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.