January 2 - Trek Day 7

Trek 7‐ Mweka camp (10,171ft)‐ Mweka Gate (6,496ft)

Hiking time: 3 hours ~6 miles

After Hot breakfast from in Mweka Campsite we will start walking slowly towards the mountain gate the walk takes about 3hours to get to the Mweka campsite where our driver will pick us up and transfer us to the Hotel in Arusha.  There we will meet up with Rachel and Owen

Janaury 1, 2013 Summit Day

Happy New Year!

Trek 6‐ Barafu camp (14,928ft) ‐ Uhuru Peak (19,341ft) ‐ 4,412.7 vertical feet

> Mweka Camp (10,171ft)

Hiking time: 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak – 7‐8 hours to descend to Mweka camp

Distance: About 4.3 miles ascent ‐ 14.3 miles descent

Habitat: Stone scree and ice‐capped summit

We will rise around 11:30 PM and have some hot tea and biscuits before we shuffle off into the night. We will head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This 6‐hour walk to Stella point is for many climbers the most mentally and physically challenging part of the trip. At Stella Point (5685m) we will stop for a short rest and we are told we will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise will in our lifetime (weather permitting). From Stella Point we will normally encounter snow to Uhuru Peak (2 hour ascent). The time we will spend on the summit will depend on the weather conditions. We do not stop here for too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue.

This will be a day to remember for the rest of our lives. The walk back to Barafu from the summit will take about 3 hours. Here we will have a short rest. We will then collect the rest of our gear before heading down to Mweka hut (3100m).  This route is not difficult and will take we down the rock and scree path into the moorland and eventually into the forest. The camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be

expected in the late afternoon. Dinner and washing water will be prepared. We will celebrate with a nice beer!

December 31 - Trek Day 5

Trek 5‐ Karanga Valley to Barafu Camp ‐No vertical gain

Hiking time: 4‐5 hours ~8.1 miles

After breakfast at the Karanga valley camp, we will walk a ridge and enter a cold desert for about 4 hours and then reach the Barafu Hut. Crews will collect water from the last water stop at Karanga Valley in morning, as there is no water at Barafu camp. Barafu is the Swahili word "ice" as it is a bleak and inhospitable camping area to spend the night. Totally exposed to the ever‐present gales the tents are pitched on a narrow, stony, and dangerous ridge. We will make sure that we familiarize ourselves with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents as this is a dangerous area. The summit is now 1345m above us, and we will make the final ascent tonight. We will prepare our equipment, ski stick, and thermal clothing for our summit attempt. We need to make sure and replace the batteries in your headlamp and camera and make sure have a spare set available as well. To prevent freezing, we are told to carry our water in a thermal flask.

We go to bed around 7 PM and try to get some good rest, tring not to sleep more than 5 hours.

December 30 Trek Day 4

Trek 4‐ Barranco camp (12,959ft)‐ Karanga camp (14,928ft)‐ 1,969 vertical feet

Hiking time: 4‐5 hours

Distance: About 8.1 miles

Habitat: Alpine desert

After spending a night at the Great Barranco Wall, we will proceed to make our way up this awesome looking obstacle. Hikers find that in the end this normally turns out easier than anticipated. Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, we will now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is. The route then heads down through the Karanga Valley crossing the last water point over intervening ridges and valleys and then joins up with the Mweka route. This is the preferred route down from the summit, so take note. We will finish with dinner and an overnight Karanga Valley Camp.

December 29 - Trek Day 3

Trek 3‐ Shira (12,598 ft)‐Lava Tower (15,190ft)‐Barranco camp (12,959ft)‐ 360 vertical feet

Hiking time: 7 hours

Distance: About 9.3 miles

Habitat: Semi desert

The route now turns east into a semi desert and rocky landscape surrounding the “Lava Tower” where we reach an altitude of 4630m after a 5 hour walk. Lunch is served in a designated area before ascending the rocky scree path to Lava Tower (4630m). This will be the toughest day so far. It is normally around this point where some climbers start to feel symptoms of breathlessness, irritability, and headaches. After lunch we descend almost 680m to the Barranco camping. As this camping area is lower than the high altitude of 4600m at Lava Tower, one experiences acclimationbenefits. This is a proven method to help climbers adjust to the altitude of Kilimanjaro. The descent to Barranco camp takes about 2 hours with great vistas of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp is situated in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall, which could provide a memorable sunset.

December 28 Trek Day 2

Trek 2‐ Machame camp (9,777ft) ‐ Shira camp (12,598ft)‐ 2,822 vertical feet

Hiking time: 6 hours

Distance: About 5.6 miles

Habitat: Moorland

We rise early at Machame camp and after breakfast climb an hour or so to the top of the

forest. Next there will be a 2 hour gentle uphill gradient through the moorland zone. After a short lunch and rest, we continue up a rocky ridge onto the Shira plateau. By now we will be able to see in an easterly direction. This will be a view of the Western Breach with its stunning glaciers. We are now due west of Kibo and after a short hike we will reach the Shira campsite at 840m. The porters will boil drinking and washing water, and then serve dinner. The night at this exposed camp will be colder than the previous night, with temperatures dropping to well below freezing.

