Some Final Shots of the most Incredible Trip I have ever made

Unbelievable to say the least

I will post an update when my fingers are working and I can do justice to the unbelievable week of tackling Mt. Kilimanjaro. In the mean time check out some of the pictures.

We've reached Karangu Camp

We Just got to kanragu camp. Around 13,000 ft. If you saw what We hiked/climbed (picture) today you would have killed us. It seems like every day is a 6-8 hr trek. Amazing views and great people working as a team. It's hard to understand Swahili language though but we're all picking up a few words. Tomorrow we are off to Barafu camp in the morning and get some rest for the reason we came here which is the push to the summit. We leave at midnight tomorrow night and see one spectacular view. Not sure what signal I'll have. I'll complete the blog when we come back down. It usually works when I'm below 13,000 ft. Our bodies is beat yes even Eli. This has been a bit more than we all expect. We will make it because the end goal is getting closer by the hour I hope all is well with everybody's families and friends. It truly been an incredible journey and one that will never be forgotten.

Jombo from 13,000 but soon to be 19,340.

First camp

Made it to first camp. 3,300 meters or 10,800 feet. It was the most grueling and physical climb/activity I have ever made. My guide said its the toughest and the rest is a piece of cake. Getting set up in the my tent now and going to have dinner, then bed. It was too dark to take this picture last night. You can see the goal in the back ground. Still another 4 days away. A morning tea and breakfast and we start out again at 8:30 to Sira point. That will be around 13,000. Short day but important because we continue to acclimate to the altitude. The rainforest was incredible.

Tomorrows the big day

We are ready. Met with the team from the climb company. Everybody who needed equipment got there last remaining items.

Tomorrow we get picked up and head out after breakfast at 8:30a. It takes 2-3 hour drive to get to the Machame Gate. There we check in, sign are permits and start our trek thru the rainforest. It will start out wet, we reach the summit on Thursday night which is 19,340 feet of the largest free standing mountain in the world with temperatures hitting about -20 and a slight wind of 5-10 mph. It should be ok but very cold. Our guide (picture) who's name is Goodlack says we take it polli polli which means slow in Swahili and all will be ok. After that were back on the ground early Saturday.

The journey has definitely begun. Btw, this could be the last entry for a while. I was told that technology will be for texting and not data transfer. I'll try one last update tomorrow before we get to far in the rainforest.

Still in transit

Just got to Nairobi, Kenya. Very friendly people. Still in transit. I will get my first glimpse of Kilimanjaro around 6p local time while traveling on a plane to Kilimanjaro International. I will be high enough to inspect the overall goal. The Top. Getting close.

Arrived into Abu Dhabi

After a long trip of 13 hours on a Boeing 777-ES the final approach into Abu Dhabi was amazing. The engineering and architectural approach to its buildings are incredible. Trying to get some rest in the beautiful Al Raha Beach Hotel overlooking Yas Island.

Will be heading out early back to the airport to connect to Nairobi, Kenya and finally Kilimanjaro. I'll be meeting up with some of the team in Nairobi.

Today is the Day

Today is the Day

Dyan and Tali will be driving me to O'Hare this afternoon to catch my flight. I'll be flying the national airline of the United Arab Emirates called Etihad. Wheels up tonight at 8:30p CDT. I will land in Abu Dhabi at 7:30p Thursday evening Abu Dhabi time which is +9 from CDT. I'll have a 14-hour layover and will be staying at the Al Raha Beach resort which is part of the F1 auto racing circuit. I'll be taking a flight in the morning to Nairobi, Kenya where I'll meet up with a couple of team members. Hang out there for a while and finally connect to a flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport. Kilimanjaro is +8 hours ahead of CDT it will be 7p local time on Friday evening. Stay tune, more to come.....

I leave this Wednesday for what will be an unbelievable experience - so here is what I'll be expecting of what Kilimanjaro looks like?

I leave this Wednesday for what will be an unbelievable experience - so here is what I'll be expecting of what Kilimanjaro looks like?

