Kilimanjaro: Seth & Team’s One Last Adventure in Tarangire

January 22, 2016

Posted by: Seth Waterfall

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro

Hello from Seth and the last of the team. We are at the end of the road, so-to-speak. Three of the team have left the group to continue their adventure in Zanzibar, we have a person flying out in a few minutes and the final three are leaving at 10pm tonight. We have had a great trip with basically non-stop action the whole time. What I thought was going to be a mellow day started with our safari trucks getting dragged by tractor across a rising river. (Click on Seth's video below.) The trucks can usually handle anything we come across but our drivers thought better of chancing the crossing and called in a tractor from our safari camp. That machine made quick work of the river and hauled both our vehicles across in less than ten minutes. After that it was a breeze through Tarangire National Park where the elephants were out in full force. We saw hundreds of them. That was a very appropriate ending to a whirlwind trip. I can't wait to see what the next one brings! RMI Guide Seth Waterfall

A video posted by Seth Waterfall (@sethwaterfall) on Jan 22, 2016 at 4:30am PST

Kilimanjaro: Seth & Team Complete Their Safari at Tarangire National Park

January 21, 2016

Posted by: Seth Waterfall

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro

Hey there, this is Seth checking in from the Kikoti Camp way out on the far side of Tarangire National Park. We had a good day on safari again. Within the first half hour of entering the Park, we saw lions and elephants. The elephants kept going all day long. We had lunch, a little late lunch, around 2 o'clock and right before we pulled into our picnic site, we saw about 25 mother elephants with their babies. We got some really good close-up shots of some more on the way out so the Garden of Elephants, Tarangire National Park, was sure living up to its name. It is our last night on safari and everybody is pretty psyched to get home and see their loved ones. We do have some more fun stuff planned for tomorrow before everyone catches their flights home and a few folks are going on to Zanzibar and keep going on their vacation. It's been a great climb and safari. We'll say goodbye to this group and then I'll meet the next RMI group that will be checking-in in a couple of days. Ciao. RMI Guide Seth Waterfall

RMI Guide Seth Waterfall checks in from Tarangire National Park.

Kilimanjaro: Seth & Team Visit The Ngorongoro Crater

January 20, 2016

Posted by: Seth Waterfall

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro

Hi! This is Seth. We are in the Ngorongoro Crater where, miraculously, I have 3G service. We are having a great day exploring the area. We got an early start and visited a Maasai village located on the rim of the crater. After that we dropped down to the crater floor and started the game drive. It started off pretty slow for the first hour but then we saw a pride of eleven lions, a single rhino and then a pair of rhinos. The last two rhinos were pretty active which was really cool. After lunch we spotted a completely different pair of rhinos making it a five rhino day. Now we're heading back to the Plantation Lodge for another night before heading out to Tarangire National Park and Kikoti Camp tomorrow. PS: We did not get rained on today. RMI Guide Seth Waterfall & Team

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Can’t wait to see your pictures Eileen. Have a great time taking in all of Mother Nature’s splendor!

Safe travels!

Posted by: Mary & Charlotte on 1/20/2016 at 8:07 pm

Congrats on your Five Rhino Day :) We’re all enjoying your pictures - they’re beautiful!

Posted by: Cindy (RT) on 1/20/2016 at 9:41 am

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Kilimanjaro: Seth & Team Safari at Lake Manyara National Park

January 19, 2016

Posted by: Seth Waterfall

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro

Hello, I am emailing from our safari at Lake Manyara National Park. We are having a great afternoon of game viewing. The day started at the Dik Dik Hotel where we said goodbye to some of our team. About half the team is either headed back home or doing their own safari. The rest of us have successfully shifted gears from mountain living to wildlife viewing. We were on the road just after 9 am and a few hours later we pulled into Lake Manyara. We had lunch just inside the park and then started the game drive. True to the nature of the trip we had 45 minutes of rain but now the clouds have parted, the top of the truck is open and there are animals everywhere. Tonight we will stay at the Plantation Lodge, home of the best margaritas in Tanzania. We'll check in again tomorrow. RMI Guide Seth Waterfall and the Safari All Stars

