Here's My Interview With KFDI!

Click the link below and hit the "PLAY" button to hear my interview with KFDI radio out of Wichita!

http://www.kfdi.com/podcast/bkpodcast/114497939.html

WE DID IT!!!

Saturday, January 22, 2011

We did it!!  Bob and I climbed to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro!! 19.340 ft at 9:20 am on Friday, January 22^nd. Tanzania time.  The 7 day climb of the Machame Route was absolutely awesome.  It is hard to put into words.  Each day brought us a new environment from rain forest to very arid areas; when we started on the lst day of the climb it was 86 degrees and at the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro 19.340 feet it was in the 30’s. We did have a few freezing nights but on the whole we had absolutely great weather.

Each day we had a new challenge from huge lava rocks/boulders to climb to narrow paths only made for one to pass and if you took a misstep it would be fatal...

We just arrived back to Arusha about 5 pm today. All of us exhausted. (6 in our group).  All of us made it to the top.  Excellent success rate. Ages in our group ranged from 38 years to 72 years.   One man in our group, Mark from Houston, a former NFL player, said he had never been so physically exhausted than when he finished the descent from the summit.

We had a great climbing crew to support our efforts.  A total of 27 men, 3 guides and 24 support team of porters.   Everything is carried up and down the mountain by the porters. No vehicles.  The porters carry about 4-5lbs of personal items, sleeping bags, mats and maybe a coat.  Then they carry about 40 lbs of trekkers gear, tents, kitchen tent and cooking utensils, supplies, food for eating, mobile toilet, dining room (big tent for 8 people),water and much more. We move from camp to camp each day as we make the climb, so each day you pack your duffel bag and the porters take care of the tents and transporting your duffel bag. You take your day pack and water bottles, rain gear and extra clothing for either dressing warmer or if too hot taking off a layer.  You have to be very versatile in how you dress. Layering is very important.  Each night we were briefed by the tour guide either Emmanuel or Go Listen (brothers).  They grew up in a large family of 10...5 boys and 5 girls.  Both are well spoken in English and very energetic.  Emmanuel who guided me on the ascent to Mt. Kilimanjaro has climbed Mt. Kili 80 times.  I don’t believe there was a better person to look after me.  He knew I wanted to make it to the top and he assisted me so it was accomplished.

I have lots to share with you about the 7 day climb but frankly I am exhausted.  Tomorrow we meet in the lobby at 6:45 am to start our journey to the Safari in the Serengeti.

I called KFDI 101.3 Wichita yesterday but was too late to reach Brian on the air of the Brian and Kellie morning broadcast from 5am to 10 am. I spoke with Brian at 11:10 am on Friday.  Too late for live broadcast. I thought Kansas was 11 hours behind Tanzania time but it is 9 hours.  I will try to call in to the live broadcast on Monday January 24^th from the Serengeti. Once the segment is aired I will post it to the blog and send out an e-blast.

Thanking all of you for your prayers for a safe and successful climb…on both counts it was a great success.  I credit your prayers in helping me and my climbing partner; Bob make it to the Snows of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

I will post a few pictures tonight and more later.

I’d enjoy hearing from you, please leave a blog comment.

Diane 

What a journey to Africa!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arusha

What a journey to Africa!!  The weather in Kansas and other parts of the USA made it a challenge in arriving in Arusha, Tanzania. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arusha  See the flight routes we had scheduled to take on Follow in my Footsteps. We both departed Wichita on January 11.  My flight out of Wichita was delayed due to weather problems in Chicago, but I did get out and made a connecting flight to Philadelphia.  When I got off the plane in Philly my name was called with two other people to Board Now for the Zurich flight.  I was the second to last one to board.  As I got on the plane I asked, "Will my bags get on?" And of course the standard answer was, yes!  Do I need to say anymore!  You might guess the rest of the story.  It is now almost 10 pm TZ time on Saturday, January 15^th and no luggage for me yet.   Lots of phone calls but nothing seemed to move the luggage closer.  I felt better this afternoon when someone in the Swiss baggage area told me the luggage would be arriving tonight in Nairobi and then they would send it on to Kilimanjaro. 

Bob, left on January 11^th but was diverted to Minneapolis to avoid the Atlanta weather problems. In doing so he had to stay overnight in a hotel in AMSTERDAM and then travel the following day.  He didn’t mind because he thought he might take a quick tour of the city, but when he arrived it was pouring rain so he stayed in the hotel and got some rest.  Bob took both of the big gear duffel bags as checked luggage because his fight pattern was better than mine and hopefully the luggage would follow along well. You guessed it, my duffel bag with my gear came off but Bob’s didn’t.  Same story, his is supposed to come in tonight.  I have high hopes for his luggage…oh, by the way Bob’s luggage went to Budapest, Hungary.  Maybe they were picking up some snacks for the climb.  We’ve sent a driver to the airport to secure the luggage.  The airport is about an hour away from the hotel.   It will make for an interesting evening.  If the luggage doesn’t arrive, Bob will rent some gear and we will buy snacks to take along plus a few other items. 

