HEADING OUT ON THE GREAT ADVENTURE

Coming to you from the 5 Kili Krawlers:

Jan Umbach

Linda Hamilton

Sue Patchett

Michelle Porter

Audrey Taylor:

It's Sunday night August 15th, 2010 and it's time to head to Kilimanjaro! We've been planning this climb for a very long time. There are 5 of us - all the fairer sex - who have been hiking every trail around Sechelt, Sunshine Coast and Nanaimo, Vancouver Island for the last 12 months and they have sure flown by. The camaraderie and the fun we've had has been a terrific adventure all on its own. We have explored every trail that you can imagine - we've come across, wolves, bears, the tiniest baby bear cub you could imagine, a huge herd of elk - and just a few folks! (P.S. the photo here is just spoof - we really are not planning on taking wheelchairs, walkers or scooters up Mt Kilimanjaro!)

The scenery that we've explored and discovered during our training hikes here in Beautiful B.C. Canada has been amazing - and we've certainly been very damp a time or two. Sometimes from the rain and low clouds but frequently from pure honest sweat as we've scrambled our way up Mt Daniel and Mt Benson just to name a couple of hikes. We are so lucky to have trained here - we have all loved the trails and incredible scenery and views - our fitness levels have improved and our excitement has been increasing rapidly over the last 2 months as the departure date drew closer! Now the bags are packed and we're up for the challenge. The packing has been a huge project all on its' own. The temperature at the Uhuru summit of Mt Kilimanjaro is today about minus 20 degrees with winds - we've got lots of underwear and down vests and jackets to take along!

The objective is climbing Mt Kilimanjaro. This is truly the Roof of Africa in Tanzania, Eastern Africa. Mt Kilimanjaro is over 19,000 feet and the altitude is what will be very difficult for us all - and we don't under estimate the challenge. There isn't one person we've spoken to who has climbed Kilimanjaro who hasn't said that this was the most difficult thing they have ever done. In fact we've shared welcome experiences with many folks who have climbed Mt Kilimanjaro. We've even received advice from many folks who have never even been to Mt Kilimanjaro!

So this evening as we get ready to take the flights from Vancouver to Nairobi, Kenya it's time to share those adventures with you. You are all wonderful friends who have supported us all over the last year in many different ways - and you will all be there at the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro with us in spirit and in our hearts.

We will spend a day in Nairobi, Kenya before we fly to Kilimanjaro and start the climb up the Rongai Route. We hope you'll share the journey with us.

We'll post blogs when we can. We also plan to continue staying in touch with you after the Mt Kilimanjaro climb as we do a Flying Safari to Samburu and Masai Mara. Clark Hamilton, Joan Merrick and Terry Umbach will be joining is for the Safari. And the icing on the cake? - we'll be finishing with a trip to Ndandini Village on Sunday Sep 4th to dedicate the deep water well that we drilled in June this year.

This is a big trip for us all and we'd love for you to come along for the ride!

Please join us all: Jan & Terry Umbach, Linda & Clark Hamilton, Sue Patchett & Audrey Taylor, Michelle Porter, and Joan Merrick.

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