February 18, 2014

Jenni Fogle called from Serengeti to report a great day on safari.  They watched a lion stalking wart hogs, and saw a ton of elephants and giraffes and other animals.  She said they had a brief thundershower in the afternoon that cooled things down a bit.  Tomorrow they head to Ngorongoro Crater.

Eric Simonson

February 17, 2014

Serengeti Airport (Eric Simonson)

IMG guide Jenni Fogle called from the Serengeti to check in from their first camp on their safari.  She said that their 45 minute flight from Arusha went smoothly and that on the way from the airstrip to the camp they saw lions feasting on a recent kill and a leopard napping in a tree.  All is well!

Eric Simonson

February 15, 2014

IMG guide Jenni Fogle called on the sat phone to report that the entire team reached the summit of Kilimanjaro this morning.  They experienced some inclement weather during their nightime climb, but kept plugging away and by dawn the conditions had improved and they had a nice summit, though a bit cold and windy.  Today they descended back down to the Mweka Camp at the treeline, where they are spending the night and enjoying the thick air again.  Tomorrow they will finish the descent and return to the hotel in Moshi for some well-deserved showers and maybe a beer or two.  Great job team!

Eric Simonson

February 14, 2014

Route stays on the far right

It’s time.  Jenni called from Barafu Camp (high camp) this morning, Seattle time.  Packing done – check.  Dinner and hydrating done – check.  The gang’s trying to catch a bit of sleep prior to their 11 pm (Tanzania time) wake up call.  Pole, Pole is the mantra for the day.  The route heads pretty much straight up from Barafu to the crater rim at Stella Point.  Another 1.5 hrs going clockwise around the crater get them to Uhuru, the true summit of Kilimanjaro.  Longest, most demanding day of the trip coming up but also the most rewarding.  Funny how that works.

Phil Ershler