Solo Flyer

Into The Mist

So mysterious and incredible.

What You've Waited For

Well finally I am home, after 24+ hours of flight time and 10+ hours of comfortable, NOT, airport chair time. I am just starting to sift through all of the photos, YEAH!!! Here are a few.

Day one, the entrance to Kilimanjaro - Machame Gate.




1st camp - Machame 9,000+ feet.




2nd camp - Shira - 12,000+ feet.




Sunset over Africa - Arrow Glacier camp - 16,000+ feet.




Weastern Breach rout - 18,000+ feet.




Crater near summit - 19,000+ feet.





Summit - 19,346 feet.

Well . . .

Actually, that last post was supposed to go out a couple of days ago but there were apparant problems with the computer at the Nairobi airport, not to mention sleeping on the bench there. That is another story.

Take care all.
Eric in Africa

Success Is Sweet

Hello all. I am now a certified survivor of Mt. Kilimanjaro!!!! YEAH, we all made it, some better than others but made it none the less. And we actually do get a certificate of completion. It was amazing being on top of Africa. Being so high I could actually see the curvature of the Earth, very humbling feeling to say the least. I will write more about things later and try to get some pics up but that may take until I return.

Right now I am in the Nairobi airport at 10:10 pm, I think there is like 9 or 10 hours difference between here and there. Today my sister and I did a quick day safari to Ngoragora Creater. A long extenct volcano that now is a nature preserve that is pretty self contained within the 15-20 mile wide crater. It was awesome also. Tomorrow morning we are off to our 2nd part of the vacation. My brother his girlfriend and I fly to Lusaka, Zambia. It will be all sightseeing from here on out, no more physically demanding events. LOL

Take care all and chat at you soon.

Now I have to send a message to my Son, Shawn.

Hey there, I love and miss you. I think you would have loved the safari, some day we will come back and I can show you. Hope you are doing well and not letting Whacko drive you too crazy...LOL Half way till I am back home.

Love you.
Dad

Over and Out

Well this is it, what I have been training for, getting shot up for, woken up early for, etc..... I am out. In a few hours I fly out to Houston to meet up with the rest of the group. Tomorrow at 10.30 am we start the big air competitions (JFK, London, Nairobi, get it? Big Air? lol I crack myself up). I am hoping to update this on or around the 8th or 9th of September, that may be the earliest I am in front of a computer somewhere in Africa. So as far as the climb I should be on the top on Monday September 5th, Labor Day, ironic? yes, I will be working very hard for it. lol

Take care all and see you on top!

Gearing Up

Here it is, two days before the flight out, packing and finalizing. I spent 3.5 hours at the local REI store on Saturday gathering all the things that I still needed. I think I have everything now. From water purification tablets and powdered drink mixes, to waterproof outer shells both pants and coat, to . . . well alot of other stuff . . . now I need to pack it. It's all about organization at this point, what will I need to dig out first and quickest.

Then the flights, and there are many.

1. Denver to Houston
2. Houston to JFK
3. JFK to London
4. London to Nairobi
5. Nairobi to Kilimanjaro

I could have chosen to bypass the Houston leg and fly east directly from Denver, but Houston is where most of the team is located so I thought it would be easier to meet up there instead of trying to match plans in Africa, but then again that could have been an adventure in itself, next time.

I talked with my brother the other night and he mentioned that the trek agenda has changed (see below). We will not be staying a complete day at the high Crater Camp. Darn it, I was kind of looking forward to that in some strange way. Mostly just to experience the altitude and how I will react to it. You know, it's not that often when we are faced with an experience that is so different from all of our past experiences, I want to feel it completely. Just interesting to me that's all. Anyway, he was not able to acquire some of the equipment that he wanted to use for some experiment with the glacier ice he was planning and that is the reason for the change.

I'll Take One of Each Please

I felt like I was ordering from the local fast food place when I contacted the Colorado Health Department. "Yes, um, hello. I would like the Malaria special smothered with Yellow Fever and Typhoid on top. Oh . . . also give me a side of Tetanus and . . . and super size my Hepatitis A please." Thrilling, of course one of the prerequisites of entering Tanzania is that you need at least a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate. Oh yes, the same one that I will frame afterwards to be placed on my wall right next to my other well achieved documents. I know, I know, it is only for my own benefit. Anyway, yes I got them all, well at least if felt like it. After the 45 minute consultation describing causes, effects, results (death), symptoms, and ways to prevent certain things, I received 3 shots, a pack of pills and prescription for another set of pills. I was hooked up for sure. Ironically this part of the health facility was directly next to the Chemical Dependency area. Oh yes I felt special entering the building, wanting to shout "hey I am going on vacation, where do I get immunized?" just to differentiate myself from the ones who have a real dependency. I laughed about it afterwards.

