Climbing Kilimanjaro

Life is getting in the way

2006-03-01T19:38:00.000-05:00

For the 3 people who keep up with this blog, I do apologize for the lack of updates. Work has been a wreck, my Masters degree program is making me nuts and I am behind in my photography work. That being said, I did get myself this pair of Julbo Glacier Glasses on eBay for a reasonable $20.00!

Equipment purchased to date: backpack, water filtration bottle, glacier glasses, walking poles...(I'll detail each piece of equipment in a later post).

To Sarah: email me at bweston@gmail.com. Thanks :)

Kilimanjaro for Hope

2006-02-23T08:27:00.000-05:00

I recently ordered and watched an awesome DVD called Kilimanjaro for Hope (Hope being a sick child). It was filmed, directed and produced by a very nice woman named Holly Stadtler.

The documentary follows Holly and her co-workers as they climbed Kilimanjaro for sick children. It is fantastic and about as real as you can get! Highly recommended and well worth the money.

Support Holly and click here to order the DVD

So I was thinking....

2006-02-16T21:52:00.000-05:00

I think it's a good time to start training for this adventure. I will start by walking to my mailbox. If I can make it without getting winded, I am on my way! No no I jest. Seriously folks, I am starting to scour Google for training regiments. I am still concerned about altitude so I have contemplated buying a hyperbaric chamber (or moving to Colorado). Bah! I'll figure it out and post the training schedule once I do.

Oh yeah one more thang...

2006-02-13T20:52:00.000-05:00

Pancakin'

2006-02-13T20:24:00.000-05:00

Florida is flat. Period. The highest point in Florida is Space Mountain (no joke!) Subsequently, training at altitude will prove to be...difficult. Just when I thought the world was against me, I find the Powerlung Trainer. Using this 3 times a day in sets of 10 will increase my lung capacity and oxygen uptake capacity. It's the best I can do without a hill to train on. "On a lung trainer and a prayer."

Plug it

2006-02-09T20:52:00.000-05:00

Taking an unprecedented sidestep from all things Kili, I decided to plug my good friend's website and new novel. Cassie's new book Liquid Bones is now available. Unlike myself however, Cassie really is an author and has written other books. She also continues to help me edit my own novel-in-progress.

But if Cassie was a REALLY good friend, she'd sponsor my climb or donate book proceeds to my adventure =)

Check out http://www.cassandrazaruba.com/ and buy her damn book! Do it for your country.

In the spirit of "Joe & Mac"

2006-02-08T20:21:00.000-05:00

This seems fitting. Sound required. Clicky and enjoy:

http://www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/kenya/

Disclaimer: This is not meant in any way to offend the people of Tanzania simply because they do not have a cartoon of their own.

eBay is my friend again, today...

2006-02-07T11:29:00.000-05:00

So I found a Katadyn Exstream Bottle Purifier on eBay for 20 bucks! That's like less than 1/2 the retail price. You might be asking what is a Katadyn Exstream Bottle Purifier (or you might not, whatever loser)...

- Utilizes advanced Virustat technology to kill over 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria and over 99.99% of waterborne viruses.
- Removes over 99.9% of waterborne cysts and other protozoa, such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium.
- Prefilter removes sediments and elements that cause bad odor and taste.
- Designed for use with untreated fresh water sources, such as lakes, rivers and streams.

Basically? I can drink liquid shit and not get liquid shit. Graphic perhaps but then you are not the one who has to drink from third world streams ARE YOU?

Rand McNally fucking sucks!

2006-02-05T09:31:00.000-05:00

So I decided to buy a map of Tanzania and Kilimanjaro. After searching high and low and across all corners of the earth, I find what I believed to be the very best map. I don't know...something just doesn't seem right about it...

Click to biggify:

Peakbaggin'

2006-02-02T11:15:00.000-05:00

"Peakbagger (n): A mountain climber whose principal goal is the attainment of a summit, or a specific set of summits."

That begs the question: is there any other kind of mountain climbing goal??

Yeah OK, I suppose that fella had another reason...
Incidentally, he did it in sandals, without water and with no backpack or gear. And I am pretty darn sure that Gore-tex and fleece had yet to be invented.

Reminder to self: call Charleton Heston for tips.

Pack rat

2006-02-01T15:15:00.000-05:00

In an extraordinary feat of cost savings, I found a Mountainsmith Phantom Ultralight backpack for $69.99. Normal retail? $170.00. Booya!

Features for the hiking geek:
Lightweight and versatile.
Perforated HDPE framesheet with single aluminum stay.
Top hood pocket and top load access.
Hydration reservoir pocket with drinking tube exit port .
Side mesh pocket for water bottles and tent poles.
Side and bottom compression straps.
Ski guide loops and quick-store stretch cord.
Dimension Polyant VX-21 fabric.
High-tenacity nylon maintains durability.
Spinal Chimney Ventilation.
Delta Compression System.
Twin 6061-T6 aluminum corrugated stays.
Torso shield frame sheet .
Waterproof YKK urethane zippers.
3500cu in.

