Kilimanjaro-adventure.blogspot.com

When I started this blog it was just for me so that I could capture my trip details for a coffee table book and now I realize that it is just a baseline that will allow others on the climb to document their thoughts and feelings on how climbing Kilimanjaro made a lasting impact on their lives.

I spent over a year researching tour groups and more importantly equipment list as well other climbers experiences on the mountain, needless to say the material online was actually very disappointing. I hope my thoughts are the first of many from the Serengeti Pride Safari's trip up Kilimanjaro via the western breach rout with an amazing night @crater camp and then to the summit.

Over the next month i am very confident that the group will compile an all encompassing equipment lists one for the for every type of climber, it will be created in excel, provide name brands, models and photos of each item.
And I know I missed a lot of stuff that I will be adding as well

Besides the equipment list we will create an Kilimanjaro FAQ in power point that can be easily consumed by all.

I look forward to the group adding and providing additional clarity so that others can spend more time enjoying Kilimanjaro than planing to get there.


I will be posting links to all of my photos by day on the blog once I am back in Colorado, it may be a day or two as I need to catch up missed powder days ;-)


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Location:Over the Atlantic Somewhere

Mount Meru Game Lodge & Sanctuary & Flights Home

I spent my last two days in Tanzania resting at the Mount Meru Game Lodge, it comprises 17 rooms and a 33 acre animal sanctuary www.intimate-places.com






After an amazing nights sleep I wondered over towards the main building
To see where breakfast would be severed, my question was quickly answered as I saw Mariana, Ben, Olivia already enjoying their breakfast.
We chatted and said how nice it was to be clean again, Mark and Diane also joined us and they were making plans to visit the locals food market which is held only twice a week and then more shopping.
The breakfast was very good but Mariana brought up a great point the pineapple is like crack while all of the fruit is very good the pineapple is like magic I think it is due that it has never been refrigerated ?

I on the other hand had only one thing on my mind catch up on my blog and relax, my quads were burning


After my second pot of coffee a good South African Shiraz was in order



I spent the entire day writing looking at photos, I would get up stretch and move to avoid the sun.

I was still working away when the others returned from shopping and the Tanzanian lunch buffet, a few opted for a shuttle over to the Polo club for a swim others just sat around relaxing and even more shopping at the lodge.

I was either tired or just careless I lost a hours writing, setbacks are never fun, it was nearly 4pm and Mark shows up with a Belgium beer and 2 bottles of bubbles






After toasts and more conversation over the last 10 days their shuttle to tHe airport arrived good by was said to Gef ah I have not mentioned my nickname upon arrival we were all given a Christmas gift from SPS a small wood plaque painted each painted with a unique background and our names well they spelled Jeff "Geff" on mine it was very funny while they offered to fix it I opted to keep it as is.

After good byes were completed I was off for a shower and back to dinner. There are always 3 selections on the menu today was lasagna or a Swahili dish and a vegetarian option I selected the Italian lasagna and could not pass up another bottle of wine







After dinner I quickly retired to room #12




A semi restless night the monkeys were playing on the roof and I was still pretty sore.

An early morning out to breakfast which was on 4 people everyone had departed the hotel early for Safari. I sat around the same as yesterday other than I did venture into store for a few items and a little more writing.

Ordering anything often proves difficult yesterday I ordered a cheeseburger and got a grilled cheese and today I figured I would try again, they understood the burger but not my request for the same potato like chips I had yesterday - they insisted they were not or had ever been a option, lucky for me I showed the waiter a photo which he showed the chef amazingly my lunch arrived as ordered along with a cold Kilimanjaro beer.

5 hours before my shuttle arrives, I attempted napping, back out for another beer and a final walk around the sanctuary

















My shuttle arrived on time and 44 mins later I was at JRO, KLM does not open checking until 1930 oh what a joy.






Finally my 3 checked bags are gone and I received a coupon for the angel lounge, which was up a flight of stairs just past immigration





Free beer and lamb samosa's are always good






I was finally on board KlM 569 to Amsterdam with a short stop I. Dar Es Salaam a one hour crew change , the flight to Amsterdam was uneventful I am really not impressed with KLM's service, there was a small boy that boarded in Dar Es Salaam he was un-accompanied and could not been older than 6. He was very astute and told me that he was off boarding school in Romania for 1 year, make you wonder what is he being groomed for you don't see many american 6 year olds shipped off to boarding school.

A little blogging lots of bubbles and a little sleep and I was sprinting to my connecting flight no time for that 15 euro this morning.

Too funny I was selected for additional screening after that and a longer than expected wait I was onboard same seat different plane this time an Airbus A330 instead of a 777 I will say that Delta's Service, food and level of comfort beats KLM's service hands down at least to and from JRO-Kilimanjaro.

More bubbles a Ginger carrot soup a Greek salad and little chicken if only I had showered in Amsterdam I would feel amazing - well more bubbles should fix that.

I arrived Atlanta customs was a breeze but strangest thing delta had to verify my passport prior to boarding my flt to Denver.
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The last day

Well going from 19k plus to 10k was like heaven other than Monica and I missed the water stop so 4 hours and only a liter of water
To make matters worse the water filter was at high camp and still 2 plus hours away oh well 4 dollar Kilimanjaro canned beer was the only option and wow did they hit me hard after sitting around with Robin, Garrett, Ethan, Meg, Monica & Lacey looking at my photos on the IPad and a little pop corn in the mess tent grabbed 3 liters of water and crashed.

Up around 0600 the last time to pack and per Lemma a 4 hour hike out, I had already planned to cut that in half.

