Entries from Kilimanjaro
We began the day with a "so long" to Cory, who headed off -as planned- to compete in a marathon down in Capetown. Then we set out from the delightful Plantation Lodge for our next Safari destination: Tarangire National Park. Along the way, we toured a traditional Maasai village, watching tribe members dance and build fire and asking a lot of questions along the way about how the Maasai are able to hang on to their traditional ways in a modern world. We entered Tarangire just after noon and within just a few minutes were seeing Impala, Zebra, and Wildebeest in numbers difficult to keep track of. We saw great elephants and giraffes in the immense park and a few lions here and there, but for certain the highlights came close to the end of the day when we saw seven lion cubs playing and napping together while their mom/babysitter lounged nearby. And that prepared us for the final sighting -a leopard napping in a tree with a freshly killed Impala stored in the crook of the same tree. He/she didn't pay much attention to us, but we payed plenty of attention to such a beautiful and formidable animal. A few short minutes later we drove into Balloon Camp, our safari hotel. Tonight we are back in tents, but more correctly they are tent-cabins and quite comfortable ones at that. The staff put on a fine barbecue for our team, out under the stars near the swimming pool. While dining, we could still hear nearby elephants trumpeting. Just one more day to go, hard to imagine though that it will surpass today.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
We drove up into clouds and fog along the rim of the Ngorongoro caldera. It was jacket weather, but that didn't prevent us from popping the tops on our Toyota Landcruisers and going down in to the Crater to see some wildlife. Immediately, we were right up close to cape buffalo, zebras and wildebeest. We saw ostriches and kori bustards by the dozens. As we cruised the network of dirt roads, we began to see lions. We stopped to watch a pregnant female take a drink, and to see a big proud male searching for the perfect shady tree to lounge under. We saw hippos doing what they are known for doing at midday (darn little) and we watched animals by the hundreds interacting at waterholes. By our picnic lunch site, we spied a couple of giant, solitary bull elephants roaming the marshland. By midday, much of the clouds had burned off and we could see the entire layout of the giant volcanic remnant we were exploring. We eventually climbed back out the steep crater walls as the afternoon progressed and left the wildlife behind. A few rough roads and then the smoothest of highways took us back to our fine lodge for a restful finish to the day.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Packing for Safari is far easier than packing for a climb. Getting up and getting on the road from our hotel was a low stress enterprise... we headed west at 8:30, squeezing between Arusha and Mt. Meru. Most of our 3 hour drive was through fairly dry and dusty cattle habitat. As we neared Lake Manyara National Park, the change in climate was dramatic, with water easy to find and lush vegetation everywhere. Animals like that sort of thing, as we discovered. Immediately within the park we saw baboons and monkeys aplenty. Before long we'd graduated to elephants -up close and personal, so that one could hear their big ears swishing back and forth in the air. Manyara is known for harboring tree-climbing lions, but when we got to see the king of the jungle, he was lounging and in no mood for trees. There were hippos and thousands of exotic birds enjoying the shoreline and bordering marshes of the Great Lake. Toward the end of the afternoon we encountered warthogs among the zebra and cape buffaloes. Lake Manyara was a fine primer for tuning up our game sighting reflexes. From the park exit, it just took 40 minutes to drive out of the great rift and into the highlands, where we found the beautiful and luxurious plantation lodge. We unwound and refueled in immaculately clean and comfortable buildings set in a lush garden. We'll strike out bright and early tomorrow for Ngorongoro Crater.
Best Regards
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Curt, I can only imagine the photographs you will get on this leg of the trip. Don’t hold back!
Posted by: Judy Gadlage on 9/13/2017 at 6:03 am
Jambo from the Arumeru River Lodge. Our last night on the mountain was just what the doctor ordered. Good sleep and plenty of it -at a reasonable altitude. We woke to clear skies and ate breakfast in a forest of giant heather. Afterward, our entire mountain staff regaled us with singing, impressed us with dancing and caught us up in their laughter. We thanked them for their friendship and hard work, shook hands and hit the trail. We descended 4,000 feet down a sometimes slippery trail through the forest. The weather stayed fine and dry, which is not always the case in a rain forest, obviously, but luck was with us (yet again). By midday we'd reached the Mweka Gate and we exited the National Park. Our staff treated us to one final excellent "picnic" lunch before we hit the Tanzanian highways back to Usa River and our lodge. After a week in the mountains, a few of our team expressed the need for showers and so we delayed our celebration dinner to accommodate cleanliness. With a little repacking, reorganizing and relaxing, we're now poised and ready for safari.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Way to go Nomes, and team!!!!
Wrigley says, “my mom is a rockstar!”
Have a blast on the safari!
Posted by: Kelly on 9/12/2017 at 7:18 am
Naomi and team: CONGRATULATIONS!! So happy for and proud of you! Can’t wait to hear the nitty gritty stories of your amazing feat.