Come on up, the weather's fine!

2006-01-31T15:14:00.000-05:00

Somehow I don't think the thermometer is at the summit....

My new project is to find a live feed from a weather station at the summit. If there is not one available, I will put one there when I arrive :D

Kilimanjaro - To the Roof of Africa

2006-01-30T14:22:00.000-05:00

I just got this fine DVD by David Breashears. It follows the journey to the summit of Kilimanjaro as performed by The Professor (Roger Bilham, a volcanologist), Ginger/MaryAnn (Heidi Albertsen a New York supermodel playing dual characters), The Gilligans, a couple of 12-going-on-25 year old kids, The Writer (Audrey Salkeld) and The Father, Rick Thomson (father of the 12 year old girl). It's cool to watch this motley crew attempt this climb. I was disappointed not to see the Millionaire and his wife however.

It was originally filmed for IMAX I believe. And although I left my IMAX theatre dome at home, it looks beautiful even playing on a PC.

Get it here: http://www.travelvideostore.com/product_info.php?products_id=771

She calls me too

2006-01-28T22:13:00.000-05:00

Every Kilimanjaro journal should have an obligatory photo of Kate Beckinsale in it. No really it's in the mountain climbing manual, page 16!

She calls me

2006-01-27T10:30:00.000-05:00

I'd like a cold beer.

2006-01-27T05:47:00.000-05:00

"Tafadhali natakabia pombe baridi"

I don't know much about Africa, but this phrase may be useful after that beer: "Ita daktari duka la dawa" or "fetch a doctor." I think literally it means "fetch me a chemist." I am not exactly sure how I feel about the chemist part, so we will stick with doctor. There is also "Samahani wapi choo?" or "Excuse please but where are the toilets?" I think in the end it simply comes down to "Hatari! Ita daktari duka la dawa I think the samaki was mbaya and I am definately going to be needing the choo."

Hankuna matada baby, it's all good!

Doctor B - Week 1

2006-01-26T19:07:00.000-05:00

This week, Doctor B will talk about Diamox.

Diamox contains acetazolamide and is an anti-epileptic. Interestingly enough, it is also useful in treating Acute Mountain Sickness. Given that I do not have epilepsy but I most likely will have AMS and AMS provides me with headaches, nausea, puking and trouble sleeping, I think it's an important pill for me to have.

Diamox is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. You take it in doses of 125 mg twice a day beginning one or two days before ascent and continuing at high elevation for 48 hours. Since Diamox causes a bicarbonate diuresis you have to drink a ton of water to stay hydrated. For those not in the know, it's a fancy way of saying you have to piss every 5 minutes. Diamox also causes tingling in your fingers and toes as well as numbness in your extremities and lips. I think you can also have "visions." I hope those visions are not of a person peeing. Oooh what if I had visions of having AMS but I didn't ACTUALLY have it because I was taking Diamox. That's fucked up!

Why can't I concentrate on one thing at a time?

2006-01-26T12:57:00.000-05:00

OK. Once I summit Kilimanjaro, I am doing this:

A trek to The Base Camp of Mount Everest where I will have the opportunity to visit ancient temples and palaces in Kathmandu. I can also visit the highest Buddhist monastery in the world at an altitude of 12,687ft. I can hike over glaciers and snow capped rocks on the way to the Base Camp of Mount Everest at 17,998ft. On the way down, I get to visit Sherpa villages, see the mountain yaks of the Himalayas and visit the hospital Sir Edmund Hilary created for the people of Nepal.

At 29,028ft high and a cost of $50,000-$100,000...I am not even remotely capable of summitting Everest. Ah, but the base camp is 2,000ft lower than the summit of Kilimanjaro (and cheaper I presume?).

Typical me: looking farther ahead than I should.

And the winner is?

2006-01-25T18:30:00.000-05:00

The Marangu Hotel. http://www.maranguhotel.com/ie4/800x600/

After reviewing dozens of tour companies, it appeared to me that 3 stood best among the rest: Marangu Hotel, Zara and Tusker. I have read nothing but rave reviews for these 3 vendors, the services they provide, their guides and their porters. In the end I decided on Marangu for a few reasons. First is cost. They say you get what you pay for, however Zara was twice as expensive and Tusker was three times so. Every review of Marangu is positive and it appears that the lower cost, in this case, does not affect quality. The cost for 7 days is $750.00 not including guide and porter tips. Plus! These folks have their own beautiful little hotel as seen in the photo. I am going to do a Fully Equipped climb. In this case, the hotel arranges hut bookings, guides and porters, bedding and catering. Even though I must bring all my own stuff, the hotel will even "make good any shortfalls where possible at no extra charge." If I succeed in summiting in '07, I will attempt it again at a later date doing a Hard Way climb which requires me to carry my own food and equipment, and cook for myself on the climb. Right. Then I woke... For this trip, I just need to select a route. More on that later.