Kilimanjaro: Waterfall & Team Make Final Descent and Return to Dik Dik

January 18, 2016

Posted by: Seth Waterfall

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro

Hi this is Seth checking in from the lobby bar at the Dik Dik hotel. Everyone is already in party mode. We awoke to mostly cloudy skies this morning but no rain. After a french toast breakfast we enjoyed a song from our awesome crew and then hit the trail. The group shows out a little on the decent as everyone was anxious to get down but some caution was still required on the slick rocks and roots. We had a quick lunch at the park gate and then loaded up in the truck. After driving back to the hotel everyone has cleaned up nicely and is getting ready for our celebration dinner. I'll send some summit pics from yesterday as well. RMI Guide Seth Waterfall

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You guys look awesome, so proud of all of you but a special shout out to my guy, Bobby!!!

Posted by: Lesle Belling on 1/18/2016 at 3:29 pm

CONGRATULATIONS!!! I’m so happy for ALL of you! I bet you never enjoyed a hot shower so much in your whole life. I can’t wait to see all of the photos and hear all of the stories and trekking experiences. Thank you, Seth, for your updates each day. All of us “back home” appreciated them more than you know. Enjoy celebrating your accomplishment and praying for safe travels home!

Posted by: Sue Sturr on 1/18/2016 at 11:54 am

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Kilimanjaro: Waterfall & Team Descend to Mweka Camp

January 17, 2016

Posted by: Seth Waterfall

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro

Elevation: 10,000'

Hello from our last camp on Kilimanjaro. I just wanted to send a quick note to say this all the climbers have descended safely from High Camp. Our climb was warm with partly clear skies but clouds built up on our descent. As we left high camp our old friend the rain returned and stayed with us most of the way to 10,000'. We're all getting ready for our last dinner on the mountain right now. Tomorrow we will walk to the Mweka Gate and then transfer back to the Dik Dik Hotel for celebrations! RMI Guide Seth Waterfall

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Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Congratulations Karen and JJ what an amazing accomplishment!

Posted by: Courtney Rams on 1/18/2016 at 9:02 am

Congrat!!! Steve and team. Anybody ready for a hike to the top and back a second time? (Maybe next year?) I hope you can take care of those feet, Steve.

Posted by: Phil Sturr on 1/17/2016 at 2:12 pm

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Kilimanjaro: Waterfall & Team Reach the Summit of Kilimanjaro, Uhuru Peak

January 16, 2016

Posted by: Seth Waterfall

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro

8:04 pm Pacific Time Hey, this is a Seth checking in from Uhuru Peak, the top of Kilimanjaro and the highest point in Africa. Everybody made it to the today, we had a really nice climb, good weather, warm weather I should say, there were some clouds. Everybody hung in and did awesome and everybody did make it all the way to Uhuru Peak, the tippy top. A few parties of started to head down and I'm just up here with the last folks. We're about ready to head on down to our High Camp and then we are going to pack things up and head down at 10,000 feet where plants actually grow right out of the ground, I've heard. And spend one more night on the mountain and then we will be out tomorrow. I'm going to check in when we get down to 10,000, report in and hopefully all will be well, I'm sure it will be. This is Seth checking out. RMI Guide Seth Waterfall

RMI Guide Seth Waterfall calls from Uhuru Peak, the summit of Kilimanjaro.

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Congratulations Annie. I knew you could do it! I know how hard you worked for this. I am so happy for you. You are amazing! Now you can really enjoy the rest of your time! I can’t wait to hear all about it and see some pictures too.!

Posted by: Becky Hamilton on 1/17/2016 at 5:31 pm

Woot! Woot! Way to go Annie! What an amazing accomplishment! I am looking forward to the stories. Love you!

