Mt. Kilimanjaro Expedition Updates
Sunday 13 July 2008
So we all made it back to Dubai safe and sound and our luggage was here to meet us and so were a large group of welcoming family and friends.
Only now in the cold light of hindsight can we see what a magnificent achievement the expedition was. Everybody should be immensely proud of themselves for their outstanding achievements- I was certainly proud of their commitment and tremendous effort; against such high odds to get so many students to the summit of Kilimanjaro is a testimony to all of the students that took part in the 6 months of training and made the expedition so worthwhile and rewarding, not only for themselves but for the hundreds of friends and family around the world who were following the progress everyday via the daily web updates.
I've had very positive feedback from parents and have started to formulate plans for next year's expeditions. There's already the October and April Everest base Camp Treks and October 2009 Annapurna Sanctuary Trek to look forward to. Together we will strive to succeed.
Wednesday 9 July 2008
A few personal learning curves regarding personal possessions were learnt this morning before we headed off to look around the Chagga and Massai villages where we were able to see at first hand how they lived, cooked, grew bananas and millet and various other food stuffs. We were able to see the craftsmen carve and paint tribal pieces of art before we headed back to camp for lunch and the long drive back through the beautiful countryside to Moshi.
Tomorrow, we will get up early for breakfast and have a look around town before setting off to the airport at 1pm for our flight to Nairobi to catch our connecting at 7.15pm arriving in Dubai at 1.40am the following morning.
There have been many important lessons learnt on this expedition, namely respect for yourself and others, respect for nature and that no matter what is put in your way, determination is needed to succeed. Everyone has conducted themselves very well and can be proud of their achievements.
We are all looking forward to the next expedition, wherever it may take us.
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Tuesday 8 July 2008
Here we are back at Mosquito Creek campsite after an absolutely fantastic day of animal spotting in the Ngorongoro Crater.
The scenery is spectacular. If you have never been then it should be promototed to the top of your list of places to visit. Its a huge volcanic crater with the most beautiful views from high up on its sides and filled with some of the planets most amazing animals. We've seen Hyeena, Bison, Wildebeest, Ostrich, Warthogs, Lions, Flamingos, Elephants and Zebras, Grants and Thompsons Gazelle to name but a few. We saw lions stalking warthogs but they were unable to make the kill as the little piggies simply ran away!
The safari part of the Expedition has really whetted the appetites of the students to do more of the same in the future and its wonderful to see them take such great interest in our collective world heritage.
Monday 7 July 2008
After breakfast we set off in Land Rovers to our camp site at Mosquito Creek near Lake Manyara. The Campsite is very well named. The drive from Moshi through the Tanzanian countryside was beautiful. We saw the large expanses of land stretching out before us. Tribes people went about their day tending their cattle and bartering in the roadside markets.
We spent the afternoon driving through the game reserve at Lake Manyara where we saw Impala, Elephants, Giraffes, baboons, Zebras, Hippos and Caribou Storks and a variety of different African birds that totally escape me. All in all today was amazing. We got very close to the animals and 1 of the Land Rovers got to see a Cheetah.
Tomorrow we are up early to drive to the Ngorogoro Crater where we hope to have a big cat spotting day.
For our location:- 977 metres above sea level; 3 Degrees 22 minutes 467 seconds south and 35 Degrees 51 minutes and 920 seconds east. Temperature 23 degrees
Sunday 6 July 2008
Today we had a long lie in, a leisurely breakfast and a stroll around Moshi Town.
On the return to the hotel we had our safari briefing and after an early night we will leave for Lake Manyara tomorrow morning to start our safari.
Everyone is very excited at the prospect of seeing wild animals in their natural environment. Students have taken the opportunity to swim in the hotels pool with a few unwilling participants entering the pool prematurely.
Saturday 5 July 2008
After a very long nearly 7 hour trekking day covering 14.3 miles from a high altitude desert through lush tropical jungle where we saw pre-historic defunct volcanoes and beautiful flora and fauna we arrived at Marangu Gate where we finished our Kilimanjaro expedition and received our certificates.
We were then taken by bus to Keys Hotel in Moshi (3 Degrees 19 minutes 954 seconds south and 37 Degrees 21 minutes 755 seconds east) which is a beautiful colonial style hotel with stunning views of the snows on Kilimanjaro. Tomorrow is a well earned rest day before the safari; everyone is fit, healthy and now clean!
Friday 4 July 2008
Second Post of the Day
After returning from our summit bid we slept ate packed camp and trekked to Horombo Hut (3 Degrees 8 Minutes 320 seconds south and 37 Degrees 26 minutes and 325 seconds East- altitude 3,734 meters and its 2 Degrees), getting in at 7.15pm tonight so apologies for delay in posting update.