2 More Finish off July

Well my dad and I view climbing a little differently. He has certainly done his share of 14ers, but when it comes to 4wheeling up as far as you can go (sometimes as high as 13,500 or more) then "walking" to the top and counting is as a "climb", is where we don't see eye to eye. So this next mountain is a guilty one for me. Mt Antero, beautiful, powerful, towering over southern Buena Vista, standing in a row of many 14ers including the Collegiates and farther north Colorado's highest, Mt Elbert. Back to Antero, there just happens to be a 4wheel road that climbs nearly to the top. I humor my dad and drive up, and up and WAY up. I finally stop at around 13,000 + or - a few and say "this is where we start". My dad argued that the road still continued up, but I declined his request. He says he has a hard time walking up a perfectly good road that you could drive up. My son Shawn and I just shook our heads and started up.

After reaching the top alone, I took a few minutes to eat and drink something and take in the great views. That did not last long because a huge ominous BLACK cloud was beginning to talk, more like YELL, that it was getting closer. Time to head down, and quickly. On a little ridge that I crossed on the way up I met up with Shawn again and we continued down together. He was just hanging out and enjoying the view waiting for me.

So I am not quite convinced that I am counting this one.....

July 16, 2005 - Mt Antero 14,269

Next was Mt Sherman. They say that this is the best "1st time" 14er to do, after finishing is I tend to agree. It is a very straight forward climb. I think that my efforts are actually paying off because I was able to reach the summit without stopping once to rest or catch my breath, I feel this is a big step forward even though it was an easier mountain. If no one else does, I will pat my self on the back. :)

July 30, 2005 - Mt Sherman - 14,-036


Well my goal was to climb 4 and now I have done 6.25 (7 according to my dads count). I feel good at passing my original figure.

Good Morning Blues

Pretty much everyone that has known me for more than a couple of days, know that I am totally and unconditionally NOT a morning person. That does not mean that I am an absolute monster but it means that I would rather stay in bed. Mornings for me = slow, non-talkative, robotic and thoughts of going back to bed. Well this whole journey has, quite simply, forced me to make some adjustments. Not only am I climbing these peaks, which is incredible in its self, but I am forcing myself to wake up EXTRA early 3 times a week and ride my bike for 1 hour. It is very painful at times and the bed seems to scream louder early in the morning than at later hours, but I do it. So this is part of my preparation, I figure the more I do now, the better the chance it will pay off on Kili. I think the distance is roughly 15 miles round trip and it is not too bad once I get on the bike and head down the road.

July Hat Trick

July 9, 2005, this was a fun day because I summited 3 times. How you say? Well fortunately the proximity of some of the 14ers in Colorado are relatively close together, only separated by a ridge line. These 3, Lincoln, Democrat and Bross basically form a triangle which can be done from a couple of directions. My dad and I approached from the Hoosier Pass side, which is close to Breckenridge. From here we made our way up an easy 4x road and found a nice place to pull off and start the hike. I ascended the Mt Lincoln face first. After summiting I took a few minute break and then traveled down and across the ridge towards the center of the triangle which by the way is called Mt. Cameron which is at 14,238 but not technically a 14er by its self. The determining factor is that the ridge between peaks must drop 500 feet in elevation, this one does not drop that far. I hit Mt Democrat next which had a steep drop of around 750 feet, then a steep up of the same amount. I had to back trace this part of the trail to get back to Mt Bross which is a big wide topped peak, felt like an open rocky park at the top. The distance between each is roughly 2 miles.

The top picture is of me on top of Bross with Mt Lincoln in the back left. Mt Democrat is far off to the left. The picture to the left is looking at Mt Democrat from Lincoln. Democrat is just left of center along the snow line. This was a good hike, several ascents and descents, good work out. Every one that I successfully climb, I feel more confident and positive, that's a good thing.

