Entries By dave hahn

Barafu. High Camp, 15,200 ft, poised for the summit push.  We are into some nice weather now.  It was calm and clear and not all that cold this morning at Karanga Camp.  After another of chef Tosha’s wonderful mountain breakfasts, we set out for high camp.  Naiman led the way today, taking us up broad and easy terrain for the first hour or so.  Above 14,000 ft the trail got a little more rocky and narrow in places but it wasn’t giving our seasoned team any real trouble.  We took a couple of long and lazy rest breaks today so that our staff of porters and camp builders could get out ahead.  Even so, we were walking into Barafu by 11 AM.  This gave plenty of time for resting and rehydrating and strategizing for tonight’s climb. 

It’ll be an early dinner and then early to bed for this team.  We hope to launch for the summit at midnight.  All systems are go. 
 

Best Regards,

RMI Guide Dave Hahn & Team

We took on the Great Barranco Wall today. It was a wonderfully clear night and calm clear morning at Barranco Camp. We got all ready for some rock scrambling and set out behind Thomas - our lead guide - at 8 AM. Naturally, everyone else in Barranco Camp took off at the same time. Before long we were rubbing shoulders with an extremely diverse mix of climbers and porters as we reached for lava holds and footholds connecting the various ledges. Inevitably, there were some traffic jams and bottlenecks at the spicier features of the route. We were patient and eventually we were through the crowds and moving well.

Our staff beat us to the top of the wall and had a table set with tea and snacks when we topped out. Since Karanga Camp wasn’t so far away, we lingered at the top of the wall, people watching and mountain gazing.  We used the final hours of today’s journey to practice some efficient techniques for our hill climbing. By 2 PM we were eating lunch in another perfectly constructed camp - Karanga at 13,200 ft. We rested and ate our way through the afternoon. 

RMI Guide Dave Hahn & Team

We were in clouds from daybreak at Shira Camp today. We could still see Kibo, Kilimanjaro’s central peak, from time to time but mostly we saw clouds and more clouds. It was not necessarily bad for walking though. We got on the trail just before 8 AM and walked up gently inclined slopes toward Kibo. The trail was much less steep than yesterday’s workout, but we still gained altitude steadily. By noon we’d reached our intended high point for the day, 15,200 ft at the base of the “Lava Tower” we were denied the big views as the clouds were particularly thick and a little cool there.  That did not stop us from enjoying a picnic lunch provided by our amazing kitchen staff.

We were certainly ready to get lower, so we followed Omar down the steep track leading to the Barranco Valley. Omar is one of our five local guides. Yesterday we followed Happyson and the day before that Godlove. It didn’t take the team long to go from the “Alpine Desert” vegetative zone to the Moorland. We came down into a garden of Giant Senecios and Lobelias. Dropping to 13,000 ft we rolled into Barranco Camp at about 2:30 PM. Eventually the clouds parted to reveal Kibo with its hanging glaciers and ice fields as well as the Great Barranco Wall -our challenge for tomorrow morning. 

Best Regards,

RMI Guide Dave Hahn & Team

We bit off another chunk.  The day started at 6:30 AM at Machame Camp, which was cool and shady before the sun came over the mountain.  We had breakfast and threw our packs on just before 8 AM. The trail today was a little steeper and a little more relentlessly uphill compared to yesterday.  But we made fine progress up through a forest of giant heather.  Eventually we could look out to see that we were above a sea of clouds, and we could look over to Meru, a neighboring 15,000 ft volcano on the western horizon. 

We began to identify Senecios and Lobelias -two of the distinctive plants endemic to Kilimanjaro.  We worked hard today, but nowhere near as hard as the many porters who passed by with loads balanced on their heads, somehow staying at ease on the difficult rock steps.  Eventually we took a left turn, traversing between old layers of lava to turn the corner onto the Shira Plateau.  We reached Shira Camp at about 12,600 ft at 12:30 PM.  This marks our westernmost point for the climb, and the next days will have us moving east on our wandering route to the summit. 
 

