Messages of support

Posted on September 7, 2011

THANK YOU! For the messages people have sent so far – All her been received and passed on. It’s amazing to hear your support all the way up here so keep them coming.

FYI: Summit attempt is Thurs midnight – Friday morning.

Lava Tower, 4660m & the ultimate game of Yaniff!

Posted on September 7, 2011

Day 3 – Shira camp (3800) – Lava Tower (4660) – Baranco camp (3900)

A big day today – but a brilliant one! The morning was a bit chilly with a light wind coming across the mountain but the path was easy going rising on a gentle gradient. The Terrain changed once again and soon there were no plants – just rocks…a very baron landscape feel.

At lunch the few clouds that had hidden kili from view parted and the team suddenly realised how far we had come – the top was getting closer!

At 4660 a few of the team were feeling the affects of the thin air, so a rest and some lunch was greatly received.

After lunch we dropped our bags & scrambled up the 60m lava tower. All the team made it and were feeling strong – a good early indication that we are acclimatising well.

The afternoon was fun as we descended into Baranco camp. This camp is set in a mini valley with Kili towering above us and the huge Baranco standing tall in front.

Today was long and tiring for all and everyone was elated when warm water was available to ‘wash’…faces, feet & hands were washed which brought smiles to the team

Tomorrow is a shorter day, we should be finished at lunch time.

Various Team Stats:

First chunder! – sshhh
New team member – Warrick T Beaver
Smiles because – Cleaning – foot bath
Bumps or bruises – Kate & Rachel

Shallow Tamara, Rosie’s beaver & Jon ‘Justin Bieber’ Gupta

Posted on September 6, 2011

What an amazing day! (Monday)

At 06:00 the team were woken to a lovely surprise – a hot drink (tea coffee hot choc) to sip in the tent!! We were then up and at it, packing away and eating breaky (porridge, omelette, sausages & toast) and headed off at 07:50.

The mornings trek was great…12ft skinny trees draped in heavy lichen cast long shadows across the winding path as the sun slowly rose higher in the sky. We made good time & enjoyed fantastic views across the African planes towards Shira & Mt Meru.

Everyone enjoyed a rest for a hot lunch, and a few little head aches in the team soon went away. We’re not sure how Aristide (our cook) does it but the food is amazing!! Hot soups & amazing pasta was the order of the day.

The afternoon flew by & we rolled into camp at 14:30. As normal we enjoyed popcorn and hot drinks and a chance to rest for a while.

The evening was the best: singing & dancing with the Ahsante team (local boys), incredible views, sunset & a disco in the dining tent!!

A lot was learnt today by everyone & the team are all in good spirits with moral sky high!

Team Stats

Total team pee count – 38
Frog of the day – Jon C
Average water drank – 4.5L
Sunburn – tiny bit
Blisters – couple little ones
Average layers worn – trousers & tshirt

Best out fit – Rosie leggings (pink stripe)
Winner of Yaniff (card game) – Rosie

Until tomorrow…

Rachel rests her fab *#¥•%€

Posted on September 5, 2011

Relaxing at camp 3000m looking down on the African planes, Moshi seems far far away…day 1 complete!

An early start from Moshi & we jumped aboard the Ahsante bus headed for Machame Gate. A short while later Jon had sorted our permit & our local team had registeted & weighed in their loads…and…WE WERE OFF!!

The trek was beautiful – winding slowly through the jungly rainforest. Most experienced there first o-natural wee, causing all sorts of hysterics! Kilimanjaro frogs (farts) were present through out, monkeys swung from tree to tree above. The team have also been attempting to learn some Swahili & interacting with the local team.

We’re just of for a short acclimatisation walk now & then back for some singing & dancing!! Yeeehaaa!

Kilimanjaro life is great

Team stats
- Total team wee’s on trek – 36
- Blisters – Non
- Sunburn – non
- Kili frog of the day – Jon Craig
- Average water drank pp – 3.5L

- Average happy scale (out of 10) – 9.2

Until tomorrow

Boom – the team has landed (Kilimanjaro 2011)

Posted on September 3, 2011

Hello to everyone who is going to follow this expedition, welcome on board – i hope you enjoy following the expedition unravel over the next 8 days – maybe next year it could be you!

Mid afternoon Friday we all arrived in Tanzania to be greated (as usual) by a happy smily Tanzanian called Izack. The flight was uneventful and all bags turned up…phew  We were welcomed into Tanzania and Moshi and moved into the Leopard Hotel for the two nights. Prayers at 05:00, jaz bands in the back of pick ups, locals selling daggers and paintings, and locals using there initiative to make a dollar has been inspiring to the whole team – welcome to Africa!