The weather has been very nice in Arusha it is like a nice warm fall day.  The people we have met are very nice and cordial.  But you must go slower or give yourself high blood pressure.  The hotel accommodations are adequate but have some unique qualities.  For example, there is only one electrical plug-in for the entire room.  So there is a lamp on a bed stand by the bed, but no plug in!!  The usual no wash cloths and toilets that work and don’t work.  From the bedrooms, we have beautiful views of Mt. Meru.  We are on the 8^th floor and take the steps up and down to keep in shape.  I’ve slept quite well but Bob is suffering from lack of sleep.  He has been worrying about the luggage which is understandable.

Bob had his 72^nd Birthday yesterday.  I asked the pastry chef to decorate a small cake with a couple of candles.  She did a very nice job.  We were so full after eating dinner we decided to save it until tonight.  We shared it with some really nice folks from Iowa who we met this morning at breakfast.  They are here for 3 weeks doing mission work at a local hospital.  This is their second time coming to Tanzania. 

Today we met our climbing group, two couples from Houston, Tx.  They arrived late last night with their entire luggage.  They appear to be in their late 30’s early 40’s.  The guide for our climb is a young fellow who seemed to be very knowledgeable and explained what our days would be like.   He reemphasized that we would go slow.  Music to my ears.  He will pick us up at the hotel about 8:30 am.  We will travel to the Mt. Kilimanjaro area.  It appears we will begin our first day around noon.   

Today we hired a driver and toured around Arusha. The driver was highly recommended by another man we met yesterday at breakfast. He comes to Tanzania for 3 months to volunteer at a hospital where his brother-in-law is an administrator.  He doesn’t get any pay but room and board at the hospital. He is from Norway.  It is Saturday so many people are out shopping.  Lots of open markets with fruits and vegetables and flea market types of clothing.  Plus nice small shopping areas.  I even found a store that sells Coleman products.   We stopped for fresh mango ice cream so good. 

I asked about a Catholic church for Mass this evening and found one not far away.  Our driver took us by the church and school and I visited with the administrator and several teachers.  It is a school from 3 years old till 7^th grade.  Very basic.  The compound did include a mini medical clinic.  I walked back to the church from the hotel and was able to visit with shop owners on the way back.  They were really friendly and eager to talk with me.  The small butcher store with hung meat had hundreds of flies on the meat.  I didn’t ask to take a picture of that!!

We learned a few words in Swahili Jumbo means "hi" or "hello", Mumbo means "how are you?" Poa means "good" or "cool".  Asante means "thank you". 

I’ll close for now and we’ll send my next blog after the descent about January 22^rd.  If all goes well I will call KFDI 101.3 radio from Mt. Kili on January 21^st with the Verizon Wireless phone that has been given to me as an in kind donation for use in Africa.  It would be during the Brian and Kellie morning broadcast 5 am to 10 am show.  I don’t know what I would have done without the Verizon phone in tracking down our luggage.   We will see at the Top!! 

Thanks for our prayers and positive support.

Diane and Bob

                             

Gear for the Climb is packed....

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Coleman (Mad Dog) Duffel Bags Filled with Combing Gear

Bob and I finalized packing the gear on Sunday evening (1/9) that we are taking for the Mt. Kili climb.  We will be climbing through 5 temperature zones; it is like going from the equator to the North Pole. It was difficult to decide what to take and what to leave out. The porters will only carry 35 lbs of weight per trekker.   Mountain Vision Expedition our outfitter had a list of suggested items.  We have all of them and then some.  Bob is a great packer!  Not only do we have gear and clothes for the climb but important food and nutrients. We will have a cook on the climb that  prepares the food, and provides water and beverages.  However we wanted to take food/drink to keep us as fit as possible.  Bob purchased some lean beef jerky, dried fruits and nuts.  I brought the protein bars and Cytomax performance drink (powder) I used in my cycle training for the Century ride in 2007, plus lots of Vitamin C. . We started taking the anti-malaria medicine last Wednesday and will take 1 pill per week while in Africa and then on the return for 2 more weeks.  We start taking the altitude sickness medication (Diomox) on January 14th then one pill a day during the climb and then 2 days after the climb.  Other than those two meds nothing else is necessary.

We both feel great. Ready to get on the "big bird" for a journey of our lifetime.  Count down to departure is on.....See tab "Follow in our Footsteps" for details of time and routing from the USA to Kilimanjaro.  Air miles to Kilimanjaro is  just over 8,000 miles.

My next posting will be from Africa.  Please feel free to post on the blog or email us at adventurediane@gmail.com

We appreciate all the encouraging words and prayers.

Diane and Bob