From the folks who are taking over the world...

2006-01-25T11:39:00.000-05:00

I present Kilimanjaro, Google Earth Style (snapped at Alt. 10.8mi, Lat. -3.06667, Long. 37.5)

Click to biggify!

So many ways to kill yourself

2006-01-24T19:59:00.000-05:00

Here are some of the many ways which one can possibly die an ugly death while climbing Kilimanjaro:

There is acute mountain sickness which can lead to pulmonary edema, coma or high altitude cerebral edema. Pulmonary edema or fluid accumulation and swelling in the lungs can lead to long-term dependence on a breathing machine or death. Coma can lead to brain damage or a persistent vegetative state and eventually death (if Congress cannot stop your plug from being pulled). High altitude cerebral edema is a result of swelling of brain tissue from fluid leakage and usually leads to death. Of course you can also contract and die from Malaria, Typhoid Fever, Dengue Fever and Yellow Fever. You can fall off the side of a cliff and die. You can freeze to death or be killed in a rock slide or by a falling boulder. Your food could be tainted and you might die of salmonella or E.Coli. You could also contract dysentary and poop yourself to death. There is also death by bumble bee, however no one else but me can possibly be privvy to that particular fate...

I think there are probably more interesting ways to die on Kilimanjaro. Once I figure them out, I'll post them. Since death is inevitable, why not do it at 20,000!

Oh man, is THIS going to be expensive!

2006-01-24T09:06:00.000-05:00

I spent hours last night visiting various sites with recommended gear lists. Then, I took the best of every opinion and created an Excel spreadsheet listing everything I believe I will need. Without airfare but including everything else: gear, porter tips, route fees, vaccinations, etc etc I am sitting at $2890.00. I figure air will run another $1500.00. So this entire excursion will most likely run me about $5000.00. But I will continue to research prices. Ebay is of virtually no use anymore, from a bargain perspective, but I am watching some gear just in case I get lucky. I doubt it because all the good deals I think I am going to get are always trumped by an auction snipe. BAH!

Most of the gear brands I am looking at lean towards REI, Outdoor Research, Wickers, EMS and Sierra Design. Noticably missing from my list is The North Face, Mountain Hardware, Patagonia, GoLite and so on. This is not a criticism of the quality of the gear - it's all very good stuff. But it IS a criticism of the cost of their gear. I think most of those companies, North Face especially, has really bought into the "spoiled-high-school-girl-must-have-a-denali" mentality and the prices show it. REI, on the other hand, has maintained a reasonable price structure. I have used REI gear in the past and I am quite content with it. Mountain Hardware is really nice stuff but again, cost cost cost. Some sites like Moosejaw, Sierra Outpost and Backcountry often have clearance sales so I am not totally counting out North Face or Mountain Hardware...yet.

Let's see if this works... click to see a full size shot of the gear list and costs. It's broken into 3 images:

In the beginning...

2006-01-23T10:15:00.000-05:00

I am a pretty experienced journal-keeper so this should be a good one. When I joined the ARMY over the age of 30, I knew Basic Training would be a rough go because I was just a typical 9-5 corporate office junkie. I was thin and healthy but not particularly fit. So I decided that keeping a very detailed journal would be a good way to document the experience. That journal has since been read by thousands of people including Colonels, Drill Sergeants and new recruits. An amazing feat considering it is not even available online! You have to personally request it from me. It is generally regarded as the most honest, detailed and accurate Basic Training journal available. Subsequently, I have been converting the journal into a full novel. I even have interest from NYC publishing agents! But I digress...

In January 2004, I was medically discharged from the ARMY because of tendon damage in my left knee, bursitis and stress fractures in both hips and a fracture in my right lower tibia at the top of my foot. The fractures were not the long term concern but the bursitis was. After the age of 30, it could take years for bursitis to subside. I was no longer able to run or even march without immense pain. In my opinion, this made me a useless burden to the ARMY so I opted to take a medical discharge.

In February 2005, I read an article in Men's Health about climbing Kilimanjaro and immediately became interested in the mountain. I spent weeks reading online journals from people who had successfully or unsuccessfully summited Kili. Either way, all of the experiences were profound. It was at that point I decided I wanted to try it as well. Unfortunately, personal obligations prevented me from a serious preparation effort in 2005.

Now it is January 2006 and I am finally ready to begin the journey. The intention of this blog is to chronicle every aspect of this adventure, from training to purchasing gear to the climb itself.

Target date for climb: MARCH 2007

I only hope I can make this journal as unique and interesting as my Basic Training journal! Hell, I will be happy if anyone even FINDS this journal! ~B