Keg Spirit Foundation Kilimanjaro Expedition Dispatch

August 8, 2010 – Hartley Arrives in Tanzania

We had a full and enjoyable first day in Tanzania. After we finished the orientation by the Berg Adventures guides, Julius and Simon took us briefly into Arusha to look around. We saw the famous “Clock Tower” in the center of Arusha that marks the exact midway point in latitude between Cairo and Cape Town. We are truly in the heart of Africa here.

In the evening we drive back into Arusha from the Coffee Lodge for a nice dinner at one of Berg Adventures favourite Arusha restaurants, in Italian place called Pepe’s. We sat at outside tables in the cool Arusha evening air and enjoyed laughs and fellowship over bottle of Tusker beer and red South African wines, knowing that we were now packed and our mountain journey would begin tomorrow. Angel Minja, of Berg Adventures, was our hostess for the evening. We were disappointed to learn that even though Angel has climbed to the summit of Kilimanjaro five times herself, her duties will keep her back in the office in support of our team while we are climbing this time.

Mid way through our excellent meal at Pepe’s, David’s cell phone buzzed and he checked to see a text message from Hartley Richardson, that read “the eagle has landed”. Hartley was inside his KLM plane on the tarmac at Kilimanjaro International Airport, having flown from an important dinner at home in Manitoba, to a business meeting in Minneapolis, and then directly through Amsterdam and on to Tanzania (changing out of his business suit during the flight!). He looked remarkably fresh and relaxed as he caught up with all of us in the pleasant night air and enjoyed his first Tusker beer in Tanzania.

This morning, we enjoyed breakfast at the Arusha Coffee Lodge. Then Angel and the Berg Adventures driver arrived and we began our drive to the Lemosho Glades. There was a soft rain and it was cloudy on our way to the park entrance.

The last member to arrive was Jussi who arrived by private helicopter from Kenya just a short while ago. We were still driving in our 4-wheel drive vehicle from Arusha when we got the radio call from Londorosi gate letting us know that Jussi had landed and he was already with the BAI staff at the gate. It was great to see him and he was excited to be in Tanzania.

As I mentioned, it is quite a cloudy day. We haven't had a real view of the mountain yet. However, Jussi said that as he was flying south in the helicopter, he was above the clouds and the massive bulk of Kilimanjaro was before him. He said it was extremely impressive. All we've seen is clouds today so we were excited to get this preview from Jussi.

Now the entire Keg Spirit Foundation team is finally together. All ten team members, Wally Berg and Leila Silveira from Berg Adventures and all of the Berg Adventures Tanzanian staff are here.

After meeting and signing in at Londorosi gate, we drove for about one more hour up a rugged, difficult 4-wheel-drive road to the Lemosho Glades, where we'll begin our trek across Kilimanjaro. Our climb is now underway.

When we arrived here at Lemosho Glades, there was a Keg Spirit Foundation banner waiting for us with a very musical reception from the staff for the Keg group. It was really a joy [transmission lost]...

Time to head up the mountain! We'll have more updates for you tomorrow.