One More Day in Africa

(8:07pm local time) Well we're back from our safari in the Serengeti & Ngorogoro Crater. We saw THOUSANDS of animals, and it was quite the sight to behold. The visit to Olduvai Gorge was also particularly interesting (the dawn of man). Sadly, this evening we saw the rest of our group off. It was fitting to be able to see Kilimanjaro (for only the second time from below) with clear skies as they left. After living every moment with a group of strangers for 12 days, they become your friends. I miss them already.

We have one more night in Africa before boarding plane after plane to get home. We have bags to cram, and sleep to get. Tomorrow is a bonus day for us, and we're leaving our options open. Back in a few days, I'll begin to post details on the trip, and photos as I sort through them.

::

Bring on the safari!

I received a phone call this morning from Dustin at 2:30 am Saskatoon time. They had already made it down Mt. Kilimanjaro and were just descending into the rain forest heading back into the village for some well deserved rest. Unfortunately the conversation was breaking up terribly and the delay was almost 10 seconds. (It feels much longer when you don't realize there's a delay and for a split second you think he's not getting your jokes) In the afternoon I was able to talk to Dust once more this time the reception was so much better but they delay was still there. It was a short conversation to let me know that they were just finishing packing and heading to bed for an early rise to begin their last leg of their adventure : the safari!! Sounds like a pretty amazing way to end a pretty amazing adventure, I am starting to picture the photos they'll take and I know they'll be breath taking. This will be my last entry on Dustin's behalf, I am heading to Manitoba for a few days. I know what you're thinking!!! Manitoba is so much cooler than Africa. I know, oh my I know. Well I can't wait to see what else Dustin will add to this blog, but its been a blast to relay his news to you guys! Have a safe trip home boys! I can't wait to see you both.
Much Love,
Stace.

While we were sleeping.........

At 9:05am Tanzania time (12:05am Saskatoon time) Dustin and Dale made the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. They tried to call a few times but as you can imagine reception on the top of the African world can include a little static. I could hear them but they could not hear me. Dustin wasn't able to dial out from then on, so it was a few short text msgs to let me know that they had made it, and he would call me later tomorrow. 6 out of 11 trekers made it to the top, while the others had to unfortunately head down due to AMS related illness'. Exhausted but proud, they were heading for some well deserved rest. I can't wait to hear from him tomorrow and I'll let you know how they're doing.

Resting a little easier,

Stacey.

On The Top Looking Down.

Hello!!
More e-mails from Dustin this weekend, and as I sit here and type this, Dale and Dustin are making their last leg up to the top. They're probably sitting at the top looking down on their climb. A few members of their party we no longer able to carry on due to acute mountain sickness (AMS) and fatigue and had to make their way down a little prematurely. A few other members were able to continue climbing after taking Diamox. Both Main boys were feeling great and they were able to acclimatized easily, most likely due to their Mt. Meru climb. Dustin met another climber (Ryan) who had the same weight issues as him, but unfortunately he had to make and early descent due to illness. They had been sleeping under a blanket of stars the last few nights, and some constellations were in view that we in Canada would not be able to witness. All is well, and I am anxiously awaiting a call or msg to see how their few moments on the summit played out. (DUSTIN I HOPE YOU TOOK MANY PHOTOS!!!)

This is what you've waited for

Dustin called me about 20 mins ago, it was 6am and they were just getting up to have a quick shower, eat and then it was off for their first leg of the Kili trek. A few more text msgs have trickled in over the last few days. He shared with me some interesting things that some of us will only dream of experiencing. Whether it be trekking up a mountain in freezing rain trying to keep yourself going (both mentally and physically), or standing on the ridge of a mountain with 100km winds nearly blowing you off the side, either would be more challenging then most of us will ever experience. He talked about seeing 11 giraffe along the trails and encountering some of the poorest people he'd ever seen, both of which will stay in him memory for the rest of his days. He'll be on Mt. Kilimanjaro for 7 days, and he will push himself to his limits to make it to the top. Not many of you may know how hard Dustin has trained for this trip, although you may have some idea from reading his posts on this blog. Dustin trained for over 6 months to gain muscle as well as weight for this trek. He wore those crazy hiking boots everywhere (and I MEAN everywhere) for months trying to break them in. He would lug around a 30 pound backpack on evening walks, running up and down black strap mountain with it on, run on the elliptical machines and snowshoe for hours in the field behind his house in the winter trying to get his cardio up, not to mention the weight of a pack on your hips. He DOUBLED the amount of food he ate everyday, consumed some pretty nauseating protein bars and drank power shakes on a daily basis. He cut out many foods that didn't give additional nutritional value (and we ALL know how much that kid loves the candy) even getting to the point where he actually stopped enjoying food itself. For the most of us, gaining weight seems so simple, I can't tell you how many times I wanted to strangle that boy (sorry Shirley) for not being able to gain weight, must be nice right? Not so much. Watching Dustin struggle with his weight became very worrisome in the last few weeks. If he missed a meal, he would lose up to two pounds, something he worked at for months and months to gain. In the end, it was 6 pounds. 6 pounds in 6 months, and today he makes his trek up to the roof of Africa to accomplish a dream he and his dad have talked about for years.Be careful up there, so you can come home safe to me and share your stories of this once in a lifetime opportunity you have in your hands. We're all thinking about you guys.With love,Stace.

Summit of Meru

(10:25pm local time) Just a quick post and pic from the summit. Made summit @ 6:57am on Sunday morning after 5 hours through some of the worst weather I've experienced in my life... and certainly the worst trekking. Will follow up with details soon.

