Side note: we love the comments… Thanks!
The wind is howling outside our, Liz is sound asleep and I’m having a little trouble sleeping again so I thought I’d tell you a little about the team. We are:
Jim and Julia: Father/Daughter team out of N Virginia (DC Metro Area). The have some experience with rock/ice climbing and mountaineering.
Ed and Reenie: Husband/Wife from Portland, Oregon. Reenie has significant mountaineering experience and this is Ed’s first big trip.
Robert and Nikki: Another husband/wife team from the UK. They must be getting tired of dinners spent talking about American history, politics, old movies.
Graham and Monique: the engaged couple are getting married on Sept. 22, 09. Congratulations! If you can do this I suspect you can handle most anything. Graham an Monique are also climb only; they won’t be on Safari with us.
Liz and I: I’ve done some rock/ice climbing and have some mountaineering experience but this is my first significant trip (at altitude). Liz too has some mountaineering experience but this is her first major trip.
Craig: lead guide – has summited Everest multiple times. probably know every word to every western ever made (he is even reading a western on the trip) This guy knows his s**t.
Eben: training guide – after this trip Eben will lead his own Kili expeditions. Eben was the first bust out a deck of cards and we play each night (mostly a$$h*le without the beer).
Eric, Reggie, James and Emmanuel: local guides – Eric has over 200+ Kili summits. These guy know everything and anything about the mountain and are the final say on how/which way we travel.
OK, thats it for now… Going to try and get some sleep before our longest climb day (excluding summit day) that will take us thru 15,000 ft.
Thanks for the comments on your group…nice to know who you are climbing with. See on the map you are now at 14.5K feet and seem to be just down from the Lava tower which is mentioned in most of the guide descriptions. Now I guess is a couple of days of acclimatization time and climbing before the big push…keep well.
john
I’m glad you are getting the feedback. It’s great hearing from you. Your group and guides sounds great and everything but the altitude sounds like fun.
How is the food and how do you charge your phone?
Love to Liz.
xoxox,
MOm
ps Dad left his mail open so I guess his is coming from his address.
That Liz can sleep thru just about anything!!! Hope your climb went well today. I’m glad those Cornell calves are being put to good use!! James, I love all your commentary – keep it coming. Take care and stay warm! xxxooo moo-my
Peter and I love the updates and are both following your trek. We love the details, but hope you are able to get more sleep. Are you sending on your iphone & how do you keep it charged? Love to both of you!
Hi
I climbed Kilimanjaro in January (15 to 23 Jan) and loved it. It was tough and summit night/ day is a mind #$#^% but just keep going it’s worth it. Keep WELL hydrated, especially on summit night. It will make all the difference. If you have time and are inspired, you can read about my trip on my blog at http://www.morenobeam.wordpress.com.
Good luck, enjoy and have fun. It’s an experience of a lifetime.
Dori
Hi James & Liz
Love reading about your adventure. It makes our hiking in the Canadian Rockies seem like Kindergarten. Rooting for you both. We know you will make it.
Love
Wendy and Steve
the food on kili was really good. hi carb diet, but its the best thing at altitude (i guess your body needs that more than protein).
we brought a solar charger for the phone.
Hi Liz and James: It’s a lot of fun to watch your progress. Keep sending those pictures and messages, and enjoy! Dad
James & Liz! What an incredible journey! I’m enjoying reading about your experience. Please be careful and enjoy every step. Can’t wait to see you after you return from the summit!
xoxo,
Amy
Yup, I am using the iPhone. I bought a 50 meg international data plan (only used about 30 megs of it). The coverage on Kilimanjaro (and safari) was actually quite good. Sometimes I had to walk around a little to find a decent signal. And we brought a solar charger for the phone so I was able to keep it relatively powered.
Hi guys big D. It’s great to hear from you. the experience is definitly once in a lifetime. the pictures your sending are fantastic. James I hope you get some good sleep before the Big One. Enjoy Dennis
Good morning…guess you should be getting up soon for an “acclimatization” day of climbing and hiking…while in the “NYC world” Mom and I went to Feinsteins tonight to hear Jane Monheit. Have fun today!!
Love
Dad
You kids are crazy! What an intense experience. Beers on us when you get back…
Great job! Enjoy and good luck.