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Posted by: Casey Grom
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Jambo Everyone
Today the team left behind our beautiful and comfortable river lodge and have headed to the mountain towards the start of the climb. We left around 8am and drove along the rural country side and small villages for two hours before reaching the Kilimanjaro National Park entrance.
Most of the area surrounding Kilimanjaro has been cultivated and primarily used for coffee production and for a variety of other agriculture needs, but there are still some areas that have been untouched and resemble more of a savannah that Tanzania is known for. The base of Kilimanjaro is more forested and looks more jungle like and is called a cloud forest.
Once we arrived at the park gate we had all of our gear weighed and divided into loads for our porters and other staff to carry before hitting the trail. Once everything was in order we started our climb slowly making our way up the winding trail that ascends continuously through the thick forest. Thankfully the overhead canopy provided a little cover from the intense sun and we were happy it didn’t rain either. It took our team around 5hr to reach our camp for the night that sits around 10’000ft.
Once we were settled into camp and got everybody situated the team was served a nice warm meal for dinner before retiring for the night. Everyone is still feeling the jet lag, and I’m sure the team will sleep well tonight.
RMI Guide Casey Grom and Kili crew
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Hannah Smith, Chad Gaffigan, Luke Wilhelm
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,200'
On The Map
Posted by: Mike Haugen, Geoff Schellens
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
Congratulations team. I was so intent on getting my post climb comma sleep I did not get to say a proper good by to you all. It was a pleasure climbing with all of you. Truly an inspiring group of folks to climb with. There was never a doubt that this entire team was going to make it “up top”. Thank you all for your inspiration. Thank you Scott for the post climb refreshment drink. Thank you Mike, Josh, and my rope team leader JM for taking such great care of us.
PS: I did wake up from my 10 hour comma sleep and thought, yes, I want to do this again!
Posted by: David Fruin on 7/12/2014 at 7:58 am
Helen and Roger, I hope you are having the time of your life. I’ve been thinking about you and praying for your safety. Stay warm and I am sure you are enjoying the beautiful view. Hugs to you both!!!
Posted by: Vickie Davis on 7/12/2014 at 5:50 am
Tomorrow we will take one more rest day with the relative comforts of basecamp, before our move to Camp 1. We've received some of the posts left on the blog, and we are all grateful for your well-wishes.
Signing off,
Gabriel Barral and the RMI Aconcagua expedition
Hi, regards all :)
<a >Filmy</a>
Posted by: ShawnSpeed on 2/4/2011 at 5:31 am
We awoke early today and left behind the comforts of our beautiful lodge and have headed to the mountain towards the start of the climb. Starting shortly before 8am we drove along the rural country side for about an hour and half to reach the park entrance. Most of the area surrounding Kilimanjaro has been cultivated and primarily used for coffee production and for a variety of other agriculture needs, but there are still some areas that have been untouched and resemble more of a savannah that Tanzania is known for. The base of Kilimanjaro is more forested and resembles a jungle or cloud forest. Traditionally it supports a large part of the banana production for this area.
Once at the gate we had all of our gear weighed and divided into loads for our porters to carry before hitting the trail. Once everything was in order we started our climb slowly making our way up the winding trail. The team hiked for a little over five hours to reach our camp for the night. Everyone did great and enjoyed finally getting some much needed exercise.
Unfortunately there was some more rain, but thankfully not as much as last weeks climb had to deal with.
After settling in the team was served a nice warm meal and then headed off to bed for a nice full night of rest.
RMI Guide Casey Grom and the # 2 Kili crew.
New Post Alerts:
Kilimanjaro Climb & Safari, January 20, 2024
Ian and Erin,
We are obsessively stalking your updates, locations and photos and everything looks so cool. Keep it up!!!! You’re doing amazing! We love you.
Jackie and Kate
Posted by: Kathryn R Smith on 1/24/2024 at 2:19 pm
Thinking of you all and cheering you on from the other side of the world! Hope you’re having fun and enjoying yourselves. It takes a special kind of person to be able to do what you are doing and you are all so very special! Especially to me! ❤️
Posted by: Suzanne Jaeger on 1/24/2024 at 7:43 am
Posted by: Mike Walter, Nikki Champion, Ben Luedtke
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,000'
Wednesday, June 23, 2021 - 5:55 pm PT
The alpenglow was serene early this morning as we fired up the stoves to make hot water for breakfast. We got off to an early start and loaded up our packs with food and fuel to cache up high. Armed with crampons and ice axes we ventured onto the upper mountain. We climbed Motorcycle Hill and then Squirrel Hill in the shade, encountering a chilly breeze on the latter. Next came the Polo Field and then we finally hit the sun at Windy Corner. Our team made good progress and the weather was perfect, so we continued higher to Genet Basin to make our cache. We were afforded beautiful views of the upper mountain, as well as Mounts Hunter & Foraker and the rest of the Alaska Range to our south, and the expansive tundra to our north.
We buried our supplies in the snow and then descended back to camp, arriving before 3pm with enough time for a siesta before dinner.
We're sitting pretty now, with a cache up high. We'll take a rest day tomorrow, which coincides well with an approaching storm. Once that storm passes we plan to move camp up to 14k on the next good weather day. In the meantime we're tasked with resting, eating, reading, and some well earned sloth time. We acclimate very well at this altitude (11,200'), and we're very satisfied with our progress. We'll check in again tomorrow in between the chapters of our books.
Praying for safety and warm in the storm. One day at time. We all so proud of Daryl. You are outside living life! Love you
Posted by: Katie on 6/24/2021 at 8:49 pm
Praying for safety with the storm and that you are able to move up 14,000 safely and timely!
Posted by: Marg Millman on 6/24/2021 at 4:35 pm
Posted by: Mike Walter, Taylor Bickford, Nikki Champion
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 20,310'
On The Map
Congrats to Eric and the team on a job well done! Can’t wait for everyone to come down safely and warm up :)
Posted by: Savannah on 7/1/2019 at 10:59 am
Congratulations Eric and team!!! An amazing accomplishment!
With aloha,
The Schusters
Posted by: Annie on 6/30/2019 at 9:36 pm
Posted by: Adam Knoff, Nick Hunt
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ecuador
Jim, Really bummed at your disappointment, but I know with you, there will be another day! Here’s hoping all is well and safe travels home. Richard
Posted by: Richard Aspinall on 1/17/2017 at 6:07 am
Tough news Jimmy but turning around was the right call…dang
Posted by: Tom Garner on 1/16/2017 at 6:55 pm
Wonderful update and very informative. Wishing you a safe and adventurist climb on Everest. Be safe.
Posted by: Mary on 4/9/2015 at 6:00 am
Stay strong and enjoy the adventure.
Eat and drink as needed…
have a vision and create…
My prayers and passion are with you all…
Stay smart and smile…
Posted by: Fred Eddy on 4/8/2015 at 10:08 pm
Wow! Truly amazing Meghan! Happy 4th!!
Peg
Posted by: Peg DecFilippis on 7/5/2019 at 3:16 pm
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