This is a pic of our ranger Cha Cha and I on the summit. Couldn't load a pic of my Dad and I because of a different memory card, and I only took my little camera up.

Day in Moshi tomorrow, then pack and off to Kilimanjaro. Stace will continue the updates!

::

I received a few more msgs from Dustin on the weekend. When he sent them they had just gotten up and the sun was shining and the summit was visible, but for only about 15 mins and then it clouded over. They had climbed to 3500m to the saddle hut today, then on to little Meru then back to the saddle huts. He told me it was a very very steep climb, they used their poles a lot to climb and it was very very slow going.

3:45 pm- Summit of little Meru at 3801m. They were in the clouds with white clouds all around them and they had brief glimpses of the land and villages below. Dustin said he was hoping to be able to spot Kilimanjaro but wasn't able to. Dustin also called me late last night to let me know that they had just woken up to begin their descent down the mountain and in to the village. They only had 900m left to go and then they were going to spend the day in the villages relaxing and doing laundry. He also left out a little detail about freezing rain hitting them on route to the summit, something the porters hadn't ever quite experienced. It made the route very treacherous and made it even more slow going on the down. They made it! Dustin said it was the hardest thing he's ever done and it was a constant struggle to keep one foot in front of the other. When I asked him how this climb would compare to Kili, he said the terrain is different and thought that this would be the hardest of the two climbs.

All is well in Africa. I am so very proud of you boys.
Stace.

A msg from the Main Men.

Just a quick note from those boys of ours. I received a few text msgs from Dustin this morning before I went to work. They had climbed 5 hours up Mt. Meru, 2600m into the crater. They saw giraffe, zebra, blue monkeys, black and white calaboose monkeys and had a very close call with a buffalo. Apparently the buffalo was getting a little too close and the ranger had to cock his gun. It was over cast much of the day (10c)today and tomorrow they are climbing above the clouds to 3500m. The huts and facilities there are great and they boys were sitting down enjoying a break with some tea and popcorn. Sounds like they're having a great time! I'll keep you all updated with any more information.
Stacey.

A Day In Moshi

(8:49pm local time) We arrived in Tanzania yesterday morning from Nairobi, Kenya, and our clocks were way out of whack.Fortunately our gear arrived with us and all those worries were set aside. Once arriving in Moshi, we went walking and stumbled upon an open market that will certainly stay with me for along time to come. Today we spent all day in Moshi, did some shopping, but unfortunately, only took a few photos.

Off to Mt. Meru tomorrow morning. Just about to pack our bags and head to bed. Sun sets here@5:30pm and it's black by 7:00pm. Temp been good, cloudy all today and much of yesterday kept temps cooler. This is the coolest time of year here.

Gotta cut this short, space button on this keyboard doesn't work,will update via txt in the days to come.Got cell phone hooked up and going this aft.

::

One Last Leg

Sitting in the Kenya Intl Airport (8:30AM Local time) awaiting our final flight to JRO. Just a 50 min flight and we're there. Long day in Amsterdam, put on some serious miles in shoes that shouldn't be worn when putting on serious miles.

S/B @ Keys by this evening and then to Mt. Meru tomorrow for the first climb beginning tomorrow. Well rested (relatively) from the Amsterdam-Nairobi flight so we're ready to get going. No official word on the bags at the moment, but we'll know in about 2.5hrs.

::

Half Way There

We're in Amsterdam for the day, and have been roaming around Amsterdam Central since about 8AM. Hot sun, clouding over for the moment, which is nice. (Currently 1:54PM local time June 10th)


Less nice, is that NorthWest Airlines lost our baggage on the first flight out of Saskatoon. The staff had been less than helpful, but we spoke with a rep here in Amsterdam who seems to think our 4 bags will meet us @ JRO. Hoping for the best!

More bicycles than you've ever seen in your life here, and people just lock the tire and leave them in piles before hopping on the train to work. Most of the bikes aren't anything to write home about, which is probably why they're still around when they come back from work.

In Tanzania in 24hours. 9 hour time difference from Saskatoon. I need a nap :)

::

Off and Running

Well I'm off in just a few hours. We'll be updating the site while we're away so keep checking back day-to-day. Stacey will be relaying messages sent through here as well when we don't have access to a computer.

You can also leave a comment that we'll see below each post. Just click '__ Comments' near the bottom of the post. Type out your comment, and where it says 'Choose an Identity' pick 'Name/URL' and type your name in. You don't have to register. Finally click 'Publish your comment' and you're set. We'll be checking these when we can.

Only 21hrs of flights over 2 days from Tanzania...

::Dustin

Gearing Up

The countdown is on. Just a few more 'sleeps' and I've been busy tying up all the loose ends that always seem to pop up when you're about to leave regular life for a month. I've now started sprawling all of my gear over the floor in neat (hah), organized (hah), piles (bang on) in hopes that I can curb a last minute panic for a piece of missing '___.'

My body has been taking a bit of a beating as I train it to carry more weight than I'll need to on the climbs. The idea is that by putting a bit of extra weight in the pack now, it'll be a bit easier when I've got a wee bit less in later. Admittedly, nothing too serious going on the training front now. Just doing rounds with the pack and working my stretches and whatnot. Keeping it simple and injury free.

Camera(s) ready to go, lenses outfitted, and filters loaded up. Looking forward to spending some time catching up on my photography for sure.

::