July 2, 2014

Hanging out with their Maasai camp guard (Eben Reckord)

Craig John reports that the Kili team made it down safely, had a nice wrap up BBQ in Moshi after the climb, and after a well-deserved rest have now begun the safari.  The little Arusha airport is the gateway to the vast Serengeti, and the Cessna 208 Caravan is the workhorse airplane.  It may be only a 45 minute flight, but it is like going back in time.  I always thought of it as what the Great Plains of the USA must have looked like 200 years ago when they were covered with bison.  The IMG team will be doing our super authentic luxury camping safari the next three days with their own drivers and camp/cook staff….not standing in the buffet line at a lodge with 200 other tourists.  When you post a Maasai tribesman as a camp guard (with a lantern and a spear) during the night, to shoo away the animals, you are not in Kansas anymore!

Eric Simonson

June 30, 2014

Team on top.

The summit – again!  Congratulations are in order to Craig John and his team of Chagga and climbers.  100% on the summit at Uhuru.  Weather was perfect and the team’s already back at camp at Mweka (10,000 ft).  Did you notice the Ice Terraces on the right side of the photograph?  Pretty cool stuff.

Tomorrow’s a short day.  They’ll be at the trailhead about noon.  An evening of celebration with Chagga guides at the hotel and then off for 3 nights of safari the following morning.  It’s about as sweet as a trip can get!

Phil Ershler

June 28, 2014

Sounds like it was a perfect day on Kilimanjaro.  Craig John reports by sat phone that the team are all doing well, and they were also able to send a photo.  The weather has been superb, with the persistent low clouds of the past week finally burning off so they can see all the way from the summit to the town of Moshi far below.  The team took 4.5 hours of hiking from Barranco to reach Karanga (also at about 13,000 feet) with lots of up and down along the way.  This is a spectacular hike, ascending the Barranco wall and then traversing below the southern glaciers.  Karanga will be their second night of sleeping at 13,000 feet, an excellent altitude for acclimatizing.  Then, tomorrow, they ascend to Barafu Camp at about 15,000 feet.  This will be a short day, allowing plenty of time to rest and hydrate for the summit push.  So far, so good!

Eric Simonson

IMG Kili climbers arrive at Karanga Camp (Craig John)

June 27, 2014

Craig John called on the sat phone to report that the IMG team are doing well, and had a good day of hiking today. Their route from Shira Camp climbed to over 14,500 feet near the Lava Tower, before dropping back down to the Barranco Camp at about 13,000 feet. This makes it a perfect “climb high, sleep low” day for acclimatization. The weather was good and they were above the clouds, with great views. Tomorrow the trail climbs the steep Barranco Wall, before continuing the eastward traverse under the southern glaciers.

Eric Simonson