September 30th, 2011

It’s always nice to start out the morning with a sat phone call from Kilimanjaro.  Eben Reckord reported in this morning that they had a sweet day going up to and around the Lava Tower at about 14,500 ft. before heading down to camp at Baranco (13,000 ft).  They’re moving so well that the plan is to sleep late and then head up to Karanga tomorrow.  Nothing exciting to report is always good when on a big trip.  It simply means that all is going well.  We expect exactly the same news tomorrow.

~Phil Ershler

Above the clouds now! Hiking above the spectacular Baranco Wall. (Photo by Adam Angel)

September 29th, 2011

Porters on their way to Machame Camp at 10,000' (Photo by Adam Angel)

Fresh from a trip with 100% of the team reaching the roof of Africa and an amazing safari – IMG Senior Guide, Eben Reckord, is at it again.  Machame Camp at 10,000 ft. yesterday and moving well.  That’s great news as I’ve always thought the first day on the trail was one of the tougher days.  A strong trip to Machame Camp bodes well for the expedition.

Great time to be in Africa.  Summer crowds have lessened somewhat and weather remains good.  I think we’re going to hear lots of positive updates in the next few days.  Shira today and Baranco tomorrow.  Baranco is probably our favorite camp.  Views are just pretty hard to top.

Go get ‘em, Eben!

Phil Ershler

September 24, 2011

Rhino at Ngorongoro Crater. (Photo by Eben Reckord)

The Serengeti was generous yesterday, giving a great day of game viewing.  We started our day with cape buffalo just outside the lodge property, followed up with a pride of fifteen lions, more leopards, cheetahs, elephants and we even came quite close to a collision with a giraffe.  We also added a few more newcomers to the list like, hirax, genets, topi, crocodiles, dik diks, a tremendous number of birds and now we all know the difference between the Grant and Thompson gazelle.

After a full day we pulled into the Ndutu lodge near Lake Masik.  The team gathered in the bar to watch the sun set and talk about what’d we’d seen.  We ate a dinner of lamb and finished the day out by the firepit, looking up at the nights sky as tiny wild creatures scampered about.  Today, we headed to Ngorongoro Crater and finally got to see the elusive Rhino.  In fact, one of them walked right in front of our safari vehicle!  We’ve had a great trip, but soon it will be time for the team members to say goodbye and head for the airport, to catch their homeward flights.

Eben Reckord