December 27, 2012

Kili Team at the summit (Ang Jangbu)

Received a short email from Jangbu today.  All it said was ‘Made It – The Whole Team’.  He followed up with a phone call saying that he was standing at Uhuru, the true summit, and with all the team members.

They threaded the needle on this one.  Weather didn’t make it easy but the team kept it together and pulled it off in style.  The rain came back, in earnest, as they descended from Barafu, our high camp, and chased them all the way to Mweka Camp.  But they all made it!

A big congratulations needs to go out to this entire team and to their lead guide, Ang Jangbu Sherpa.  Doesn’t hurt to have a highly skilled climber/guide and Everest summiter in the lead.  And none of it comes together without the skills, strength and support of our Chagga crew, both the guides and the staff.  Individually and as a group, they are simply amazing people.  We thank them, again, for sharing their mountain with another IMG team!

Phil Ershler

December 26, 2012

The following email from Jangbu over on Kili greeted us this morning:

“We pulled into Barafu camp by 11:30 this morning. Everyone is doing really well. Like every day, we got rained on a bit, but not too bad.  Had a great lunch at 12:45 pm and doing early dinner at 5:00 pm.  Up at 11pm tonight for a midnight departure for summit.   Wish us luck. Hopefully,  I will call you from the summit tomorrow morning.   Here is a photo I took at the switchback below Barafu.”  – Ang Jangbu

The switchback below Barafu (photo: Ang Jangbu)

If we hear from Jangbu and team later today, we’ll get a dispatch up with the news.  They’ll be walking through new snow up high but nice to know that the precip is slowly backing off.  With everyone healthy, they have a good shot.

Phil Ershler

December 25, 2012

Climbing up the Barranco wall on Christmas (photo: Ang Jangbu)

Christmas at Karanga.  The team’s at about 13,500 ft for Christmas.  With the new snow on Kili, they certainly are having a white Christmas, at least higher up.  Here’s the email Ang Jangbu provided Christmas morning:

“We are at Karanga Camp. Pulled in to camp at 12:15 pm, just before the big down pour. It started to rain a little when we were getting ready to leave the top of Barranco Wall and rained lightly until we reached Karanga River and then stopped but It’s pouring right now at 1:00pm as I type this message. Hopefully, it will stop raining at some point so people can dry things out.

Everyone is doing well. Here is a shot I took on the wall. We did not get the view from on top Barranco wall.

Lunch here pretty soon when the rain gets little lighter.  Can’t sign off without wishing everyone back home a Merry Christmas.”

Phil Ershler

December 24, 2012

Snow on Kili (photo: Ang Jangbu)

“We are at Barranco camp. We started with a decent morning but it started to rain as we were approaching Lava Junction and rained most of the afternoon. Rains have left us now but still a heavy mist.  Everyone did extremely well pulling into camp.  Couple of minor headaches but no major issues.  We are headed to Karanga tomorrow.”  -Ang Jangbu

For Christmas, we’re going to wish for clear skies for the team.  Nice thing about being on the equator – 5 minutes of sun and everything is dry!  They’re heading for Karanga Camp tomorrow.  Check out the photo Jangbu sent.  Who says there’s no snow on Kilimanajaro?  The team wanted to make sure we sent Christmas greetings to friends and family at home.

Phil Ershler