The team is safe and sound after our successful summit of Kilimanjaro - and a little tired at 10,000'. Everyone did great and we are ready for a little sleep after 15 hours of climbing. It's been a wonderful experience the last six days and we are all looking forward to the icing on the cake - safari and more importantly SHOWERS!
RMI Guide Casey Grom and crew
RMI Guide Casey Grom checks in from the summit of Kilimanjaro.
We're at high camp!
It was another beautiful morning and the team made good time to our high camp which sits just over 15,000'. We are currently sitting in our hot tents awaiting lunch. Then we'll have a summit talk to make sure we are all prepared for tomorrow. Everyone is feeling well and looking forward to tonight's climb. We'll be up early and try to be walking just after 1:00 a.m. If all things go according to plan, then we should reach the summit sometime after 7:00 and hopefully before 9:00 in the morning.
We had a trivia challenge that will allow the winner a one minute call from the summit. So, if you live in Texas and your significant other has uttered "my bad baby" then keep your phone handy. And remember Texas is 9 hours behind.
That's all for now. We'll try to call from the top.
Wish us luck!
RMI Guide Casey Grom and crew
Watching your posts; watching the clock. Hopefully you have reached the summit by now. Congratulations to the entire crew on a fantastic achievement! Love you, Dan Man.
Hello Everyone,
We woke to mostly clear skies for the first time since leaving our hotel. We had the normal tea in our tents just before 7 and had another enjoyable breakfast of fresh fruit and eggs for breakfast. We then hit the trail shortly after 8 and made good time up the Barranco Wall. This wall is about 1,000' high and is the steepest part of the entire climb requiring hands in a few places to assist us up a few steep steps. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and change of the new terrain. It was amazing to watch the porters easily navigate this terrain with their loads carefully balanced on their heads. We made good time and arrived in a little over 3 hours to our new home sitting at just over 13'000'.
We are incredibly thankfully to all of our porters and crew who have been working so hard to keep us well feed and comfortable thus far. You can't imagine how they dismantle one camp shortly after we leave, to then have it reassembled before we arrive.
Enjoying being spoiled!
RMI Guide Casey Grom and Crew
A Special note:
I hope all is well back home and appreciate the updates from you guys. To mom and my two wonderful brothers. Its been a memorable experience. Built a cairn in honor of dad at camp 4. To "G" in Washington - All is well. ; )
We departed the Shira Plateau this morning in a light mist. Last night brought significant precipitation and muddied the trails a bit. However, the night rain afforded us a beautiful view of the mountain and its new snow. The day's traverse provided great views of the landscape and curious vegetation. About five hours from the onset, we walked down through rolling fog to our camp nestled underneath the Barranco Wall. Spirits are high and bellies are full. Tomorrow, we wake up early to traverse beneath the Southern Breach Wall.
Stay tuned,
RMI Climber Dan C.
All is well here in Africa and the team is doing great.
We started early again today to stay ahead of the massive group that is climbing alongside us. We recently heard that it is the largest group ever allowed to climb together on Kilimanjaro. However they are doing a good job of staggering themselves on the trail.
We started out under cloudy skies which made for comfortable hiking but didn't help with the drying out. However, since we have arrived at camp the sun has come out and it looks like everything will dry in time for tomorrow. We hiked for about four hours today and chose not to have a sit down lunch as we were a little worried it could rain, and luckily for us it didn't.
We are relaxing here at Camp 2 on top of the Shira Plateau that overlooks the Great Rift Valley. It's incredibly beautiful and we even have a nice view of the upper mountain too.
RMI Guide Casey Grom and crew
The team was up by 6:30 and out the door by 7:30 after a quick breakfast. We loaded up all the gear and food then drove for just over a hour to Kilimanjaro National Park. Once we were at the park entrance we registered our team and picked the 20+ porters to help us along the way. We were the first team to start walking thankfully, as a team of 100 showed up and began picking their 300+ porters. It was busy at the gate but we managed to stay out front all the way to camp. It was far from a perfect day here on Kilimanjaro. We encountered a very heavy rain after about two hours of hiking that soaked us almost to the bone. Everyone did great and remained positive despite the less than ideal weather.
We are currently relaxing in our tents now that the rain has subsided and are getting ready for dinner. Tomorrow we'll have more than a few items hanging from our pack to dry in the sun.
Enjoying the adventure!
RMI Guide Casey Grom and crew
I’m not sure if this gets through while they are on the mountain, but if so, tell Holly (and the others) I’m sure the rain will abait, and be well worth what comes next.
Paul
Posted by: Paul on 1/29/2013 at 6:06 pm
Dear Casey & Team,
My husband and I were on this adventure about 4 1/2 months ago with Casey. The fun is just beginning and I know you will all succeed! Enjoy the trip, you’re in great hands with Casey! Love to all. Good luck!!