Love, Eve
Posted by: Eve Ruff on 9/11/2017 at 7:54 pm
September 10, 2017
Posted by: Dave Hahn
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Elevation: 19,340'
Hey! Dave Hahn & Team calling from the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro! We are at Uhuru 19,340'. We got up here at 6:49 in the morning, nine of our ten climbers. Everybody is doing really well, everybody is happy and healthy. It is an absolutely beautiful morning. It is way clear above us, and it's way clear down below to about 4,000' and then there's a sea of clouds below us. It is a really great day up here. We're going to do a dispatch when we are back to our camps to let you know we are all safe. Bye now!
Sunday, September 10th 10:57am PST
Greetings from Mweka Camp, down at 10,000 ft, down in the forest, down from the summit of Kilimanjaro.
We got walking out of high camp at just after midnight on a perfect night for climbing. It was clear, calm, moonlit and sparkling with stars. As expected, things got progressively colder as we got farther up the hill and into the night/morning. We kept adding clothing and tried our best to keep moving. Eventually, a good chunk of the team had "everything" on and the sun was still hours away. We might have stressed over the cold, but the altitude was kicking in with new stresses with every step higher. The entire team surpassed previous personal altitude records today, so it was very much a voyage of discovery. We hit Stella Point on the crater rim just before 6 AM and caught a magnificent sunrise when we were part way to Uhuru -the true summit. We tagged the top at 6:45, spent a glorious 30 minutes up there... surprised to be in perfectly comfortable temps already. The descent to Barafu took three hours, and we commenced our further descent to Mweka at 12:15, reaching this delightfully low camp at 3:45. All are safe.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn & Team
RMI Guide Dave Hahn calling in from summit of Kilimanjaro.
Curt, Syd and Carol, Congratulations! What an accomplishment! Cannot wait to hear the stories! Travel down safe, and revel in your amazing journey…
Posted by: Judy Gadlage on 9/11/2017 at 6:05 am
Congratulations to the entire team! What an awesome accomplishment! Curt, I shared your journey with your classmates from RBHS at last night’s reunion. We’re all incredibly proud of you!
Posted by: Marilyn Blunier Ott on 9/10/2017 at 10:04 pm
September 9, 2017
Posted by: Dave Hahn
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Elevation: 15,200'
We began and ended the day far above a sea of clouds. But of course, our end to the day was farther still above the clouds, since we are now at 15,200 ft. High Camp. Last night's camp -Karanga- was kind to us. It was calm and quiet through the night and into our 8 AM breakfast. We were on the road to Barafu -the "Ice" camp, before nine and into our new digs by about noon. There were no longer any pretty plants to linger over as we've entered the Alpine zone. We concentrated on the steady walking and breathing techniques that we'll employ tomorrow. The afternoon was spent in strategizing our summit bid and streamlining our packs. We rested and ate and ate some more before turning in early. Most could not resist staying up for the sunset though as the big ball of fire sank into clouds between Mt. Meru in the distance and Kibo up close. We are ready for an early start and a big day tomorrow.
Best Regards
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
On The Map
Don and Jennifer, it’s been so great to follow along on your incredible adventure. You are both rock stars.
Posted by: Tina Mooney on 9/9/2017 at 7:42 pm
I am so proud to call Naomi my Friend and Sista. I’m so excited for you. The pictures and blog have been amazing and inspirational (emotional). Fair Winds, TeamKili. Keep your minds in the trail and all will be well. The Celebration is already starting for your great success. Cheers & Hugs
Posted by: Claudia on 9/9/2017 at 6:18 pm
September 8, 2017
Posted by: Dave Hahn
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Elevation: 13,160'
We were treated to a perfect night and morning at Barranco Camp. The lights of Moshi twinkled far below, the hanging glaciers and ice fields of Kibo glowed in moonlight above us. We slept in 'til a leisurely breakfast at eight. We walked out of camp just before 9:00 as cumulus clouds began to form up. Within just a few minutes we were out of the gardens and streams of the valley and coming to grips with the great Barranco Wall. With great help from our guides -James, Freddy, Patric, Venance and Philibert, we negotiated the ledges and cliffs. We pulled ourselves up to new ledges and found nooks and crannies for the feet. We squeezed through gaps in the lava and avoided loose and rolling rocks. The wall eased into steep hiking in places, but there were always a few more scrambly bits mixed in. We topped out near 14,000 ft in a little less than two hours. By then the clouds were hiding Kibo and almost everything but our immediate surroundings. We walked down into the next shallow valley and across a few more divides to get to the steeply cut Karanga Valley. Some careful and dusty steps were required to get us down one side and up the other to our new camp on the far rim. Karanga Camp sits at 13,160 ft which isn't too much of a gain over our last camp, so we'll hope for a night relatively free of altitude-associated discomforts. The clouds stuck with us through the afternoon and evening, but of course that didn't prevent us from lounging about and enjoying a couple more excellent meals from Tosha, our climbing chef extraordinaire.
The views will keep until tomorrow.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
On The Map
Dave,
Thank you for providing these daily updates. i get up every morning in Cincinnati and read about the events of the day before….then I read your update to anyone else who will listen. Great fun to enjoy a vicarious adventure with detail and pictures and commentary from an expert.
