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Posted by: Dave Hahn
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
We may be just tourists now, but today we still got an “alpine start”. It was still pitch dark as we were driving away from the lodge at 5:40 AM. Our guides had recommended the early start for Ngorongoro Crater as a way to see better wildlife. Most animals are a bit more lively in the cool mornings than in the hot afternoons. The light came up as we were crawling toward the caldera rim in our landcruisers. After a bumpy ride in the clouds along the rim, we made an important stop at a Maasai village. We wanted to learn a little more about this colorful tribe (one of 128 in Tanzania) hanging on to their traditional ways in a rapidly changing world. They greeted us with singing, then showed how they make fire without matches or lighters. They took us into their Boma (village) and into their homes. We thanked them for taking the time to answer our many questions and then we headed for the “crater” Immediately upon reaching the valley floor we began seeing bigger and bigger herds of buffalo, wildebeest, zebra and gazelles. There were a few ostriches mixed in for variety. Eventually we did a picnic breakfast -spitting distance from a flock of hippos. By the time we followed up with a picnic lunch, we’d seen rhinos, lions and elephants. There was a bonus encounter with a skittish cerval cat. We climbed out of the caldera around 3 PM under still cloudy skies, but it was a pretty good day all around. After a bunch more rough roads, we were back at the ultra-comfortable Plantation Lodge at 4:30.
Tomorrow we’re bound for the land of elephants -Tarangire.
Best,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
PC: Dave Hahn
New Post Alerts:
Kilimanjaro Climb & Safari August 10, 2024
Posted by: Steve Gately, Ben Ammon, James Bealer
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 17,200'
On The Map
Posted by:
Categories: Mountaineering Fitness & Training
Posted by: Dave Hahn, JJ Justman, Mark Tucker
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Everest
Elevation: 4,383'
Peter! Great to see you and Bonny…Mike and I look forward to following your adventures and continue to be inspired. Safe travels.
Posted by: Ferrall Dietrich on 3/27/2015 at 6:58 pm
Peter, Bonny & Team!
Congratulations on beginning your adventure! Know that everyone at Frontpoint will be following along every step of the way and wishing you all the very best! What an exciting trip for everyone and know that we’ll be cheering you on from around the world!
All the best,
Chris, Aaron, and the Frontpoint Team
Posted by: Chris on 3/26/2015 at 6:06 pm
Posted by: Brent Okita, Walter Hailes
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
Congratulations !!!
I knew you could make it.
We are so proud of you & love you
Posted by: Sookie on 7/4/2014 at 3:51 pm
CONGRATS, Jeff & team!! Amazing feat - I’m so proud of you, hon! What a way to celebrate the 4th!
Posted by: Grace Roh on 7/4/2014 at 9:13 am
Posted by: Billy Nugent, Kel Rossiter
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 346'
On The Map
Pete will kill you all in Ping Pong! ;)
Posted by: Bennie on 5/17/2013 at 11:16 am
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Solveig Waterfall
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,200'
On The Map
Hi Brian and team - hope everyone is feeling healthy and energized. Sounds like the days are definitely getting tougher and colder. Connor wakes up every morning and wants to look at the pictures on the blog, I think you may have a climbing partner for your next adventure. We love you and miss you.
Posted by: Robin, Tristan & Connor on 7/7/2012 at 5:30 am
Sounds like you had a long day and all did well. Continued patience and success. Inch by inch.
Enjoy and be safe.
Posted by: Carolyn on 7/6/2012 at 8:59 pm
Posted by: Andy Bond, Jack Delaney, Joey Manship
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,200'
June 17, 2023 11:04 PM PT
Day 12 of our Denali climb.
Today we had a sleep in at Camp 3 and woke up in beautiful sunshine and 15cm (6 inches) of fresh powdery snow. We looked at all the climbers who went up the fixed lines to get to 17k camp for a summit push on Sunday, but we all agreed the night before that we need more time at 14k camp before our summit push. We hope for another weather window at the end of next week (fingers crossed). No worries, big strong Andy still has two pounds of cheese left and will be safe.
Instead of climbing, we hired lovely Lenhardt for an intense yoga session to get mentally and physically ready for this mountain. After that railroad, Jeff improved our eating tent to make it comfier for the following days and Katherine worked hard to make Joey's long hair cut more functional and fashionable for the mountain.
The focus of the afternoon was listening to music, chill outside, eat snacks and hydrate, and let our bodies adjust to the new altitude. We also improved our sleeping tents, so the polar bear can sleep well at night and doesn't attack his tent mates. In the evening, Heidi gave us a call to come to the edge of the world for the first round of Denali's Next Top Model. We stretched our legs and walked over to this stunning place where the mountain drops 7,000 feet to the northeast fork of Kahiltna. We had great views of Mount Foraker and the valley. We had a good photoshoot, and all the Bond girls made it to the second round. Heidi was very proud of us. When we came back to our camp, Mr. Bond had already prepared a nice dinner for us.
To finish the day, a short German "th" joke for you . The captain of a boat is calling the German coast guard "Help, we are sinking, we are sinking". The German coast answers "Ok, no worries, what are you thinking about?".
Stephan Schiffer aka Polar Bear
Wow! You are going to summit soon!! What a thrill and what an amazing achievement - so proud of you!
Posted by: Mary McKinley on 6/19/2023 at 7:05 am
Praying y’all get good weather for your next push! 17K! I can’t believe it! Good luck guys! Stay safe y’all!
Keep killing it Mikayla!!
Posted by: Mack Thompson on 6/19/2023 at 5:12 am
Posted by: Mike Walter, Abby Westling, Henry Coppolillo
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 11,000'
May 14, 2022 - 10:04 am PT
It was a bit breezy and chilly yesterday, but it made for great climbing weather.
We packed up camp and headed up Ski Hill, continuing up around Kahiltna Pass and into the 11k camp. Glacier conditions were perfect, and the winds abated as we climbed higher. Everyone is climbing strong and doing well. The plan for today is to go back downhill to retrieve our cache at ~9600'. We're sitting in a good position to start pushing higher on the upper mountain. So far, the weather is cooperating with us and allowing for steady progress. We'll definitely spend a few nights here at 11k to acclimate before moving camp higher, but we may try to get a cache in around Windy Corner tomorrow, as the weather is forecast to be pretty nice.
We'll keep you posted on our progress.
Glad to hear you continue to enjoy good weather. Thanks for the updates, they are really appreciated.
Posted by: Maria Alexandra Velez on 5/14/2022 at 6:18 pm
Congrats all and safe return!
Posted by: Darren Beck on 5/31/2019 at 6:02 am
Nice one Raj and team! Couldn’t have a better leader than Mr Gately himself!!!!!
Well done all. Bravo
Posted by: John Horgan on 5/30/2019 at 8:57 am
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