-Meg & Wes Mountain
Posted by: Megan & Wes Mountain on 1/29/2013 at 11:48 am
Jambo (Hello) from Africa,
The team arrived late last night after some very long flights (18hrs). We wasted no time getting back to the hotel and called it a night after a quick dinner. This morning we had our team meeting and discussed the upcoming climb and gear needed. We then took a break and enjoyed a little sunshine by the pool. Its basically summer here and most of us are on vacation after all. After lunch we took a short ride into Arusha and did a little sightseeing. Arusha is busy city of 300'000+ with a very rural and simple feeling. The team has just finished a wonderful 5 course meal provided by the Dik Dik Hotel and are headed off to bed.
We'll be getting up early and headed for the trailhead tomorrow so that all for tonight.
RMI Guide Casey Grom & Team
WISHING YOU PLEASANT AND SAFE HOLIDAY IN TANZANIA - AFRICA
Posted by: ELIAZA MMBAGA (ELLY) on 2/3/2013 at 1:26 am
Casey and Team-
Very interested in following you guys up and down the mountain as preparation for my own journey there in a couple of weeks.
Casey - I’ll contact my team memebers and make sure they know about this blog so they can follow along.
Ecuador Skills Seminar 2013 is coming to a close. Although we did not attempt to climb the tallest of our three chosen mountains which should have taken place today, we settled for a 17,500 foot consolation prize, Illiniza Sur. We left our hostel this morning at 1 am and began the two hour approach to the hut at 1:45. Forty five minutes into the hike we had to stop and don rain gear to ward off the cold mist that was beginning to soak us. By the time we reached the hut the mist had turned to snow. Sadly the weather was not the only thing going south. By the time we were ready to depart, Jaime our local guide was too ill to continue, Suzanne was too knackered from her battle with a loose gut and Jan began to have stomach cramps. By the time we filed out, only Gary and Clark were able to ascend with both Casey and myself. With a one to one ratio the steep, technical terrain we encountered was greatly entertaining. Not to mention the weather broke just as we were approaching the glacier. From bottom to top and back again, this climb was a fantastic way to end our time together as a climbing team. I am really bummed we could not all stand on top together but tonight we become a party team. It is always important to remember the summit isn't everything. Tonight we are all ready for a grand fiesta of both food and spirits. Our time in Ecuador has been packed with good laughs, good climbing and great people. We will miss it. But now we are all deeply anticipating the reunion with family friends and ice climbing. Thanks to everyone who followed along and gave support. Hasta mañana.
RMI Guide Adam Knoff
Yesterday we drove five hours south of Quito to Ecuador's highest mountain, Chimborazo. News from other local guides provided mixed information. We heard there was a bit of new snow on the route which contrary to popular belief actually makes the route safer. What we found was nothing of the sort. For many years the north side of Chimborazo has been melting making rockfall an increasing concern. Having a bad gut feeling I could not ignore, I spoke with the other guides and we decided climbing up with ten other climbers ahead of us was too risky on a route with substantial rock fall hazard. During the night two team members began having diarrhea and a guide threw up. I took this as a sign and began to reevaluate the situation. Over breakfast the guides laid out an alternative mountain that we felt would have a much better chance of success given the teams health and über challenging route on Chimborazo. A discussion was held and a difficult but good decision was made to abandon Chimborazo and go to Illiniza Sur. This will be a more technically challenging but safer and shorter climb. We are all a bit bummed to not be giving our main objective a shot but also psyched we are all still together. We leave the hostel tonight at eleven and will send word of the climb tomorrow. Stay tuned.
RMI Guide Adam Knoff
We are all watching your precarious adventures biting our nails from the coffee shop in Los Angeles. Worried sick that Clark will get a blister or lose his beauty sleep (he can’t afford to!). He said he was tired of walking the dog everyday but don’t you think this is a bit extreme, Clark?
Wishing you all safe passage home!
XO, from all of us here at sea level
Posted by: Ted Craig CJ on 1/16/2013 at 3:29 pm
Sorry to hear about the hardships but I had to go back to work today and that’s no fun either…haha I hope everyone feels better and you can all end the trip on a high note.
Hello everyone.
The team has traveled south and we have arrived at our last climbing objective, Chimborazo. It took us about five hours to drive here from Quito. This is the biggest mountain here in Ecuador and it stands proud at 20,700'.
We have currently just downed our dinner and are getting ready for bed. Everyone is doing well and ready to climb so we can return home to our loved ones. I'm keeping it short as we will be getting up early for this one.
We'll update tomorrow.
RMI Guides Casey Grom, Adam Knoff and crew
Congratulations Casey Groom and your group for your hike to the roof top of Africa. KARIBU TENA TANZANIA
Posted by: ELIAZA MMBAGA (ELLY) on 2/5/2013 at 7:42 am
Beautiful! Congrats to Holly and the whole team!
Posted by: Chris C. on 2/3/2013 at 8:19 pm
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