Entries from Expedition Dispatches
Posted by: Dave Hahn
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
We made a couple of stops along the route from the Plantation Lodge in the high country to Tarangire National Park down in the Rift Valley. We checked out a Maasai village where we saw traditional dances and chanting. The tribesmen showed us their method for building fire without matches and took us into their small huts to answer questions about the traditions that they follow. We then drove down to a busy afternoon in Tarangire. We began seeing elephants, right form the start. Herds of them... big family groups and gangs of bulls. Impalas, zebra and gnus were everywhere. We developed an eye for lilac breasted rollers and for vultures and snake eagles. Although we roamed over miles and miles of twisty, turny dirt roads, we didn’t see cats today... no lions, no leopards, no cheetahs. All the animals we did see had no problem whatsoever with the lack of cats though. As the sun began to sink, we pulled into Balloon Camp where our room assignments were “tent cabins” and where we needed to request an armed escort to get over to the lobby and dining area. We are still within the park and there aren’t any fences. There is a good deal of natural beauty though. Just after sunset, we watched “bush television” (a campfire) and gazed up at the Southern Cross and the Milky Way. Then we laughed through another fine dinner together and got ready for a final night in Africa.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Posted by: Eric Frank, Steve Gately
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Four Day Summit Climb Teams checked in at 7:40 AM as they were leaving the summit crater of Mt. Rainier. The group enjoyed blue skies and a really nice morning on the mountain.
Once they return to Camp Muir they will repack and continue their descent to Paradise. They will end their program with a celebration at Rainier BaseCamp this afternoon.
Congratulations to today's Summit Climb teams!
What a fantastic early Birthday gift Bob !! You made it, way to go. Love you
Posted by: Barbara on 8/4/2018 at 4:44 pm
Congratulations to all of you , what a great experience. So proud Bob
Posted by: Barbara on 8/4/2018 at 4:41 pm
The last hill into camp at 15,200' saw everyone rest stepping and pressure breathing almost religiously. Whether we felt good or were struggling just a little, we all knew by this time what was required to feel as good as possible to do well at this altitude.
It was perfect to have our shortest day coincide with our going to our highest camp. A new altitude record for most everybody! Surprisingly, no headaches have been reported yet, a testament to how well folks are taking care of themselves.
In the first few minutes that we were at camp, our mountain staff had our tents up and shortly thereafter had the dining tent up. An hour later our chef Tosha had amazingly whipped up lunch: French fries, sauteed chicken and vegetables, followed by a dessert of orange slices and his incredible chocolate bar creation.
Hey you chefs out there, celebrity or not, you don't hold a candle to Tosha. What he does on a couple of propane burners with one assistant at 15,000' is magic!
This afternoon we're getting ready for our summit climb, packing what we can and being as organized as possible for our push off just after midnight. Folks descending from the summit today commented on how nice the day was up there. I have a feeling we'll have similar conditions.
Wish us luck, and I'll try to get out a voice dispatch from the summit.
RMI Guide Brent Okita
On The Map
Posted by: Dave Hahn
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
We bounced along rough dirt roads in the Landcruisers as sunrise came on. It was the rare clear and dry morning up on the rim of Ngorongoro Crater and we were thrilled with the views into the giant caldera. The air was crisp and cool as we made our way down in, fully on the lookout for critters. We began to see countless Cape buffalo, gazillions of gazelles, and absurd numbers of zebra. We saw a set of lions getting frisky between catnaps. Big solitary bull elephants marched to and fro in the distance. Hippos were relatively hyper, moving from one mud bog to another and performing barrel rolls in the soup. Ostriches and Kori Bustards strutted about. We saw hyenas and jackals, wart hogs and a few thousand gnu. A picnic lunch and some French pressed fresh coffee prepared us for a final flurry of game viewing. We saw a lone and distant rhino to make it a “big four day” (elephant+lion+Cape buffalo+rhino = The big five minus a leopard) and then Ibrahim and Francis expertly piloted the Landcruisers up the steep switchback road to the 8,500 feet crater rim and we headed back to the tranquility of the Plantation Lodge in late afternoon.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Hi DAVE,
We are back at it!! Ready for safari!!
I live the facial hair Brian!!❤️
Posted by: Aunt Vicki on 8/3/2018 at 6:08 pm
Day 4 and we're knocking on the summit door of this mountain. This morning we scaled the Barranco Wall right out of camp. Ditching the trekking poles so we can use our hands to better grasp the rock on this steep part of the climb the team moved like pros. Exclamations of how much fun the climbing was was universal. Yes, we had to wait several times for groups of porters to pass by, but no one was complaining of the chance to catch our breath. Plus, it was a chance for us to appreciate the coordination and athleticism of these folks as they negotiate this steep terrain, balancing 32 pound duffels of gear on their heads.
