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

June 26, 2014

Shira Camp with the view west across the plateau towards the Cathedral Peaks (Eric Simonson)

IMG guide Craig John reports that the team had a good hike today up to the 12,500 foot Shira plateau.  They left the trees shortly above Machame Camp and worked their way up a rocky spur ridge, before finally emerging on the giant lava plateau that defines the west side of the mountain.  Again, it was cloudy and comfortable hiking conditions during the day, and now clearing up in the evening, with some great views of the mountain. Tomorrow, the team heads for Barranco Camp at 13,000 feet and Craig thinks they will then be above a persistent low altitude deck of clouds which has lingered in the area for the last several days.  So far so good!

Eric Simonson

June 15, 2014

Denise and Dylan at the Mweka gate

Time to say good-bye to Denise and Dylan.  Pretty cool when a mother/son team comes with us to Kilimanjaro and raises a bunch of money for a good cause at the same time.  They both pretty much ‘cruised’ the entire trip.  Who knows?  Maybe they have other climbing adventures in store down the road.  IMG Guide, Craig John, is hanging out in Moshi, awaiting the arrival of our next team.  Denise and Dylan are on their way home to Singapore today.  Talk about a culture shock.  I’m sure they’ll easily take it all in stride.  Dylan will have more than a few stories to tell his classmates when school resumes.

Again, congrats to them both.  And everyone’s thanks to Craig for leading a seamless trip.

Phil Ershler

June 14, 2014

Only great news from Africa.  Denise and Dylan stood on top of Kilimanjaro yesterday with IMG Senior Guide, Craig John.  Craig reported the two did a super job.  And, they were fast.  Weather didn’t clear until high on the mountain but no matter.  They pulled it off in style.  The decent went off without incident and the pair spent last night at the Mweka Camp, elevation 10,000 ft).  Got up the next morning and headed for the trail head.  The mountain is done.  Dylan’s project to support his charitable efforts for children in Cambodia was a great success.  All is about as good as it’s going to get.  Our congratulations to Denise and Dylan.

Denise and Dylan on top!!

Phil Ershler