Entries By Dave Hahn
Karanga Camp was kind to us. After a calm, full moon night there, we had an easy and pleasant morning above the clouds. Those that got up in the night even glimpsed the lights of Moshi and other cities shining up from far below. We left just before 9 AM and made our way up broad and open terrain with the great cliffs and glaciers of Kibo towering overhead. With little or no vegetation in this alpine zone it was possible to see hundreds of porters, climbers, guides and assorted staff stretching out forever ahead of and behind us.
We made good time on the relatively easy path and pulled into our 15,200 ft high camp at noon with everybody feeling strong and cheerful. Barafu Camp is on a rock ridge with grand views of the climb to come and of just about everything else in the universe. Clouds built up in the afternoon, which we welcomed for giving a little relief from the strong high altitude sunshine. We ate, and ate, and ate as Tosha Minja, our remarkable chef served up a feast to remember. We'll rest a bit now, eat an early supper and turn in early as well. We've got big work to do in the night, a climb to the Roof of Africa... Luckily, we've got 11 strong and eager climbers and seven capable and enthusiastic guides to help get the job done.
Best regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
On The Map
Greetings from Karanga Camp. We'll be spending the night at the same elevation as Wheeler Peak -at 13,161 ft, the highest point in New Mexico (which most of us call home). The day began back in the cold and shady Barranco Valley. We were at the upper edge of the clouds this morning and we got swallowed up by them shortly after our 9 AM departure. There was plenty of anticipation and perhaps a little trepidation at the chance to come to grips with the great Barranco Wall. The team handled the rough and rocky "trail" well, moving safely from ledge to ledge while dodging hundreds of heavily laden, hard charging porters. We spent a fair bit of time simply standing and waiting in line at the various bottlenecks that developed around the dicier moves. But our gang was patient and sure-footed... The perfect mix of traits and talents for getting through the day. We were cloaked in thick fog for our entire walk beyond the wall. The team never saw the Karanga Valley itself -our last encounter with Lobelias and Senecios. We just knew we were in it by the steep descent and just as steep ascent out the opposite side. And that put us in a fog shrouded camp at 2 PM where our tents were already up and the table was set for lunch. The afternoon was spent resting. Some enjoyed the quiet of their tents while others played a laugh-filled Uno tournament with the local guides and waiters. Just before sunset, the clouds dropped away to reveal unreal views of Kibo bathed in golden light. It was one of those magical times when we didn't know whether to focus on the setting sun, the rising moon or the glowing glaciers above. It all added up to another great day on a mountainside in Africa.
Today's shoutouts... TG loves MV... and a long distance happy birthday to my brother Hal.
Best Regards,
Dave Hahn
Bravo to the team! Sounds like my friend Sara is in good hands ! What a fab experience!
Posted by: Andrea Blumberg on 8/7/2017 at 6:57 pm
Hi Lexi girl! This is the best bed time reading. Even has the whole “can’t wait to see what happens tomorrow” cliffhanger thing going. Pun intended :-) Sending you positive “you got this” thoughts and lots of sea-level Dallas oxygen :-) Enjoy and be safe Taos Team!! Donia XO
Posted by: Donia on 8/6/2017 at 7:35 pm
A wind started up in Shira Camp last night, rattling the tents and nerves but not knocking down anything vital in the process. Once we were up and about in the cool morning air, we knew a little steady breeze wouldn't stop us from our day's mission. We were on the move at 8:20 and before long we're stripping off hats and gloves and superfluous clothing layers. The walking was much easier than on the last two days, even if it was at progressively higher elevations. We all found the rock and vegetation surrounding us to be remarkably similar to the sagebrush mesas of Northern New Mexico -home to the majority of the team. Once again, we were above a sea of cloud and once again Kibo was free of cloud and shining in the distance. This time though, the distance was steadily reduced as we walked directly toward Kilimanjaro's central peak and hanging glaciers. After just two hours, we'd managed to surpass all altitude records within the group, save one. Alexis had been higher in Peru. All others were breaking new ground as we hit 15,200 ft at the Lava Tower. We had a great lunch in the sun up there, checking out the formidable slopes of the Western Breach and the giant frozen waterfalls below the remnant glaciers. And then we got cruising downhill toward Barranco Camp and its lush gardens of Lobelias and Senecios. We dove back into cloud to hit camp at 13,000 ft. but were granted a stupendous evening look at our surroundings as the clouds broke at sunset and a giant moon rose over the fabled Barranco Wall -tomorrow's first goal.
