descend from Camp Muir to Paradise this morning.
The Expedition Skills Seminar - Kautz led by RMI Guide Elias de Andres Martos was unable to summit this morning also. They will spend today training on the mountain. Tomorrow they will descend to Paradise and complete their program.
We look forward to seeing them at Rainier BaseCamp.
We're off the mountain and on the way back to the hotel! It's been a great climb but everyone is really looking forward to hot showers this afternoon.
Summit day was awesome yesterday. This team really kicked some butt! It wasn't easy, that's for sure. Everyone stepped up and performed to the best of their abilities.
The weather, once again, was fabulous and that just added to our enjoyment of Kilimanjaro. Tomorrow we're shifting gears into safari mode. That is always a fun time.
That's all for now. Here's a summit shot.
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall and Team
The Five Day Summit Climb August 10 - 14 led by Solveig Waterfall and the Four Day Summit Climb August 11 - 14 led by Brent Okita reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. The teams reported steady winds of 40 mph at the summit and a cloud cap that had descended on the mountain. The teams began their descent from the crater rim around 7:15 am. They will return to Camp Muir for a short break and then continue to Paradise this afternoon. We look forward to seeing them at Rainier BaseCamp later today.
Congratulations to today's summit climb teams!
Hey Seth here checking in from Mweka Camp, that is our last camp on Kilimanjaro. We made it back to High Camp in really good time and the good weather continued all the way down. Everyone is tucked into our tents and just waiting for dinner. We are going to crash out early tonight after a super long day, but a successful one. Tomorrow we are off the mountain and back at the hotel. I will send summit photos when we get back into Wi-Fi range.
That’s it for us.
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall and team.
Unbelievable accomplishment for this team. A huge congrats to Phil and Susan. We are super proud of you both, but Susan, you rock! Missed you in the Hood, but what you did there can’t be topped. Ciao! D & W
Posted by: Denise and Wayne on 8/13/2013 at 10:01 pm
The Expedition Skills Seminar – Emmons led by RMI Guide Garrett Stevens called from Columbia Crest at 6:56 am, the team arrived at the summit around 6:30 am PT. Garret reported clear skies with a marine layer below at 5,000’, moderate winds and cold temperatures on the Emmons route. The team will return to their high camp for a final night on the mountain.
RMI Guide Casey Grom & the Four Day Summit Climb approached the crater rim of Mt. Rainier shortly before 7 am. Casey reported 100% of the team members would be reaching the summit. He also reported winds from the west and good route conditions.
Congratulations to today summit climbers!
It was all because of our incredible guides Casey, Nick and Nick. They took really good care of me, supported me all the way. Email me and well talk further.what an adventure! Thanks to the whole incredible team for making my 50th birthday my summit day!
Posted by: Amy Daniels on 8/14/2013 at 8:34 am
Congrats Amy and Marc! We don’t know each other but my husband Richard and myself are just waiting for next Aug dates to sign up! I’d love to hear about your guys journey! Hope to hear from you when the dust settles.
Again, CONGRATS!
Hey, this is Seth checking in from the top of Kilimanjaro! It's a beautiful day here to be on the Roof of Africa. Zero wind. We got up here right in time for sunrise, and just an awesome day of climbing. The crew did so good. I had to slow them down. They were going too fast so we took some extra breaks just to reel them in. Great crew, great day. It's beautiful up here and now we are going to flip it around and head back to our low camp at 10,000 feet. So, 9,000 feet to go downhill for us, but we should have a great day. That's it from the top of Kili!
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall
Seth Waterfall calls in from the Roof of Africa, Kilimanjaro.
Monday, August 12th 1:57 PSTRMI Guide Seth Waterfall sent a dispatch:
Hey, this is Seth checking in from high camp on Kili; it's a beautiful night, just after midnight and we are getting set to go for the summit. Everybody's putting their packs on. Hopefully, in 6 - 8 hours will be standing on top of Kilimanjaro. I'll check in then.
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This looks like a fancy place compared to the mountain. Enjoy. MA
Posted by: Mary Ann on 8/15/2013 at 7:35 pm
Sounds like you are ready for a relaxing time after the mountain. Will look up the places you are now so I can travel along with you Love you Mom
Posted by: cornelia miller on 8/15/2013 at 10:08 am
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