December 27 - The trek begins

We are still waiting for luggage.  Guess we will have to shop.  oh well.  below is itinerary for the day.  internet silence after today.  I have posted general trek itinerary which I will update.
Trek 1

‐ Machame Gate (6,365ft) ‐ Machame camp (9,777ft) ‐ 3412.1 vertical feet

Hiking time: 7 hours

Distance: About 11.2 miles

Habitat: Montane forest

Day starts early with a briefing from the tour organizer and the guides followed by 70‐

minute drive from the Hotel in Moshi (910m) to the Machame village (1490m). The guides and

porters prepare and pack the supplies and your equipment in the village. We will receive a lunch pack and  buy water in the village. Depending on the condition of the road, it is

possible to drive from the village to the Machame gate, but if not, the muddy 1 km walk will take

about 30minutes to complete. After registering at the gate office, we start  our ascent and

enter the rain forest almost immediately. There is a strong possibility of rain in the forest, which

will transform the trail into a very foggy, muddy and slippery experience. We will have a

welcome lunch stop about half way and will reach the Machame camping area in the late

afternoon. Your porters (arriving at the camp site long before you) will have our tents set up on

our arrival. In the evening the porters will boil drinking and washing water and the cook will

prepare dinner, before we retire to your tent for the night. Night temperatures can drop to

freezing at this Machame campsite. We are prepared for this.

December 26 Dubai to Addis Ababa to Kilimanjaro

Depart: 4:30  am Wed. Dec 26 Dubai Arrive 7:45 am Wed., Dec. 26 Addis

Ababa ET (ADD) As has been our pattern, we left late from Dubai. But we had a treat. We were on a787 .  Since we are traveling Business Class we had beds.  Nice. 

Depart: 0 am Wed., Dec. 26 Addis Ababa ET

Kilimanjaro, United Republic of Tanzania (JRO)

Arrived in Kilimanjaro but bags didn't.   Hoping they arrive on the midnight plane. 

December 25 - Christmas in Dubai

Arrived after several delays in DC.  It was a little after 5pm.  6 am Denver time.  Checked in at our hotel and then went to dinner in Festival City.  Ate at a Emirati food restaurant.  Excellent.  The went to the Dubai Mall and Burl Khalifa (tallest structure in the world,  http://www.thedubaimall.com/en  and www.atthetop.ae  Went to the observation deck and got an amazing view of the city.  The mall was like being in New York, Las Vegas and Hong Kong all at the same time.  I am not a shopper but if you were, there was every store in the world.  Water show like at Bellagio, music, dining...  pretty amazing.Took the metro back to the airport and the wandered around (i.e. got lost) trying to find a shuttle back to the hotel.  Since it is nearly midnight and we leave for the airport at 3 am, we decided to take a taxi.  Good choice. 

Now to get some zzzs before heading to Addis Ababa then on the Arusha in Tanzania.

Dubai cool... defintely a palce to return to. 

Merry Christams to all!

Decmber 24 - Off we go!

We are at DIA. Flight in 45 min. I will try to keep up with the blog but know that there will be times we don't have computer access.  I have put togeter a skeletal blog which I will fill in with the details when I can. 

Depart: 11:21 am pm Mon., Dec. 24 Denver, CO (DEN) Arrive: 4:54 pm Mon., Dec. 24 Washington Dulles (IAD)

Flight Time: 3 hr 17 mn Flight: UA1176

Depart:  6:35 p.m. Mon., Dec. 24, 2012  Washington, DC (IAD - Dulles)

Arrive: 4:40 p.m. +1 Day Tue., Dec. 25, 2012  Dubai, United Arab Emirates (DXB)

Flight Time:  13 hr 5 mn

Depart: 6:35 p.m. Mon., Dec. 24, 2012 Washington, DC (IAD - Dulles)

Arrive:

4:40 p.m. +1 Day

Tue., Dec. 25, 2012

Dubai, United Arab Emirates (DXB)

Flight Time:
13 hr 5 mn

Flight: UA976

Aircraft: Boeing 777-200

Fare Class: United BusinessFirst (IN)

Meal: Dinner

Depart: 6:35 p.m. Mon., Dec. 24, 2012 Washington, DC (IAD - Dulles)

Arrive:

4:40 p.m. +1 Day

Tue., Dec. 25, 2012

Dubai, United Arab Emirates (DXB)

Flight Time:
13 hr 5 mn

Flight: UA976

Aircraft: Boeing 777-200

Fare Class: United BusinessFirst (IN)

Meal: Dinner

Change Planes. Connect time in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (DXB) is 11 hours 50 minutes.

December 23 Packing and Preparation Frenzy

All packed.  Actually have packed about a dozen times.  I don't want to take too much but I hate being cold.  Last minute purchase of "Acclimate" an altitude conditioning drink.  Made a last minute trip to REI ( My favorite store in the world!).  Got silk liner socks and Smartwool liner gloves.  I vacillated on the purchase since I didn't use them in Nepal but Jamie convinced me.  The warmer weather and humidity increase the sweat factors so I broke down.  Not cheap!  I am such a penny pincher but broke down.  I know I won't regret it. 

 I have forgotten foot warmers for the ascent day I need to check my ski bag or go to 7-11 and pick up some.  I will forget something but hey we also need to support the local economy.

Tonight I will stay with Rachel and Jamie so Jamie and I can get in a 3-5 miles run before we catch our plane,

Today conditioning.  Walk/Jog 3 miles round trip doing my errands and going to visit my 92 year old friend Naomi.

December 22 -Getting Ready- Conditioning

To get better acclimated, Jamie, Owen and I when up to Brainard Lake to do some snowshoeing.  We did a bit less than three miles.  Nice rolling terrain.  Elevation about 10,500' to 10,800'.  Not quite what we will be facing.  We didn't feel any altitude and kept a fast pace which was nice.  This should help a bit with the acclimatization.

Trek in one week... eek!

Only one week until our trek up Kilimanjaro.  I have mixed feeling of both excitement and trepidation.  I am not concerned with the hiking or the terrain, but the altitude up to 19, 250 ft is rather daunting. 

We leave on Christmas eve:  Denver - Dulles - Dubai.  We spend Christmas in Dubai.  The next day we fly to Addis Ababa and on to Kilimanjaro.