Posted by: Lisa on 1/17/2016 at 4:02 pm

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Kilimanjaro: Waterfall & Team Reach High Camp

January 16, 2016

Posted by: Seth Waterfall

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro

Elevation: 15,000'

Jambo and greetings from High Camp on Kilimanjaro. We are at 15,000' and the team is doing just fine. We were even blessed with nice weather all day today. We had another easy morning with breakfast at 8:00. Fresh fruit, eggs and bacon sure is a treat at this elevation. After breakfast we hit the trail and had a mix of sun and clouds but no rain as we climbed the 2,000 feet to high camp. The climb was gradual all the way except for a steep bit pulling into camp. Everyone was feeling good and had a great climb up here. It's 12:00pm now and we are planning on having lunch soon and an early dinner. After that it is a midnight departure for the summit. Wish us luck! RMI Guide Seth Waterfall

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Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Almost to the summit! Show your spirit to the skies Eileen! Hike on!!

Posted by: Mary Segesta on 1/16/2016 at 8:40 pm

Good luck Annie! I will be thinking about you and cheering you on from back here in the states. Be strong! I know you can do it!

Posted by: Becky Hamilton on 1/16/2016 at 6:49 pm

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Kilimanjaro: Seth & Team Ascend the Barranco Wall

January 15, 2016

Posted by: Seth Waterfall

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro

Elevation: 14,500'

Jambo! This is Seth checking in from Karanga Valley. Only one more day to high camp! We have broken out of our daily pattern of clear mornings and rainy afternoons. Today it was cloudy and with rain showers all day. Even though we are not having ideal weather the team is in very high spirits. Everyone did great on the Barranco Wall this morning. We let most of the people in our last camp get out early and then started up the 800-foot wall. The bottom part of the wall has some really fun scrambling and we all had a blast climbing through that section. We were lucky in that the rain held off until we topped out on the wall. We hovered around 13,000' all day and the terrain is really cool at this elevation. It's right at the edge of where plants live and so sometimes it looks like a barren waste land. But then you turn a corner and there can be a giant heather forest. It's great trekking here. Light showers started up after we topped out on the wall and continued to build into a real rainstorm as we pulled into camp. Our tents are nice and dry though and the cook made us a great pasta lunch. We are doing good. I'll check in again tomorrow from our high camp. RMI Guide Seth Waterfall

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Bobby- we are so proud of you! Just a few days until you can sip tequila!
Love Annie, Grace, Davis and Susan

Posted by: Susan Gallagher on 1/16/2016 at 7:28 am

Annie and team,
I have only seen Kilimanjaro from a distance; cannot imagine the extraordinary experience of being on that awesome mountain and climbing towards the top! Thinking of you today and tomorrow, hoping for fair weather, safety, and boost of energy as you near the summit. Thanks for staying in touch through these blogs and photos!

Posted by: Helen (Gillette) on 1/16/2016 at 7:01 am

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Kilimanjaro: Seth & Team Move into Barranco Camp

January 14, 2016

Posted by: Seth Waterfall

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro

Elevation: 12,800'

Well we have definitely established a rhythm with Kilimanjaro. It was very nice and sunny again this morning and at 9:30am the clouds started building. By 1:30pm it was raining heavily again. The only thing different from yesterday is that we were out on the trail when the rain hit. It was only for about an hour so not a huge deal really, but it sure is nice to be in a dry tent now. We covered the longest stretch f the whole trip today, other than summit day and everyone did a great job. We also reached a high point for every climber here at 14,900'. That's always a fun thing. Now we have two easier days and after that we go for the summit. That's all for now. RMI Guide Seth Waterfall

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I am in awe of each of you! Know you are happy to have a few of the high days behind you before summit. Bobby you and all of the team are in my thoughts and prayers each step of the way! JoAnne H

Posted by: Joanne H on 1/15/2016 at 10:18 am

Congrats on reaching a new high in climbing. Didn’t know it rained that much there.
Hope you are having the time of your life. Stay safe.

Love, VaLinda

Posted by: VaLinda Novak on 1/15/2016 at 7:58 am

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