Entries from Kilimanjaro
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Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Jambo from Tanzania,
Our African adventure has started!
The majority of the team arrived on the KLM flight from Amsterdam tonight. Definitely a tired group of travelers, but that is to be expected after the almost 24 hours needed to get here. Any arrivals hall is a bit chaotic, and Kilimanjaro International Airport is no exception. Safari teams and climbers alike look for their guides and drivers throughout the crowded maze of people. We found our team pretty quickly and got immediately out of the action and headed to our bus. We had an opened bottle of champagne waiting for us, and after a quick toast to Kilimanjaro, we were on our way to the hotel. One more performance of the "duffel shuffle", and we moved into our rooms where we will be spending the next two nights.
We are minutes away from sitting down to a three course dinner on the outside patio at the Dik Dik Hotel. I think roasted lamb is on the menu tonight.... Tough transition from airplane food, but someone's got do it.
La la salama,
Jeff
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Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Jambo
Our team arrived safely in Arusha, Tanzania on July 24th. We spent two nights at the beautiful Dik Dik Hotel resting and recovering from our long flights and adjusting to this new climate and time zone. After sorting our gear, repacking our bags are readying ourselves for the mountain, our trek of Kilimanjaro has finally begun. The Dik Dik hotel is fantastic but it is great to get started on the mountain. We enjoyed perfect climbing conditions today. We drove from the Dik Dik Hotel to the Machame Entrance of Kilimanjaro National Park. We donned our day packs and started out, enjoying the feel of our feet on the trail after so many hours of travel. From the entrance to our first camp, the Machame camp, we gained about 3,800'. We pulled into the Machame Camp (9,800') in good style. We are resting, eating popcorn in our nice dining tent and enjoying each others company.
Everybody feels great and did just fine today. We are looking forward to a good nights sleep and another good day on the trail tomorrow.
We will check in again soon.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
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Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Jambo!
We are all back at the Dik Dik Hotel where it all started not so long ago. Since then, we have climbed a Big Mountain and seen wildlife galore. We had some tough moments and most recently some very easy ones. We have made some new friends and had a chance to visit with past ones.
All and all, we had a great time.
It was nice to have you following our dispatches. Thank you.
I look forward to starting my next dispatch in March with Namaste, when I return to Nepal for yet another expedition on the Big Everest.
All the best,
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
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Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Jambo!
Mark Tucker here calling from the Kikoti Camp, outside of the Tarangire National Park, Tanzania. We had a wonderful game drive today, many, many animals, lots of elephant, lots of leopards. I could go on and on and make you all so jealous. So we are having a real fun time at this beautiful property we are at here tonight. We will have coffee in the morning on our lanai. Then we will be making our way back to the Dik Dik Hotel for an evening flight tomorrow. If all works out we will be back in your neck of the woods sooner than later.
We’ll drop you a note tomorrow.
All the best,
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
RMI Guide Mark Tucker checks in from the Kikoti Camp, Tanzania.
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Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Jambo!
We are checking in from the fabulous Plantation Lodge in Tanzania.
We had an incredible day of game viewing at the Ngorongoro Crater. At one point we even had a baboon in the driver’s seat of our safari vehicle. That was kind of exciting. We saw many of the beautiful animals that make their home in this extinct crater, lion, giraffe, zebra and elephant along with many species of monkeys and birds.
Tomorrow we head out to Tarangire National Park. The weather has been cooperating and everyone is having fun.
Wish you were here.
All the best,
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
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Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
We left the Dik Dik Hotel this morning to begin our game viewing safari. We stopped in the town of Arusha for a little shopping for locally made gifts and souvenirs. We continued our drive to Lake Manyara National Park and found a remote and peaceful spot for our delicious barbecue lunch.
After a short but strong rain we finished the afternoon with a wonderful game drive in cool temperature, no dust and sweet thick air.
We are now resting and relaxing here at the Plantation Lodge, really roughing it with a four course deluxe meal.
We are off to the Ngorongoro Crater tomorrow looking for the elusive Rhino, to name just one, and then returning here another for another night at the lodge.
Life is rough!
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
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Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Just finished a wonderful meal at The Dik Dik hotel with the whole team.
