Philmont Staff Association and Friends Kilimanjaro Climb and Safari Dispatch
June 13, 2011 – Shakedown Day for Climbing Kilimanjaro
Today, our first full day in Tanzania, is "Shakedown Day.” We spent it organizing our gear bags before we depart for our 9 day trek across Kilimanjaro, which we hope will include standing on top of 19,340 foot Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Kilimanjaro and the very highest spot on the continent of Africa. We spent our morning in a conference room in Arusha's Mt Meru Hotel, where we met most of our Berg Adventures Kilimanjaro guide staff. Our gear was checked and packed into the "Boundary Bags” which our porters will carry across the mountain for us. We also chose gear for our day packs, which each of us will carry daily as we trek.
After lunch, we went into Arusha town to look around. Colorful markets reminded us that we are in Africa!
Welcome Philmont Climbers!
Wally Berg and Bob Birkby greeted us and welcomed us to the upcoming adventure on Africa's highest summit.
The Berg Adventures Kilimanjaro Guide Team
Elizabeth, Max and Jeremy at the gear shakedown
Where do we start? This is a lot of stuff!
Jim's looking for a good place for his gloves
Randy's gonna make it all fit!
Left: Rick squeezes the air out of his stuff sack.; Right: Lee is Mr. Organization.
Elija is packed and ready to go!
Father and son team Pete and Adam
Left: The well-dressed Kili climber. I think he’s got that on right.; Right: John is glad that he does not have to carry all this by himself.
Team photo after we have packed
Out on the street in Arusha, David gets down to some bargaining.
The colorful, lively market
Elijah and Adam shopping for produce