February 27, 2017

IMG senior guide Emily Johnston just called from the sat phone from the summit of Kilimanjaro with the news we’ve been waiting for. The Kili Team summited early Monday morning (Tanzanian time) in fine form. Everyone at IMG sends our congratulations to the team on their summit. Now, they are descending back down from the summit to high camp where they will have a well deserved hot lunch, finish packing up and take a little break. Then they’ll continue further down the mountain to their camp for the night. That camp, Mweka Camp, is at around 10,000 feet down in the forest. Down at Mweka Camp the air is thicker and there is some welcome humidity in the air. This – along with a big dinner – makes for a great night sleep after their long summit day. Tomorrow, the team will have a short hike out down to the Mweka Gate where they will load up in our private vehicles and make the short drive back to the hotel in Moshi. Showers and fresh clothes are calling, along with our traditional celebratory dinner with the Chagga Guides to celebrate the climb!

Dustin Balderach

February 26, 2017

Team dinner at Barafu (photo: Emily Johnston)

It’s game day (almost) in Tanzania.  Emily reported in to let us know the team is packed, fed and watered, and anxious to make their summit attempt on Kilimanjaro.  They’re all tucked in at high camp, Barafu, and ready to give it their all.  Midnight, Tanzania time, is their ETD.  This team has done just great, and we’ll continue to wish them luck on this all important summit push.

Phil Ershler

February 25, 2017

IMG senior guide Emily Johnston checked in last night (USA time) with good news. Everyone continues to be happy and healthy. That’s great to hear and means everyone is acclimating well so far.

The team in Karanga Camp after hot drinks and kettle corn (photo: Emily Johnston)

Emily reports the team is also really getting along well and that everyone is having a blast. They are now in Karanga Camp at around 13,300 feet and had a fun day hiking up the Barranco Wall. Though intimidating from Barranco Camp, you soon realize that the Barranco Wall is not nearly as bad as it looks from afar. Just a fun, relatively short hike from Barranco Camp to the top of the wall, then pretty easy hiking into Karanga Camp.

Top of Barranco Wall (photo: Dustin Balderach)

This was a short day for the team and they had a nice, hot lunch soon after pulling into camp. They started talking about the big day coming up — logistics, what to pack, what to wear. Very exciting to be getting this close. Then they had the afternoon to relax before dinner.

Tomorrow is another short day from Karanga Camp up to Barafu High Camp at around 15,200 feet. Bottom line: all continues to go well for the Kili Team.

Dustin Balderach

February 24, 2017

IMG senior guide Emily Johnston checked in from Shira Camp and reports “All is well! It rained much of the day, but no one seemed to mind! There’s a cribbage tournament going on in the dining tent. Everyone is happy, and feeling good!” A little rain is pretty typical at some point on Kili, since it is surrounded by rain forest and is 3 degrees south of the equator.  Today was another great day for the team and a big milestone to make it up to the Shira Plateau at about 12,500 feet. Tomorrow is a big day. They’ll hike from Shira Camp up to Lava Tower (~15,000 feet) and then drop back down to Barranco Camp (13,000 feet).  It is a really beautiful day of trekking, and great acclimatization.  The trek to Barranco is the second longest after summit day, but the views of Kili and the southern glaciers are more than worth it. All continues to go smoothly for this strong Kili Team!

Dustin Balderach

February 23, 2017

We received another update from IMG senior guide Emily Johnston over on Kilimanjaro. The Team was all settled in for the night up at Machame Camp. They had a great day hiking up through the forest. It was raining when they arrived at Machame Gate but stopped just before they started hiking! Great news there! The Team is fit and strong and enjoyed their first day on the trail. To quote Emily, “all is well at Machame Camp.”

In the morning after breakfast, they’ll start their hike up to the Shira Plateau. This is a super fun day on the trail and one of my personal favorites. Towards the later part of the day you break out of the forest and get some nice views of Kili. You also start seeing some very interesting, indigenous flora like the Giant Groundsel trees. This isn’t a super long day and the Team will get into camp in the early afternoon and have some time to rest and relax. From camp on the Shira Plateau you have amazing views of Kili right in front of you. Behind you, you gaze out to Mt Meru and the Shira Ridge. A splendid spot to spend the afternoon. It’s a nice feeling to relax at camp, snap some photos of Kili and enjoy some hot drinks and popcorn before dinner. Shira camp is at around 12,600 feet and just above tree line. It’s a neat spot any way you slice it.

Dustin Balderach