The summits of Kilimanjaro

The Kibo summit

Kilimanjaro is not only the highest mountain in Africa, it’s also one of the biggest volcanoes on Earth, covering an area of approximately 388,500 hectares.

Within this 388,500 - hectare area are three peaks..

The Kibo summit is my ultimate Goal

The Kibo summit is the best preserved crater on the mountain; its southern lip is slightly higher than the rest of the rim, and the highest point on this southern lip is known as Uhuru Peak. At 5895m, this is highest point in Africa and the goal of just about every Kilimanjaro trekker. We will hit this point on August 30. Kibo is also the only one of the three summits which is permanently covered in snow, thanks to the large glaciers that cover much of its surface.

Kibo is also the one peak that really does look like a volcanic crater; there are not one but three concentric craters on Kibo.

Within the inner Reusch Crater (1.3km in diameter) one can still see signs of volcanic activity, including fumaroles, the smell of sulphur and a third crater, the Ash Pit, 130m deep by 140m wide.

The outer, Kibo Crater (1.9 by 2.7km), is not a perfect, unbroken ring. There are gaps in the summit where the walls have been breached by lava flows; the most dramatic of these is the Western Breach.

The most important feature of Kibo, however, is that its slopes are gentle. This means, of course, although challenging, trekkers as well as mountaineers are able to reach the summit.

And we will see it very soon...........

The Journey is Almost Here.....
Leaving in 13 days, finishing up a few last minute details and will be ready to go.

The Team Will Be Arriving In 28 Days

John Traversaro- Half Moon Bay, CA
Eli Medvescek- Mbabane, Swaziland
Stacy Trevenon- Half Moon Bay, CA
Lou Leuzzi- Glen Ellyn, IL
Leah Evans- Malkerns, Swaziland
Russell Geekie- Brooklyn, New York
John Eccher- Long Island, New York

From The Top of Kilimanjaro - 
Leaving in 38 Days

What's left to do before the Journey Begins?
Leaving for Tanzania, Africa in 44 Days

Still to do:

1. Complete final shot of Hep A & B on July 20
2. Pickup Malaria and Diamox pills from Dr. Towne w/o Aug 1st.
2. Finalize list of items to take with, complete gear at REI
3. Confirm pickup at Kilimanjaro Airport to be taken to Arusha Hotel
4. Meet team in Nairobia on August 24th, Fly to Kilimanjaro Intl Airport
5. Begin Trek up Mt. Kilimanjaro on August 26th

Stay Tune, more to come......

Temperature Difference while ascending Mt. Kilimanjaro

Due to Mount Kilimanjaro’s proximity to the equator, this region does not experience the extremes of winter and summer weather, but rather dry and wet seasons. January and February are the warmest months, April and May are the wettest months, June and July are the coolest months, and August and September are the driest months. January, February, and September are considered to be the best months to climb Kilimanjaro in terms of weather.

The journey from the gate to the peak is like traveling from the equator to Antarctica in a matter of days. This is because the routes to the Uruhu peak cross different ecological zones. Throughout the climb, temperatures vary considerably with the altitude and time of day. Mount Kilimanjaro has five major ecological zones, each approximately 3,280 feet (1,000 m) in altitude. Each zone is subject to a corresponding decrease in rainfall, temperature and life as the altitude increases. At the beginning of the climb, at the base of the mountain, the average temperature is around 70°F to 80°F (27°C to 32°C). From there, the temperatures will decrease as you move through Mount Kilimanjaro's ecological zones. At the summit, Uruhu Peak, the night time temperatures can range between 0°F to -25F (-18°C to -26°C). Due to Mount Kilimanjaro's great height, the mountain creates its own weather. It is extremely variable and impossible to predict. Therefore, regardless of when you climb, you should always be prepared for wet days and cold nights.

