#lifewater kili2017 climbdennisclimb climbforcleanwater

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DAY 1 - arrived at Kilimanjaro Machame Gate and entered the rain forest zone. 

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DAY 6 - July 6, 2017

The group has now finished Day 6:    BARAFU to SUMMIT to MWEKA CAMP

19,340’~5,895m ∙ 13 mi~21 km (5 km ascent/ 12 km descent) ∙ 7-8 hrs ascent~4-6 hrs descent

This is their last night on the mountain. 

As I sit here tonight in SoCal watching “Out of Africa” with a few friends . . . the Lifewater team will be rising on DAY 7 for breakfast and their LAST day on the mountain. I wish I was with them so much (that is...now that they’re down from the summit! I’m not foolhardy and finally at 66 I know my limits?!) 

Pictures above are MWEKA Gate and Camp. The last stop for some....the start for others. 

I look forward to hearing all about the amazing guides and porters that got them up and back! (Right now, I know that Dennis and the others on the team are really, REALLY looking forward to some long, hot showers and real beds soon.)

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DAY 4 - The team is eating dinner here right now and preparing for the blessing of a (hopefully) good night’s sleep before they hit the trail for Day 5. They are now in the arctic zone (that means temps hovering around - or BELOW FREEZING). 

Tomorrow, Day 5, will take them up to within a couple hours’ hike to the summit and preparations for the hardest day of the climb - day 6 (when they rise at 2:00am to reach the summit before sunrise). 

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Day 2 - Sunday, July 2

•Machame Camp to Shira Camp     •Elevation (ft): 9,400ft to 12,500ft 

•Distance: 5 km •Hiking Time: 5 hours •Habitat: Moorland

After breakfast Sunday morning, the Lifewater team left the glades of the rain forest and continued on an upward path, crossing a little valley and walking along a steep rocky ridge, covered with heather, until the ridge ended. The route then turned  west onto a river gorge. 

As we were heading off to church this morning, they were eating dinner (Hurray for the porters who carry gear, set up camp - tents and port-a-potty - and prepare dinner!) and right now they are hopefully sleeping soundly as they overnight at the Shira campsite. They will be off to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp at 8am Monday (10:00pm Sunday SoCal time). 

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Fun facts. Kilimanjaro is the tallest free standing mountain in the world and one of the tallest mountains in the world. 

It is 19,340 feet high and to climb it means going from jungles (70-80 fahrenheit) to glaciers (down to -20 fahrenheit!). It covers 5 climate zones!

The tallest glacier on top is Furtwangler Glacier - covers 15 acres and 20 ft. tall. 

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Day 1 on the trail

The Lifewater Team has now finished Day 1:    MACHAME GATE to MACHAME CAMP

9,400’ ~2865m ∙ 6.8 mi ∙ 6 hrs

After a restful night at the hotel, they were met by their “ClimbKili” guide and other mountain crew that will carry tents, packs, food, and extra water (they are very important people!). Tomorrow they will be walking through rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge.

According to “ClimbKili” report, all went well this first day on the trail. Although the team members won’t be able to connect most of the trek, the “ClimbKili” admin will update as often as possible.

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Good morning Tanzania! And they’re off! Saturday, July 1, 2017

First day on the mountain began at 10:00pm - June 30 SoCal time (8:00am - July 1 - African time)

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Following the Kilimanjaro climb, several of the Lifewater Team continued on to visit a couple of the villages currently being served by Lifewater.org - As fellow climber (Lifewater team) Chris Ainsworth, writes, "It's difficult to put into words what the last 5 days did to me but here is a glimpse of my experience. There were many stories of hard work, eagerness, desperation and hope packed into each day. I'm back grateful for open eyes and a strengthened commitment to bringing clean water, sanitation and hygiene to the unreached. Thank you Lifewater International!" Hopefully (Insha' Allah) Dennis and I will visit some of these villages next summer! TBD 

Notice 5th picture down....this was the former water site before the well was drilled. The building with 4 doors is the new toilet for the school (before it was the ground/bush - this new toilet makes it better for girls to attend school). The picture above that is “practicing!” 

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DAY 5 - Wednesday, July 5, 2017

The group has now finished Day 5:    KARANGA CAMP to BARAFU CAMP 15,300’ ~ 4663m ∙ 2.2 mi~3.5 km ∙ 4-5 hrs

We made it to the last camp. (Barafu Camp) We are going to nap then eat an early dinner then go to bed. 

Midnight start to the summit which should take 6-7 hours to reach. 

Then we come back down to this same camp, eat lunch pack up then start going down for another 6 hours. 

Pray for endurance! 

Everyone is fatigued . . . but spirits are high! 

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This is amazing! And reminds us that “the difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing is enough to solve all the world’s problems.”                                                                                                                   - Gandhi 

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Photo courtesy of Daren Wendell - Lifewater team leader - view of Mt. Meru from their hotel window night before the climb begins.  #lifewater #kili2017 #climbdennisclimb #climbforcleanwater

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Photo courtesy of Daren Wendell - Lifewater team leader - dinner at the hotel to be followed by a good night’s sleep (in real beds!) and they hit the trail early Saturday morning (July 1, 2017) #lifewater #kili2017 #climbdennisclimb #climbforcleanwater