October 5, 2010

Back at the hotel.

John Colver just sent this photo of the successful team in front of the Keys Hotel in Moshi.  Heck, all went to the true summit and none look any the worse for wear!!  A little celebration now with the Chagga guides and it’s off the following morning to Arusha for a bit of shopping, lunch and then their flight to the Serengeti.  Pleasure/pain is a good way to describe a Kilimanjaro trip except that the “pain” part is first.  We all have to work, a bit, to summit Kilimanjaro but the safari portion of the program is nothing but fun.  Interesting lodges and tented camps, great animal viewing and some serious photo taking.  And, then there’s that G and T sitting at the lodge on the edge of the Ngorongoro Crater watching the sun set over this natural wonder.  Not bad.

Phil Ershler

October 4, 2010

Kilimanjaro at night. (Photo by Andrew Carafelli)

Update – All members of the team have now reached Mweka Camp and are doing well.

Phil Ershler

October 3, 2010

News flash from Tanzania – John Colver called in this evening (Pacific time), to report that all 11 team members and 5 guides were standing together on Uhuru, the true summit of Kilimanjaro!  Weather is perfect.  Not a cloud in the sky and not a breath of wind.  Now, that’s what I call a perfect day.  The team will report in when they have reached Mweka Camp at 10,000 ft.

Phil Ershler

October 3, 2010

Part of the IMG Chagga team at high camp

“It’s getting close to game day!”  John Colver just called in from Barafu, our high camp, at 15,300 ft.  The team was in the dining tent, sitting down to dinner and then heading off to their tents for a few hours of sleep prior to the start of their long summit day.  4,000 vertical feet is a long day at altitude, but the team is ready for and up to the challenge.  All members are ready to rock and roll in the morning.  Four of our Chagga guides will accompany John and the team to the summit.  That gives them tons of strength to deal with any eventualities.

We’ll know in 24 hours how it all shakes out.  My guess is that John will be calling and telling me just how great everyone did and about the beautiful sunrise they experienced just below Stella Point.

Phil Ershler

October 2, 2010

The good news, and the good timing, continues.  John Colver called in this morning, (Pacific time, evening on Kili), to report that the crew woke to a beautiful sunrise and a fun couple of hours up the Baranco Wall.  And, managed to get to Karanga Camp at 13,300 ft. about 10 minutes before an afternoon rain shower.  But the rain didn’t last long.  Clouds lowered and the mountain appeared for a glorious sunset.  All members still doing well.  Tomorrow’s a short day, about 3 hours, to high camp at Barafu.  One of the advantages to doing this route in 7 days is that the day up to high camp is relatively short and easy and get the group there early in the day.  Plenty of time to pack, rest and prepare for summit morning.

So, all continues to go well with the Colver crew.

Phil Ershler

Chagga porters working their way up the Baranco Wall. (Photo by Kathy Harshbarger)

October 1, 2010

Climbing past the Lava Tower on the way to Baranco Camp. (Photo by Kathy Harshbarger)

John Colver just called in from Baranco Camp at 13,000 ft.  Another day bites the dust.  Good weather for hiking with a little mist coming into camp.  But, the clouds have lowered now and skies are clear.  The team is just heading into the dining tent for another good dinner.  All continues to go well.

Tomorrow, the route heads up the Baranco Wall.  That portion will take about 2 hours and then it’s a relatively easy walk, with a few ups and downs, to Karanga Camp at around 13,300 ft.

Phil Ershler

September 30, 2010

Kili coming out of the clouds. (Photo by Kathy Harshbarger)

John Colver reported in from Kilimanjaro.

Day 2 is complete.  The group reported in from camp at 12,500 ft. on the Shira Plateau.  Another good day, with plenty of sunshine.  The entire group of 11 climbers continues to do well.

Tomorrow will be a big longer distance wise.  They head gradually uphill to a place called Lava Tower, at 14,900 ft.  Then, it’s down and down, winding up at Baranco Camp, elevation 13,000 ft.  Perfect for acclimatization.

All continues to go well.  We just need a few more days of the same.

Phil

September 29, 2010

The Team at the KPAP Office in Moshi

The last IMG Kilimanjaro climb before the rainy season starts has arrived in Tanzania and with all their luggage in tow.  That’s always a great way to start the trip.  John Colver, IMG Senior Guide, will be leading this trip.  11 customers and friends will be with John on the 7 day climb up the Machame Route.  We’ll keep you posted as to how they’re doing and how the mountain treats them.

After this trip, IMG takes a break from Kilimanjaro through the rest of the fall.  More rain than we want to deal with.  However, the rains will subside and we’ll be back on the mountain at Christmas time.

Phil

September 29, 2010

Ken and Kathy on The Top Of Africa!

Another super Kilimanjaro expedition has come to an end, and what an end it was.  The safari (almost) couldn’t have gone better.  Weather remained perfect and did we see animals!  The capper was at the end of our last day of viewing in Ngorongoro.  We thought we were pretty much done and that we wouldn’t be seeing cheetah on this trip.  So we thought.  First, one cheetah was spotted.  Then, another.  The last was in the process of running down a Thompson Gazelle, only to have it snatched away after the kill by a hungry hyena.  The cheetah is too small to fight with this scavenger.  Again, we thought we were done and began heading for the lodge.  One last stop was in order as two old bull elephants decided to say good-bye while standing in the road.  We snuck by so close that you could have reached your hand out of the Land Cruiser and petted them.

But the trip is about people and we had another great IMG group.  10 on the true summit.  I couldn’t have asked for a better team.

I can’t sign off without mentioning a special summit on this trip.  An old customer/friend, Ken Maclaurin, signed up for this trip with his mom.  Ken’s been with me on numerous climbs and I respect his judgment.  As I read his mom’s sign-up information, I notice that she was 71.  Like a said, I trust Ken.  I was right.  After watching her walk the first day on the climb, I had no doubt I’d be giving her a hug on the summit.  Kathy Maclaurin climbed Kilimanjaro in great form and stood on the true summit of Uhuru with her son, Ken.  Well done, Kathy.  You too, Ken. (Read Kathy Maclaurin’s well-written story of her Kilimanjaro summit climb!)

Phil Ershler