Wednesday, 9/18/2019: Foothills of Kilimanjaro to Forest Ridge

After a final gear check and climb briefing, the group will drive to the trail head where the trekking adventure officially begins!

Weigh-in

The duffle bag so carefully packed at home will be weighed to make sure that it does not exceed 33lbs, as it will be carried throughout the trek by a member of the porter team.

Meet the Guides and Porters

Complete Registration Formalities

Begin the Trek up Kilimanjaro!

Accommodations tonight: Forest Camp at 9,281 feet

Tuesday, 9/17/2019: Arusha to the Foothills of Kilimanjaro

Hello, readers! The communication from our trekkers in Kilimanjaro has hit a glitch, but hopefully this information Ruthanna left behind will help keep all of us up to speed on their progress!

After breakfast, and a briefing, trekkers will make the way to the scenic foothills of Kilimanjaro and take a day to acclimatize while walking the plains and woodlands with a guide. The foothills cover a diverse terrain of acacia-covered savannah, open grasslands, forests, farms, and mountain villages. Wildlife might include anything from giraffe on the plains to blue monkeys in the trees. This is a day to stretch the limbs, enjoy the surroundings, and relax to be all the more prepared for the trek up Kilimanjaro.

Trek Briefing
The last chance to collect any rental gear, try on and inspect each item and make sure it is comfortable and that all the features are known. This is the last chance to modify, exchange, or add gear.

Nature Walk at Ndarakwai Ranch
Take a guided walk on the 11,000-acre ranch focusing on birdlife and large mammals. Over 350 bird species and 65 mammal species can be seen on the ranch as a direct result of the conversation work that has been going on here since 1994.

Wildlife Viewing from Ndarakwai Treehouse
A treehouse in the forests of Ndarakwai offers excellent expansive views and looks down toward a waterhole where elephants, buffalo, and other wildlife come to drink.

Packing Challenge

Will it all fit into one back pack and one duffel bag with only 33 lbs in each?






Packing all the required gear, trekking gear, equipment, and meds, may be as big a challenge as the trek. It was a miracle! It all fit, but took my sister Rosemarie and my cousin Nick's help to get it done.

Heading Out...

Laurie and I are in the final preparations for departure and a very long flight into Tanzania. We should arrive in Arusha on the evening of Monday, September 16, and will enjoy a last evening of comfort at Airport Planet Lodge before the official trek begins.

  

The Frog

Mark Twain said, "If you eat a live frog every morning you know the worst is behind you and the rest of your day will be relatively simple."

To help me prepare for Kilimanjaro I joined a class at Thrive Athletic Club called "Eat the Frog". Lots of core and cadio work. It met at 7 a.m. 3 times  a week. Also went to an excellent Yoga stretching class the other 3 mornings a week, also at 7 a.m. Yesterday was my final day at the athletic club before the trip. Because I am not very athletic I was far from a star pupil but I tried. To my surprise one of the trainers handed me the mascot for Eat the Frog: a furry little creature. They are sending Frog with me to Kilimanjaro to remind me to take on the challenge. I will hope to get a picture from Kilimanjaro summit with the Frog!

Ebey Bluffs

Back in Washington State where it is cooler.

Did one final hike before packing starts. Hiked Ebey Landing/ Bluffs with my cousin Nicholas DeNeff. The 4-1/2 mile trail is above Puget Sound. After being on the bluff the trail descends to the beach. A beautiful and easy hike.

Bump and Grind Loop

I returned to Palm Desert for a week of work. The temperatures were up to 115 degrees. Not good for hiking.

The trail I hiked regularly, Bump and Grind Loop, was only possible really early in the a.m....like starting in the dark by headlamp. The reward was seeing the sunrise and the valley like a jewel below.