February 28, 2017

We heard from IMG senior guide Emily Johnston over on Kili and everyone is now back at the hotel in Moshi, Tanzania. They made the short hike out to the Mweka Gate this morning and got all loaded up for the half-hour drive to the hotel. Then their afternoon went like this: lunch, showers, clean clothes, rest, repack for the safari, rest, finish off with our traditional celebratory dinner with the Chagga guides. They are now soundly sleeping and when they wake up the fun will continue. This time, very little work will be required of the group as they spot wildlife from the pop-top Land Cruisers! Its really a neat way to explore the Serengeti. Sit when you please and stand when you please – which is usually when your driver/guide points out some interesting animal.

After breakfast, they will head to the city of Arusha where they will catch a short flight to the Serengeti in the early afternoon. Once they touch down on the runway in the Serengeti they will immediately jump into the safari vehicles and start seeing wildlife. It really all happens so quickly. One minute you are sitting in the airport, waiting to get on the plane. Literally an hour later you are looking at zebras and warthogs. It amazes me every time. This group will have a blast the next 3 days on safari and they deserve every minute of it. Congrats again to the team on the huge accomplishment of summiting Kilimanjaro. Happy game viewing!

Dustin Balderach

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