Just before sunset, Jon (JCG Expeditions) took us all to room 202 and on to the north facing balcony….silence, followed by excited laughter. Most the team were in awe as they gazed out across the mighty yet gentle looking Kilimanajro basked the evening glow.

Today (Saturday) is Build-up day. A chance to do any last minute check on kit, talk about all aspects of the expedition and ask any last minute questions.

The eruption of kit everywhere was very entertaining, trying on differnt layers and umm’ing and aarrr’ing about how many socks and pants to take (kit list says only 3….for 7 days! Surely not?) 

Jon  then talked through other parts of the expedition from, hydration, trekking, altitude etc tec and we also got a chance to meet our local guides - Jimmy and Eric! Jon has worked with Eric previously and most of the local team that will have tomorrow, however Jimmy is new.The team instantly warmed to him and it seems inevitable that we will be having alot of fun and laughter on this expedition.

So this is it – after months and months of preperationa and build up the team are all as ready as could be. Tomorrow we set off at 08:00 to the Machame gate and begin our trek! The hope is to summit on Friday.

If you would like to wish the team luck or just send them a message of encouragment then please do – leave a comment on here or find the expedition on twitter @jongupta.

Summit Video – Pollox (Swiss Alps)

Posted on August 11, 2011

2 down…..&….3 down – challenge DONE!!

Posted on August 8, 2011

Scarfel Pike – the highest mountain in England. Seathwait to summit & back 8.5 hrs! Starting at 18:45 & returning at 03:15!! Conditions on summit at 22:45 were horrendous – rain, mist, cold & dark!! Traveling at night by head torch – a new experience for all the team.

Overall – a tough but incredible climbs, 2 down….

Snowdon – highest mountain I’m Wales. Pen y pass to summit & back 4 hrs! Some very tired legs & minds set off in the morning light for the last summit of the challenge. Everyone made it…just, & for many it was an emotional moment realising they had completed the challenge. For many of them there was a link to Meningitis personal to them & completing the 3 peaks challenge had other meanings.

So – a hugely successful JCG Expeditions & MeningitisUK weekend, we didn’t manage the ’24 hours’ but we did get everyone up & down all 3 peaks safely!

If you fancy climbing the 3 peaks why don’t you give it ago? Either get I touch with www.menigitusuk.org or email me at Jon@jcgexpeditions.co.uk.

Until next year….
Jon

This is a pic of the team on the summit of Scarfel!!!!

1 down 2 to go…

Posted on August 6, 2011

A calm early morning greeted the team on Ben Nevis – Scotland’s highest peak. Thin high cloud glided slowly over head an the promised rain seemed to be holding off. We set of at 6:30 & made good progress gaining altitude fast – it was actually quite warm this morning & I was secretly wishing I’d had my shorts on.

Progress was good as we came out the first steeper section and passed close by the lake after an hour or so. Traversing the mountain we continued up higher and higher, 2 hours passed. Zig zagging our way up the higher section the mountain, finally it began to level out which only meant one thing, the summit was around the corner!! The team trickled in over 20 minutes & celebrated together with a huge MeningitisUK banner and big grins all round! For some it was harder than expected but the views from the top were truly spectacular – crystal clear in every direction…we could even see Skye. Very very lucky!

The descent was not so enjoyable for some, with cramp and painful knees causing a few issues amongst the team. So we were slightly slower than scheduled overall, and are running just over an hour behind time for the 24 hour mark…let’s see if we can get that back!

On route to The Lake District now & Scarfel Pike – UK highest mountain, heading in via the corridor route.

3 Peaks Challenge & MeningitisUK

Posted on August 5, 2011

It’s that time of year when ordinary people take on a challenge and push themselves to achieve something out the ordinary. This weekend 13 challengers all raising money for MeningitisUK are taking on the national 3 Peak Challenge.

Follow there progress with regular updates on twitter @jongupta and on here!

Home time

Posted on July 24, 2011

Yey! We’re all at Heathrow & we have our bags….

21 days ago we all packed our bags with unknown certainty of what Ecuador would hold in store – and one things for sure….it’s not what we expected!! It’s been a million times better.

We’ve been through a whirl wind of adventures, jam packed more into 21 days that most of us manage in a year and enjoyed new experiences that will remain in our memories for along time!

What an amazing expedition

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