Our high point was never more than 14,000' as we traversed up and down several drainage to come around to the SE side of Kilimanjaro where our camp is situated. During this slow walk we were constantly rewarded with magnificent views of this special place.
Today was also a day of solidifying the acclimatization gains of yesterday before we venture to our high camp tomorrow. Measuring our oxygen saturation levels this morning indicate that everybody is doing great! But we already knew that just based on how well we're all walking.
We're excited to get to high camp!
We'll be back in touch tomorrow from 15,200' camp.
RMI Guide Brent Okita
On The Map
RMI Guide Pete Van Deventer and the Mt. Baker Easton Glacier August 1 - 3 team reached the summit this morning around 6:30 AM PT with 100% of their team members.
The team will make a complete descent today and conclude their program this afternoon.
Congratulations to the team!
Woohoo! Way to go team! Thank you so much for all your amazing support of the American Lung Association and Climb for Clean Air! See you at the trailhead!
Posted by: Evan Lepine on 8/3/2018 at 10:09 am
Congratulations! Can’t wait to see pictures!
Posted by: Jane on 8/3/2018 at 9:06 am
RMI Guide Hannah McGowan met her Expedition Skills Seminar - Paradise team on July 29th for a day of Technical Training and gear checks. The next day they drove to Paradise and began their climb. The team moved slowly up the mountain setting up camp, learning new skills and practicing new techniques. Yesterday they moved into Camp Muir and prepared for their summit attempt. With an early alpine start this morning, the team left Camp Muir enroute to the summit. With blue skies and light winds they reached the summit of Mt. Rainier and after enjoying the views, began their descent to Camp Muir around 7 AM PT. Once back at camp they will pack up and continue their descent to Paradise. We look forward to seeing them at Rainier BaseCamp this afternoon to conclude their week of training and climbing.
Congratulations to the Paradise Seminar Team!
So glad you are safe, dad! Proud of you and this tremendous accomplishment!! Praying for a safe return for you and the rest of the team, and that you enjoy the rest of your trip! We love you!
Posted by: Deanna Berkes on 8/4/2018 at 6:16 am
Congrats, Tony!! I can’t wait for you to be home tomorrow and to hear about the adventure! Love you!
Posted by: Kelsey Vigilante on 8/3/2018 at 1:25 pm
While the lower elevations around Mt. Rainier have cloudy skies and a bit of rain this morning, the Four Day Summit Climb July 31 - 3 August enjoyed blue skies and sunshine for their summit climb. The team reached the summit this morning with light winds and were able to spend some time on the crater soaking in the views before beginning their descent around 7 AM PT. The cloud deck remains at around 7,500' but hopefully it will clear about before the team gets to that elevation this afternoon.
Congratulations to today's Summit Climb team!
Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Hannah Smith, Dustin Wittmier
Categories: Expedition Dispatches North Cascades
Elevation: 6,400'
Thursday, August 2 - 5:36 PM PT
We had a great day of training on the lower slopes of the Easton Glacier today. Some clouds moved over at times, shading us from the sun, which was a blessing. We used our type travel segment to move up the glacier and get a view of the whole route. Things look great and we are set for our summit push tonight!
RMI Guide Pete Van Deventer
Posted by: Dave Hahn
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
In short order, we went from walking uphill in snow to walking downhill in mud to riding in comfort in Toyota Landcruisers. First day of Safari went just fine. Breakfast and packing at our Usa River Hotel was easy and familiar. At 8 AM we loaded up with our safari driver/naturalists, Ibrahim and Francis, and got out of town. In truth, we actually got a little more into town first, driving through the outskirts of Arusha to get out west into the wide open Tanzanian countryside. Gradually we came into Maasai country and began to see more and more of the tribe known best for their adherence to traditional ways of living. After a few hours, we entered Lake Manyara National Park and began seeing monkeys and baboons, and eventually Cape Buffalo, Hippos, Zebras and Wildebeest. We saw egrets and ibises, storks and eagles. We saw plenty of signs of elephants having been in the area, but we didn’t actually see the big pachyderms or the lions hiding in trees that Manyara is known for. Even so, it was a fine, relaxing day of exploring exotic forest and lakeshore terrain. By the hot part of the afternoon, the animals were sleepy and shy, so we left them and drove up out of the Great Rift Valley to the highlands near the town of Keratu and found our way to the gardens of the luxurious Plantation Lodge. Folks then hit the swimming pool or simply relaxed in comfy veranda chairs as the sun set. We met for the evening in the splendid bar and dining room of the lodge and talked of the possibilities for wildlife encounters tomorrow in Ngorongoro Crater.
Best regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
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Geez!!! What an excellent trip!! You are the best Dave!!
Safe travels home to the team!
Aunt Vicki and Nana and Shawn
Posted by: Aunt Vicki on 8/5/2018 at 6:16 am
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