The effects of altitude which meant breathing was very difficult and energy sapping meant that not everyone made the peak. 14 people made it to Uhuru Peak (5,895m) and one made it to Gilmans Point (5,680m). 7 people did not make it but made great efforts and everyone can be proud of their achievements. Today has seen the culmination of 6mths of hard training and we have seen some great displays of character under very difficult circumstances. This trek is after all not a destination but a journey which we can each take something from.
We are just about to go into the mess tent for dinner and everyone is fit and healthy and looking forward to a hotel, a shower, a proper toilet and then onto a few days of safari.
Thursday 3 July 2008
Well, after all the training and the days on the mountain we have just had our summit briefing. It is 4.30pm, we are to be up and away to leave camp at 11pm tonight.
It is a day that we are all approaching with different feelings, dread, fear, anticipation; the desire to reach the summit is there. We will have to see what effect climbing over 1,200 meters in a day will have on our bodies and minds.
Today has been tough going, most people have had some form of altitude sickness symptoms, the most common one being the headaches. Hopefully the next hours of sleep will alleviate these and we will be able to start out as fresh as we can.
For those of you following on Google Earth we are 3 Degrees 4 minutes 898 seconds south and 37 degrees, 23 minutes and 357 seconds east, the temperature is currently 17 degrees.
Until we send from the summit- wish us luck!!!
Wednesday 2 July 2008
Today has been a relatively easy day with an initial short trek of 2 hours up to our camp at an altitude of 3,925 metres, it is now 5 Degrees C, we are at 3 Degrees 2 minutes 624 seconds south and 37 Degrees 24 minutes and 700 seconds East.
After lunch we had an acclimatisation trek up to 4,275 meters. It all really starts tomorrow, an early start then a 5 hour steep trek up to Kibo Hut at 4,750 and then early to bed as we rise at 12 midnight to hot drinks and snacks to reach Gilmans Point (5,680meters) after around 5 hours. Then a further 2 hours to Uhuru Peak at 5,895 metres after which we descend to 3,780 meters for the last camp before we come off the mountain.
Everyone's well, no signs of altitude sickness et, food has been voted better than the Everest Trek by far.
Tuesday 1 July 2008
A few personal learning curves were developed today as the students came to grips with the realities of camping and organisation.
After two days of trekking up a very dusty trail we seem to have developed into a bunch of Hobos-some peoples kit is past the stage of being washed clean-it just needs burning!
At present we are at 3,479 meters and our location is 3 degrees and 1 minute south and 37 degrees 25 minutes and 42 seconds east.The temperature is 15 degrees and the sun has gone down and every star in the Southern Hemisphere is visible. You feel as though you can reach up and pluck the stars out of the sky.
I mentioned to some of the students today that they were here on this trek because of me and the looks that I got I just know that there are some Christmas card lists that I have permanently been crossed off. Due to comments like I'm filthy and smell because of you!
I had a warm glow inside of me.
Monday 30 June 2008
All the Year 10 students are here writing this today;
We are still alive after our first day trekking on the mountain. We had a long rough bus journey (really dusty with the windows open) and the 3 hours trekking was great, Kili is so much closer now.
We are in camp now having hot chocolate and settling into our two /three man tents. For those of you who want to find us on Google Earth we are 2 degrees 58 Minutes 999 seconds south and 37 degrees 26 minutes and 906 seconds East, 2650 metres and its 13 degrees C; The mountain looks huge from here and Sophiya and Roxy are still with us! We are looking forward to tomorrows 5 hour trek which looks steep and intimidating from here.
Please note that although we are sending e mails we are not receiving e mails, so those of you who have replied do not expect anything back!
Sunday 29th June 2008
A relaxed start to the day, breakfast and then out for a gentle stroll to the top of an advantage point at 1,900 metres for great views of Kilimanjaro.
On the way passed through both Banana and Coffee plantations, weather here is a cool 28 degrees with a very low humidity and gorgeous sunshine. Continued onto waterfalls where everyone (except the 2 with the most common sense) enjoyed a swim under the waterfall.
Now relaxing in the hotel having showered and changed awaiting our evening meal and a full kit check and then early to bed before we take the jeeps to the far side of Kilimanjaro for the start of our trek tomorrow.
Saturday 28th June 2008
Here we are Kibo Hotel in Marangu in Tanzania.
The journey here took far longer than anticipated due to the plane being delayed leaving Dubai and so we missed our connecting flight to Kilimanjaro airport. Kenya Airways put us all up in a hotel so we could eat, rest and freshen up.
On the flight in we could see the snows on Kilimanjaro as well flew past it and there she was in all her glory as we landed at the airport to be met by Alex our guide and taken to a the lovely Kibo Hotel.
Tomorrow we will be up at 7 AM for breakfast and a walk through the banana and coffee plantations and walk up to the National Park Gate at 1900m in order to get some degree of acclimatisation.
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