The team enjoyed a restful afternoon and evening in our comfortable new camp. 
 

Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn & Team

We woke to clear skies at the Rivertrees Inn. Previously it had been overcast and even drizzly in the mornings.  The team was done with breakfast and packed up right on schedule.  We boarded the bus just after 8 AM and got on the road to Kilimanjaro.  The mountain was visible from the highway but the view got better as we approached and had less smoke and haze.  The Machame Gate to the National Park was bustling and busy.  It was a relief to have all paperwork and permitting done and to finally get walking, which we did shortly after 11 AM.  It was a stair master day as we started at 6000 ft bound for 10,000 ft.  The trail was in fine condition and it was clear that the National Park had been taking on major improvement projects.  We were lucky to see several families of black and white Colobus monkeys playing in the big trees as we walked.  It was hot and sweaty at first, but eventually things clouded over and the air cooled as we approached 10,000 ft.  We managed the walk in 5.5 hours.  It was a true pleasure to come into a perfectly constructed and completed camp.  Our staff greeted us cheerfully and showed us our tent home. 

We moved in and then got together for tea time and a 6:30 PM sumptuous dinner in the dining tent. Judging by the laughter, the day hadn’t been so difficult for our team.  We went over plans for getting going to new heights tomorrow and headed for bed at 8 PM, pausing -of course- to see the southern cross and a few other unfamiliar southern hemisphere constellations. 

Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave & Team

Ten climbers drifted in to the Rivertrees Country Inn on the banks of the Usa River in Tanzania these last few days. We made it from various spots in the United States all the way to East Africa with our climbing gear intact and our excitement growing. Tomorrow morning we begin a climb of Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain on the continent. So today we got ready. We began the day with introductions and a discussion of itineraries and strategies for climbing high. We set our priorities and got acquainted with the challenges to come. All of this went on while monkeys jumped from tree to tree high above in the garden-like hotel compound. Then the team retreated to the hotel rooms where we conducted gear checks and began packing. The day concluded with a weigh-in, to ensure that our staff won’t be overburdened in portering. We gathered briefly in the outdoor bar to watch Olympic highlights before dinner. And finally we fought jet lag and gathered for a pleasant multi-course meal in the indoor/outdoor dining room. We’re all set now, targeting an 8 a.m. departure, but not before a good breakfast, of course.  

Best Regards, 
RMI Guide Dave Hahn

PC: Dave Hahn

The Four Day Climb August 2 - 5 led by RMI Guides Dave Hahn and Josh Geiser reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning.  The teams enjoyed a bit of time in the crater before starting their descent from the crater rim aroun 7 am.  Dave reported sunny skies and a steady SW wind of 30 mph. The teams are on their descent to Camp Muir.  Once back at camp, they will pack up and continue another 4,500' down to Paradise.  There program concludes this afternoon with a celebration at Rainier BaseCamp.

Congratulations to today's climbers!

The Five Day Climb July 25 - 29 reached the summit of Mt. Rainier today around 5 am led by RMI Guide Dave Hahn.  The team is currently on their descent.  Once they reach Camp Muir they will have a short break to repack and refuel for the remaining 4,500' descent to Paradise. This is the first RMI team to summit via the newly established route.  A BIG thank you to all the route workers over the last several days!

Congratulations to today's climbers!

The Four Day Climb led by RMI Guides Dave Hahn and Sam Hoffman reached the summit of Mt. Rainier very early this morning. The teams had clear skies, and great views of the surrounding Cascade Peaks like Mount St. Helens and Mount Adams as they climbed. 

Congratulations Team!

The Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb led by RMI Guide Dave Hahn and Joe Hoch enjoyed a beautiful morning from Ingraham Flats this morning. While route conditions prevented the team from climbing higher, they spent time at 11,200' watching the sunrise. Nice work team!