Let the Journey Begin in 8 (WK), 6 (D), 4 (H) - Itinerary

Chicago to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Flight 1            Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Departure:       20:30        Chicago, USA - O'Hare International, T5

Arrival:            19:25 +1   Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Intl, T1

Flight 2            Friday, August 24, 2012

Departure:       09:30        Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Intl., T3

Arrival:            13:20        Nairobi, Kenya - Jomo Kenyatta, TI

Flight 3            Friday, August 24, 2012

Departure:       18:00        Nairobi, Kenya - Jomo Kenyatta, TI

Arrival:            19:10        Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Current Status
Tanzania visa now in hand. All travel plans are now in place. Leaving for Kilimanjaro on August 22. Hepatitis A and B shot scheduled for this Thursday. Workout program exceeding expectations. All systems moving forward to reach for goal in less than 9 Weeks.

Countdown - Climb Mount Kilimanjaro

Leave for Tanzania, Africa:

9 (WK), 6 (D),  11 (H), 29 (M)

Yellow Fever shot has been completed, Visa application is in process, Scheduling follow up appointment for other shots and med's for the trip during month of July.

Machame Route is the way UP!!

The Machame route, known as the "Whiskey" route, is now the most popular route on the mountain.

Machame approaches from the southwest and descends using Mweka, rewarding climbers with views of the expansive Shira Plateau, a scramble up Lava Tower, a climb up the Great Barranco Wall, and a traverse underneath Kilimanjaro's Southern Icefield. The descent occurs on the Mweka route. We will be sleeping in supplied tents at designated campsites, and eat

meals either outdoors or inside a large dining tent. Our staff prepares all meals and sets up the tents.

Climbing the Machame route is more difficult, but not technically difficult.

Mostly it is simply a longer and often times steeper trek. It covers more ground and involves more ups and downs. It wears you out more, takes more energy, not more skill. But it offers much better acclimatization!

This is the Itinerary of our 7 Day Trek

Tanzania: background information

Some 80% of the population depend on subsistence level farming.

Credit: WaterAid / Alex Macro

Over 30 million people populate this East African state, four times the size of the UK.

Geographically, its diverse countryside and coastlines are unequivocally beautiful. The Ngorogoro Crater and Mount Kilimanjaro feature particularly, and there is a unique abundance and diversity of wildlife, especially within the Serengeti National Park.

The climate ranges from tropical near the coast to temperate in the highlands, whilst the land consists of coastal plains, a central plateau and highlands in the north and south.

Some 80% of the population depend on subsistence level farming, and Tanzania remains one of the poorest countries of the world (156 of 174 in the UN's Human Development Index), with huge external debt.

Reaching Uhuru Peak Mt. Kilimanjaro will be The Ultimate Goal

Mount Kilimanjaro Updated Countdown is:
12 (wk), 5 (d), 5 (h), 17 (m), 35 (s)

Time for some background on the mountain I plan on climbing.


Snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the most famous and highest freestanding mountains in the world, rising from the north-eastern part of Tanzania. Kilimanjaro stands at 5,895 metres (19,336 feet) high above sea level. Kilimanjaro comprises 3 volcanoes of which the most famous (and the most recent), snow-capped dormant Kibo stands at 5,895 m (19,455 ft). The mountain is situated in the Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania. The trek crosses five distinct vegetation zones, namely lower slopes, rainforest, heath and moorland, alpine and desert and the glaciers/summit. Within each zone there is an association between altitude, rainfall, temperature, plants and animals. The name Kilimanjaro, is thought to be a combination of the Swahili word Kilima, meaning “mountain,” and the Kichagga vernacular language word ’Njaro’, translated as “whiteness,” giving the name White Mountain itself.

Yellow Fever Shot went according to plan. Painless and now I can request my Tanzania Visa for entry in their country.

The Tanzania Government requires that US citizens apply for a visa prior to entry in their country and one of the requirements for a visa is proof that the traveler received their Yellow Fever vaccination. I will be getting mind this Friday on may 25, 2012.

Climb Mount Kilimanjaro
The trip begins with Flying to Tanzania, Africa on August 22, 2012
The countdown is:
13 (wk), 3 (d), 5 (h), 49 (m), 56 (s)