Seeing new and exotic places is a lifelong passion but I could never do what you and your climbers are doing…..a thousand loud cheers…
My Best,
Judy Van Ginkel (Jennifer’s mother)
Posted by: judy van ginkel on 9/9/2017 at 9:17 am
Way to go Curt, Carol and Syd!! Getting close, looks amazing!
Posted by: Judy Gadlage on 9/9/2017 at 8:05 am
September 7, 2017
Posted by: Dave Hahn
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Elevation: 13,000'
At some point in the early morning hours, the clouds cleared away, the full moon and stars came out, along with the great volcanic cone of Kibo, Kilimanjaro's central peak. First light was our first sighting of the mountain we've been climbing. All were thrilled to see it, but it must be admitted that some were a little intimidated by the steep icy mountain flanks rising into the sky. We ate our breakfast and got walking toward the peak at about 8 AM. The walking was pretty easy compared to the tricky trails we'd become accustomed to, but it was taking us steadily higher. Within a few hours of marching through the high desert vegetation, we were breaking altitude records. In fact, by our high point of the day, the Lava Tower, at 15,200 ft, we'd crushed records for Cory, Jen, Don, Syd, Carol, Naomi and Curt. Only Sarah and Martha had been to greater altitude. Cumulus clouds formed up with the heat of the day to rob us of some views, but generally, we were blessed with a fine, calm and dry day for hiking. We worked our way down into the Barranco Valley-back down into the garden of giant Senecios and Lobelias. We reached camp at 13,000 ft by three o'clock. Our staff of porters, cooks, camp boys, waiters and guides seemed pleased with our performance. A few men began clapping, and within minutes, fifty of our best mountain friends were clapping, dancing and singing. Eventually, we all joined in -some of the team managing to get down and shake it while still wearing packs. Not bad after a seven-hour hike and a trip to new heights.
We rested away the afternoon, listening to stories and Swahili at the foot of the Great Barranco Wall.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
On The Map
Congratulations to all! My money is on Carol for dancing.
Posted by: Karen Ford on 9/8/2017 at 6:57 am
Sending positive thoughts to the Tulsa Team - Curt, Syd, and Carol (Karl?). Have a great trip! Enjoying your journey from OK.
Posted by: Brent Johnson on 9/8/2017 at 6:13 am
September 6, 2017
Posted by: Dave Hahn
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Elevation: 12,600'
We spent a quiet night at Machame Camp with clouds above and below. Those of us lying awake, still wrestling with jet lag, were never able to detect even the faintest of breezes rustling tent fabric. 6:30 was our wake up target and although we were right on the mark, Kilimanjaro itself decided to sleep in. We were never able to see Kibo, the central peak, due to clouds. We set out at 8 AM in pleasant walking conditions -never in danger of overheating- with the sun obscured. The trail led steeply upward through a giant heather forest. We climbed slowly and steadily, working from time to time on walking and breathing techniques for the days ahead. Views were limited but still enchanting as we reached and followed a ridge top of old lava formations to well over 12,000 ft. We finished with an hour of traversing ledges and trails to the north, turning the corner onto the easier Shira Plateau just after noon. We were in our 12,600 ft new home -Shira Camp- by 12:45. We lounged away the afternoon with meals, naps, storytelling and exploring. Sunset into the cloudy peaks of Shira was briefly beautiful. We finished with a sumptuous alpine dinner in our dining tent, chatted a bit more about legendary climbs and climbers, and then called it a day. (A good day)
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
On The Map
September 5, 2017
Posted by: Dave Hahn
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Elevation: 9,800'
A fairly smooth first day for our climbers today. We were on the road by 8 AM as planned and heading east. We made good time rolling down the highway under thick clouds. There weren't any views of Kilimanjaro to be had, even as we approached the Machame gate to the National Park at 6000 ft. As always, the gate was good and busy as a handful of other expeditions were getting underway on our same timetable. We were among the first to set out walking, at around 10:45. We never got rain, although the air was quite moist during the hours we spent in the thick forest. We gained elevation steadily and by mid-afternoon we were leaving the big trees and getting into a forest of giant heather. We came in to Machame Camp at 4:15 to find that our staff had been working quite hard on our behalf. A fully built camp was ready and waiting for campers. We settled in, met for afternoon tea and then dinner in our dining dome tent. We talked of the plan for the coming day, recalled the funny parts of the day we were ending and headed to bed.
Best Regards
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
On The Map
Naomi, You are our hero! You just amaze us with all your accomplishments, but this one is over the hill!
G-d bless U and keep you safe.
Florence & Marty Jesser
Posted by: Florence Jesser on 9/13/2017 at 8:07 pm
Naomi..
Reading the daily blogs as we follow your amazing adventure. Have a great time and stay safe. Luv U a ton.
Posted by: Howard Katz on 9/6/2017 at 7:11 pm
You guys all look great. Can’t wait to see photos of the Safari.
I hope you enjoy the rest of your trip.
Miss you, Nao.
Cheers
Posted by: Claudia on 9/13/2017 at 8:17 pm
View All Comments