A big shout out from the team to Grandma Yoohoo! All is well in Tanzania tonight.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
On The Map
Watching Sunset on the Sandias, remembering Peru, and thinking of you all on this long, challenging and beautiful journey. Savor every moment! Love, Z’s Gramma Jude
Posted by: Judith Roderick on 8/6/2017 at 7:20 pm
Good luck Sarah Sauce on the Barranco wall tomorrow, you can do it!
Posted by: Deon on 8/6/2017 at 11:11 am
The clouds blanketed Machame Camp for much of the night and we even had brief periods of rain... all of which made it feel wonderful to wake to crystal clear skies in the morning. We were just on top of thick layers of cloud, but finally we had unobstructed views of Kibo (Kilimanjaro's main peak) above.
We ate breakfast and marched out of camp at 8:20, immediately encountering a steep and rocky trail up through a forest of giant heather. There were large numbers of porters -ours and those of neighboring teams- balancing loads on their heads as they wove through the straight up stream of morning traffic. The clouds rose up and swallowed us again for several hours as we steadily gained altitude. Up around 12,000 ft we broke free again and had a better look at the exotic giant scenecios among the heather. 16,000 ft Mount Meru became visible to the west as another island in the cloud sea. We began a traverse along shelves of lava with the boys keeping a sharp eye out for crystals among the ancient flows. The gang easily handled a few steeper steps and we reached a high point of 12,800 ft before dropping down into Shira Camp at 12,500 ft. Then it was an easy and peaceful afternoon of eating napping eating and eating some more. We were treated to a magical evening as the
sun dropped into the clouds out beyond the Shira Plateau and the moon and stars took over at entertaining us.
Everybody is happy and healthy tonight and getting easily into the rhythms of camp and climbing life.
Best Regards
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
On The Map
Fascinated with your journey through an area that I have long found to be very interesting. Safe and enjoyable trip to you all!
Hal
Posted by: Hal H. on 8/4/2017 at 11:35 pm
Wonderful trekking along with Super Team Taos.
Posted by: Yolanda Deveaux on 8/4/2017 at 4:25 pm
The Taos Team crushed it today, hitting all the targeted times for being up and packed and ready to roll out of the comfy Arumeru River Lodge. We hit the road at 8:15 and rolled along in our bus under cloudy skies. We never did catch a glimpse of the well-camouflaged Kilimanjaro, but the cruise through corn fields and villages was interesting none-the-less. As the road climbed higher we seemed to be passing thousands of banana trees mixed with coffee shrubs. Finally, at the 5,900 ft park entrance -the end of the road- we were simply in a thick and foggy rain forest. After a bunch of paperwork, at long last we were properly permitted, in place and ready for walking. We began shortly after 11 AM. The gang, accompanied and coached by an all star cast of local guides, gained altitude steadily. In fact, we came up 4000 feet in six miles, taking just five hours. The clouds were with us all day but that seemed to keep things comfortably cool. The trail was a little greasy and muddy from recent rains, but we got through without a slip.
We arrived to find our camp already built by our capable staff. After moving in, we got together in the dining dome tent and had an afternoon tea and then a sumptuous dinner while we chatted and laughed.
Philip, our lead guide, gave a thoughtful talk and laid out plans for tomorrow's journey.
