Kili Team Safely Down.

January 23, 2012

Craig John called in this morning from Mweka Camp (10,000′).Â Everyone is safely down and content.Â They’re super tired from the cold and windy climb and ready for a well deserved rest.Â A few family members are arriving in Moshi today to join the team for safari.Â Tomorrow they’ll drive to the trail-head to meet the climbers at the park gate.Â Can’t think of a better place for a family reunion!Â One more short day for the climbers and their summit is in the history books.

Adam Angel

Hiking down do the Mweka Trailhead on the last day of the climb. (photo: Ivan Wright)

Hiking down through the forest on the last day of the climb. (photo: Ivan Wright)

Kili Team Summits!

January 22, 2012

Craig John just called in from the summit of Kilimanjaro.Â This was his 19th summit, and he reports the coldest and windiest conditions that he’s ever seen on Kili.Â They climbed in down parkas pretty much the whole way.Â Nice work team!Â They’re heading down now, and eagerly anticipating a hot lunch back at Barafu.Â From there they’ll descend to their camp in the forest for a well deserved rest.Â It’s all down hill from here.

Adam Angel

IMG team on the summit of Kilimanjaro (photo: Ken Gomez)

Summit. Check.

January 22, 2012

Tomorrow's destination for Eben & Co. Plaza de Mulas.

We received some good news from Aconcagua this afternoon. Eben called in from High Camp after he and most of his team summitted. Cold temps but generally a nice summit day. They’ll rest up tonight and head down to Plaza de Mulas tomorrow, then it’s just an 18 mile hike out to the trailhead on Tuesday (ho-hum).

Tapp called in as well. No issues on their carry to C1 today. A few snow flurries but nothing to worry about.

Tye Chapman

Kili Climbers Heading to High Camp

January 21, 2012

Craig John just called in from breakfast at Karanga Camp, and said that the group had a great night’s sleep and are gearing up for the short climb to high camp (Barafu, 15,000′).Â They’ll go to sleep as early as possible and try to get a few hours of rest before they start climbing around midnight.Â If all goes well, they’ll step onto the crater rim as the sun rises.Â Almost time for the main event!

Adam Angel

IMG climbers ascend to Barafu Camp. (Photo by Adam Angel)

Summit’s In Sight

January 21, 2012

High Camp on Aconcagua.

Josh Tapp reports that he and his team had a great rest day and are fired up for the carry to C1 tomorrow.

Eben called in from High Camp and aside from the bitterly cold temperatures, they’re all doing just fine and are looking forward to givin-it-a-go tomorrow. They’ll likely get a later start than normal to climb in the sun as much as possible, given the current temps up high on the mountain. We may know more tomorrow, but like always in the mountains – ‘no news is good news’.

Tye Chapman

One Team Resting Another Team Eyes The Summit

January 20, 2012

Another great view.

Josh Tapp called in from Plaza Argentina in good spirits. The team made short work of the trail today and are enjoying a little down time at Base Camp. They’ll take a rest day tomorrow – maybe stretch the legs a little but generally speaking they’ll just hang out and get their lungs back under them. All is well. Josh made a point to say that his team sends some well wishes back home.

Eben called in from C2. He and Martin carried to High Camp today while the team took an acclimatization hike this afternoon.Â They’re setting themselves up for success later this weekend. They’ll keep their eyes on the weather, but it looks like they’ll head up to HC tomorrow and take a look at things for a possible summit attempt on Sunday.Â The Hot Sauce situation seems to have worked itself out though Eben might smell of chiles and vinegar for the next few days.

Tye Chapman

A Wonderful Day Of Rest

January 20, 2012

Inca walls surround the team's dinner table. (Photo courtsey San Augustin)

After a summit of Cotopaxi and a day strolling the market the team enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Hacienda San Augustin. Inca walls surround the team’s dinner table which featured some high Andean cuisine such as llapingachos (potato cakes), locro (cheese & potato soup) with fresh aji (Andean salsa).

After dinner the ‘retired to the study’ for some coffee and relaxation.

Today, the Cayambe hut awaits.Â Tomorrow they’ll climb or use their contingency day to acclimatize.

Tye Chapman

Kili Team at Baranco Camp

January 20, 2012

Craig John checked in this morning after the long day from Shira to Baranco Camp.Â The weather remains cold and windy and they managed to get into camp before some afternoon rain.Â Nice timing!Â They took the high traverse around Lava Tower to take advantage of the opportunity for acclimatization.Â The elevation of Baranco Camp is not much higher than Shira, so the group usually gets a great nights sleep in this camp.Â It’s also one of the prettiest camps on the mountain.Â Time for some popcorn and roasted peanuts from the camp cooks!

Adam Angel

Traversing towards Baranco Camp around 15,000' on Kilimanjaro. (Photo by Adam Angel)

The Hot Sauce Has Been Compromised

January 19, 2012

Phil snapped this photo this afternoon at the market.

Aconcagua
Eben called in to report that there is a significant puddle of water building up near his vestibule and that the lid to the hot sauce was not tightened properly before he put it in his pack.Â Â Aside from these two things the team is doing great. They’re at C2 (18,000ft) and all is well. We’ll keep you posted on the puddle situation as well as how the hot sauce debacle plays out. These guys are having a blast!

UPDATE (3pm Jan 19): The puddle situation worked itself out. It froze. The hot sauce situation continues to weigh on the team.

Ecuador
Phil called in from the farmer’s market in Saquisili.Â They’re stretching their legs and sampling some of the seemingly endless fruits Ecuador has to offer.Â They’ll hold up for the night at Hacienda La Cienega and head up to the hut on Cayambe tomorrow.

Tye Chapman

Kili Climbers Reach Shira Camp

January 19, 2012

Craig John called in early this morning from Shira Camp (12,600′).Â The group had a solid day of hard work ascending the steep trail, but were rewarded with clear skies and great views.Â It’s been a little cold and windy, and Shira is the first camp where you can really feel the altitude.Â The group is in good spirits and looking forward to the climb past Lava Tower tomorrow.

Keep up the good work team!

Adam Angel

IMG Kili Climbers Ascending to Shira Camp. (Photo by Adam Angel)