After a breakfast of 3 hot dawgs & toast I was ready to bolt but I wanted wait until the crew sang and the tips were presented, Randy took off prior to breakfast.








Singing

I left after the last song and the very well groomed decent trail was like a oil slicked road add the rain/humidity it was nasty oh well.
I was in High gear my iPod jamming to my good friend Eric Jerardi and then a local Denver band of days gone by Leboom and who knows what else. My only goal was to beat the porters down I was about 45 minutes into it and still no signs of Randy but out of no where Clem darts past me like I was standing still, I stopped and grabbed my water bottle and kept it out and continued downward. I guess 20 minutes or so later I see Randy and Clem watching what I call a skunk monkey I did not see it and I kept going not looking back. Clem the kewlest Frenchman I have met once again out of no where passes me and I never caught back up. I reached the gate just before 1030 and that was just under 2 hours I was treated by Erika Bloom one of the co-owners of Serengeti Pride Safari and Clem! I also met Lemma's family, Clem and ingested off for a cold Kilimanjaro beer and we parked ourselves where lunch was to be served in a few hours, we were mobbed by the peddlers trying to sell you Kilimanjaro souvenirs or African trinkets. I got my boots & gaiters washed for 2 bucks, Michael the guide sent them back once for still being dirty and I did the same 2 more times. Randy was next to arrive and we all sat around and chatted then we headed over to sign out of the park before the crowds arrived, I stamped my passport and bought a CD of all the songs that were sung over thaw 7 days. Back to lunch and the number of peddlers increased 10 x and they were quite annoying, whitey the lead cook drove them away but that only lasted a short time, I did not help by asking how much ;-). After a hour of lunch more beer we headed over to a bus with our gear, I gave quite a bit of stuff to my porter as well tipping directly besides the split he will receive from the main tip pool, these guYs work way too hard and need better gear - boots that fit, proper head lamps, cold weather and rain gear would be a great start.

As many famous/wealthy individuals that have climbed Kilimanjaro or have it on their bucket list one would think a non-profit foundation would already be in place to provide proper gear for the porters of Kilimanjaro, I am sure this consume some of my time in the future.




On the bus very crowded and we all need showers, I was lucky I got a window seat that opened, only to be swarmed one final time by the peddlers while the driver secured our bags on top of the bus. We finally arrived at the MT Meru Game Lodge, I received to room 12 same as before I stored my bags and went back to the open air lobby area and ordered a beer and 1.5 liter bottle of water while the others darted for a shower and fresh clothes. Just sitting and relaxing and reading a little email was amazing. I went to the room for - much needed shower, the hot water was amazing until it just vanished which normally would of sent me jumping out of the shower, not this time any Water regardless of the temp.

Back to the bar area chatting exchanging contact information, looking at photos and then dinner outside by the fire, I was beat and off to bed by 2130

Location:Arusha - Himo Rd,,Tanzania

The Night Before & The Summit

Well we arrived in fog, enjoyed the sun and now the wind started either during or just after dinner. Departure for the summit is scheduled for 0600 which I was ready for ;-) the nite was not good high winds very cold and now a strange fear set in, call me crazy, paranoid who cares Ben was in the tent next to me and he had been very sick and sorry Ben looked like death warm over, but he is a real trooper and has battled on. I however cranked up the iPod to drown out the wind noise and this horrible thought went through my mind as I hear Ben cough over both the wind and my music, what if my lungs fill with liquid and I die in my sleep....not a present thought needless to say I laid in my bag with I am so ##*~€|^ glad I bought a -20f wraith from Mountain Hardware it was toasty everyday. I did throw a big 12 hour mega warmer down by my feet and just listened to music until 4AM . Wake up call was scheduled for 0500 with no tea service as we needed to move out quickly, needless to say I was in the mess tent at 0500 and had finished breakfast before anyone else was out of their tent, actually a good thing as my mole skin was on strangely and it took 2 attempts before I got it worked out. My adrenal levels were off the chart and I was ready to go it may of been our slowest start or it seemed so. Finally at 0627AM we departed Paul one of the assistant guides in the lead and I was close on his heals closely watching his every step, it was very cold I was kicking the ground with both feet on every step to trigger circulation, we were going beyond pole pole but several people that had been at the head the pack were now effected be altitude sickness and it took every thing each one of them could muster to make it to the summit. For the others it created the cold problem first my toes then a finger later my right thumb as I watched Paul stop and look down I had two thoughts one please speed up and the second that I have climbed another mountain and never looked down while actually climbing it.
It seemed like it would never end the climb had it all snow, Ice, frozen scree and a little scrambling and finally to the top as we pass the edge
I had another rush and I was headed to the ceremonial summit along with Clem, Lacey and Monica.

The best thing no one else was there it was all ours for over 12 minutes


Clem


Lacey


The two real poles


MT Meru in the distance


Looking down to crater camp








Monica, Meg & Ethan


It's not easy





Garret & his father Aaron


Mark smiling like no tomorrow


Randy


Prasanna





Diana, Ben


Almost a group shot


The path to a semi cold beer and 26 hours to a shower


Down is not always fun


Other camps

Location:Crater Camp

Crater Camp 18769 ft

WoW it is hard to believe that in 24 hours that I will have summited Kilimanjaro and down to Mweka camp at 10448ft

A little fog



And then sun


Catching fresh water

Lacey, Tina & Mariana




Tennis balls besides being your best friend to rub out the aches and pains on your sore muscles it also allows me to juggle, always best to keep those street performer tricks up to speed

The trail to the top