All agreed that day one was a great success. Tyrone, in particular, wanted his pal, Makaela to know he was thinking of her and that the climb was going forward as planned.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
On The Map
There’s Sara always with the best and brightest smile! Best of all to the whole team❤️!
Posted by: Andrea and Scott on 8/6/2017 at 5:29 am
Good luck everyone, it’s really amazing!
Sarah, I enjoy reading about your climb from my couch with my glass of wine. Miss you :)
Posted by: Fiona on 8/6/2017 at 12:24 am
Posted by: Dave Hahn
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Today was the perfect catch-up day. We had a leisurely breakfast at the Arumeru River Lodge and then got down to business for a little while with a team meeting. We discussed the climb to come and how to prepare for it. Those preparations didn't take very long and equipment checks were easily completed by lunch. The team took walks through the park-like grounds to see the monkeys, tortoises, exotic birds and dik diks that roamed freely about. Low clouds kept things pleasantly cool but prevented us from catching a glimpse of Kilimanjaro. Our gang enjoyed the swimming pool, which made up -somewhat- for the limited views. By evening, with all in order for the adventure to come, we simply ate, drank and relaxed... laughing over shared memories of our previous adventures.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Go Zach! Can’t wait to hear more and share with Maddy and the rest of the crew here in Italy. All the best!!!!
Posted by: Erin on 8/3/2017 at 9:32 am
So excited to be part of your journey by following this blog! Wishing all of you the most amazing time on this epic adventure!
Posted by: Nedra on 8/3/2017 at 4:45 am
Posted by: Dave Hahn
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Everyone and everything made it through. Through Amsterdam, through immigration, through customs, through the baggage carousels. We've got a climbing team ready to begin the Kilimanjaro odyssey. These folks all know one another... a good number are related... and absolutely everybody was ready to sleep at midnight when dinner broke up. Long flights and lots of movies, miles and time zones between Taos, New Mexico, USA and Usa River, Tanzania. We'll dive into the details of getting set to climb -tomorrow.
Best,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Lots of eyes on you guys, green with envy and sparkling with vicarious excitement.
Posted by: Ann Blake on 8/2/2017 at 7:11 am
The Four Day Summit Climb teams, led by Dave Hahn and Mike Uchal, were on top of Mt. Rainier by 7:30 AM this morning. The team had clear skies and moderate winds, a perfect day to be on the highest point in Washington.
Congratulations to today's summit climbers!
To infinity and beyond. Way to go Mick and Matt!
Posted by: Brett on 7/28/2017 at 2:33 pm
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Jordan Cargill, Matt Rosenberg
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Four Day Summit Climb July 21 - 24 reached the summit of Mt. Rainier at 6:30 am led by RMI Guide Dave Hahn. The team enjoyed blue skies and good visibility from the crater rim. They will descend complete today and return to Rainier BaseCamp this afternoon to complete their program.
Congratulations!
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Christina Dale
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
At 7:45 this morning, RMI Guide Dave Hahn radioed as he and his team crested the Mt. Rainier crater rim. He reported a 10 mph breeze from the Southwest and a great day to be on Washington's highest point. His team as well as RMI Guide Christina Dale's team began their descent to Camp Muir at 9:00 a.m.
We knew they could do it!
Congratulations!!
Posted by: MaryAnn on 7/19/2017 at 6:22 pm
Can hardly wait to give hugs and hear all about it!!!! So proud of my boys Andrew & Brent!!!!
Posted by: TARA Heinz on 7/19/2017 at 4:51 pm
Happy Birthday, Max and Simon. What a memorable way to celebrate your 18th. Hugs and high 5’s all around. Grandpa and GrannieAnnie.
Posted by: Grandpa and Annie on 8/8/2017 at 7:54 am
Happy birthday Simon and Max!!!! Miss you guys. Love you lots Simon.
Posted by: Isabelle on 8/7/2017 at 6:05 pm
View All Comments