They all look about the same as when we started the climb, but I believe everyone of them has change in some sense inside. I think a greater self awareness and positive outlook on just how tough and how much they can endure was brought to life over the course of this expedition. Thank goodness for the available hot showers this afternoon it was a nice touch to have them change on the outside.
Perfect weather for our 3 hour hike to the end of the trail where we said good by to a fantastic group of local men who helped us with the climb of Kilimanjaro. Couldn't have done it without them. Thanks so much to The Dik Dik Hotel and RMI staff for all they have done.
We will start the Safari part of the program tomorrow and I will do my best to keep you in the loop.
May it be a short time before this group gets to a new trail head for the start of another great adventure.
Cheers,
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
Jambo.
Mr. Tucker here at the Mweka Camp. You call breath easier as well as us here at the 10,000’ level. All is going well. We had a big day and looking forward to some great deep sleep in the thick air tonight. We’ll have a quick hike to the gate and then back to the hotel and we’ll drop you a note from there.
Thanks.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker checks in from Mweka Camp.
On The Map
Good Show!! Now that you guys are back in thick air, how does it feel to reach your goal? MAy everyone have a great time comming home with your adventure ready to share ... even more than this blog I mean ... thanks for the time to post. See you soon Steve!
Paul
Posted by: Paul Basta on 2/21/2011 at 11:38 am
Jambo to all.
Well we did it, all the “Tucklings” to the top. We tried to give a call from the summit but I’ll tell you, it was cold and breezy, and a half battery wasn’t enough, the charge wasn’t there. But I’m back down here as well as the rest of the team at our high camp, Barafu at 15,000’.
We are going to toute suite out of here. I’m going to have to start poking a few of them with my ski pole, to keep them moving. But we’ll get another 5,000’ to descend to the Mweka Camp. Pretty easy to crawl into the bag and here and take a nap. But, the old machine may seize up so I'm going keep pushing them along.
Everybody did just fantastic. Of course there were a few issues here and there and people were challenged. Half of them said it was probably the hardest thing they’ve ever done in their life physically. And the other half, you know they were lying. So, all is well. I'll try and get this iPAQ thing working again and do a dispatch once we get down to Mweka Camp. I appreciate you guys all checking in. Cheers from Kilimanjaro, Uhuru Peak!
RMI Guide Mark Tucker reports on the team's summit day
Way to go Steve!!! We are so proud of you! Holly & Marko
Posted by: Holly & Marko Smith on 2/20/2011 at 1:23 pm
Conrats everyone, we are so proud of you Bob, talk to you in a few.
Posted by: Jeff Colston on 2/20/2011 at 12:58 pm
Jambo, this Mark Tucker calling. The electronic equipment up at this high camp just isn’t as strong and resilient as my climbing team so I’m resorting to this voice dispatch. I will read what I have written that wasn’t able to be sent.
Here at high camp, Barafu 15,000’, perfect climbing conditions today some clouds in and out, a sprinkle here and there. Just finished our lunch and had a group meeting discussing tonight’s summit bid. The whole team did great up to here with some reasonable weather.
At midnight we will start our push to the top. For now it’s packing and resting.
If all goes well, at this time tomorrow we will be nearing our final camp, the Mweka camp which is about 5,000’ lower than where we are right now.
So, we will try again tomorrow with this dispatch machine, maybe it’ll behave a little more.
But for now, we’ve got our fingers crossed and we will talk to you later.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
RMI Guide Mark Tucker checks in from high camp on Kilimanjaro
On The Map
Hi Dad!! Kalvin and I have been enjoying following along with your trip! Hope everyone made it to the top and everyone is feeling good!!
Can’t wait to hear all your stories!!
Posted by: Justine Prieve on 2/20/2011 at 7:01 am
Message to Phillip from Justin: Hi Carl.
Sidenote - did everyone know that Jan’s middle name is Maria? True story!!!
Posted by: Justin Osborne on 2/19/2011 at 4:17 pm
Happy that you arrived safely. Makes me want to get on a plane and join you guys. Have a great trip.
Neale ane Meg
Posted by: Meg Bellamy on 2/22/2012 at 11:49 am
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