Mt Lincoln - 14,286
Mt Democrat - 14,148
Mt Bross - 14,172

Break In Time

Castle Peak - 14,265ft
One week after Mt Bierstadt, on July 3rd, My dad, son, Aunt Jan and Uncle Lloyd and I traveled to Castle Peak which is near Aspen. This area is truly filled with breathtaking views in all directions. We left My Aunt and Uncle's at around 5 in the morning. Anything before 8 a.m. is blurry to me so the time could have been a little later. I had just purchased (thanks Brooke) a new set of climbing/hiking boots and was eager to "break" them in. Well this climb certainly provided a variety of conditions to test them and me, on. From snow fields several hundreds of feet long to scree (very loose gravely rock) crossings and larger rock climbing, all provide unique challenges. I would say my boots and I passed the test.

This was a special climb because of the presence of family members who help make experiences even more memorable and enjoyable. Thank you Uncle Lloyd for making it to the top with me.

Mt. Kili Trek Agenda

Aug 29: Hit the mountain at Machame Gate, climb to Machame camp, 9,900ft.
Aug 30: Shira camp, 12,600ft.
Aug 31: Barranco camp, 15,180ft.
Sept 1: Barranco camp, 15,180ft. Acclimating climb Barranco Wall 16,500 feet.
Sept 2: LavaTower camp, 15,180ft,
Sept 3: Arrow Glacier camp,16,090ft.
Sept 4: Crater camp via Western Breach, 18,750ft.
Sept 5: Summit Uhuru Peak, 19,340ft, then descend to Mweka, 10,010ft.
Sept 6: descend to Mweka Gate

Like I said before, one of my main concerns is the altitude. September 2nd - 5th will be new territory for me, higher than I have been on the ground before. Notice there are 2 listings for the Barranco, one is the VERY important acclimatization day.

Week 1, First climb

June 25, 2005

Mt Bierstadt - 14,060ft

The Journey and beginning

Over one month has passed since I accepted the offer from my brother Don to join him and several others, including my sister Kara, on a trek to Tanzania, Africa to climb Mt Kilimenjaro. I should have actually accepted sooner, but I will go into that later. He has been talking about it for months and planning (at least in his mind) and even asked me a few times if I was interested. I know on several occasions in which I procrastinated in answering and therefore avoiding the blatant "No". I guess fearing that by saying no it would actually close the door on the opportunity, and somehow by not admitting that I could not make it, would seem like a possibility remained even with time running out.

The obstacles.

School and funding. My brother can be persistent with some things and absolutely complaisant and non-action with other things. This was one of the persistent times. We spoke on the phone one Friday afternoon and I explained my issues, but was greatly interested in taking part of the trek to a place where I have always wanted to go and experience even as a child. After all my favorite land animal of all time is the Cheetah. What a rush that would be to see them in their natural habitat on the plain of Africa! Yes, I know. So we continued to chat and he expressed quite briefly as per his usual, that he would really like it if I joined the group. He stated that he could front me some of the funds and that I should check into changing my school schedule. My excitement grew enormously from this enlightening news. Almost as though a weight had been lifted from me and my fearing answer "no" was no longer an option. Who says procrastination does not pay off?

School, I am so nearly finished with my bachelor’s degree that I can taste it. As of the conversation, I only had three classes left to complete. The third and final one was to take place right in the middle of this African trek. That just would not do. I even have the date of my last night circles and highlighted with stars signifying the finally. I think I can safely say that I would not mind extending the finish date for such an occasion, once in a life time opportunity, quite possibly. I have certainly made more than a few people envious when revealing my plans for the journey to them, further strengthening my decision to proceed. I knew that my remaining classes were merely elective courses that were needed to meet the graduation requirements, so I figured that it could be quite possible to adjust the schedule. I contacted my academic counselor to start the process.

The training.

Well I certainly started to dig deep into researching past treks up the tallest mountain on the African continent. I searched for signs and clues that would direct my personal preparation. Scanning the daily agenda of the trek seemed challenging for certain. Two main concerns entered my mind as I searched, the high altitude (19,335ft (5895m)) and weather conditions. I must address both concerns in order to improve my chances at reaching the summit. Seeing as I reside in the Mile High city (5280 ft above sea level), I already have an advantage on the entire group that I am now a part of. Most of the group is from the Houston area and one, being my sister, is from San Francisco all of which are obviously at sea level. I was not content to rely on my altitude advantage to get me by. Colorado is known in the outdoor climbing community as being excellent for having 54 mountains legitimately over 14,000 feet. I have climbed somewhere between 10 and 14 of them in my past. Unfortunately I have not done any documentation to dictate exactly which of them I have been on top of, but I do know several for certain including Mt Elbert and Mt Massive being the tallest and second tallest in Colorado respectively. I set a goal for my two month preparation, 4 more 14ers in 2 months.


More to follow...