IMG guide Phunuru Sherpa reports that our Custom Kili team had a good day today, climbing up to the Shira Camp on the Shira Plateau.  They were in and out of the clouds as they left the forest and climbed up through the moorland bushes and shrubs, increasingly localized to areas where sufficient water exists for the plants.

The team is now about 12,300 feet and the views of Kilimanjaro are starting to get bigger and better!  Tomorrow the team will get even closer to the mountain, as they trek to over 14,000 feet and then drop down to Barranco Camp at about 13,000.

So far so good on Kilimanjaro!

Eric Simonson

IMG guide Phunuru Sherpa reports from Kilimanjaro that our custom Kili team have begun their climb.  Yesterday they drove from Moshi up through the coffee and tea plantations to the Machame Gate (about 6000 ft) where they checked in with the Park Service and showed their permits.

Kili climbers at the Machame Gate at about 6,000 ft (Phunuru Sherpa)

Then, with our crew of local Chagga guides and porters, they headed up through the forest to the Machame Camp at about 9300 feet.  The Machame Camp is located at the top of the forest zone, and tomorrow they will leave the trees behind and ascend into the moorland, heading for the Shira Camp.

Machame Camp at about 9,300 ft (Phunuru Sherpa)

So far Phunuru says that everyone is doing well, and the weather is decent.  They had a little rain but it cleared up later.  All’s well on Kilimanjaro!

Eric Simonson