Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Getting ready at ndarakwai ranch

Greetings from the western slopes of kilimanjaro. In true glamping style, this will be the last mattress, shower and running water after tomorrow morning, when we finally depart on our trek.

We met our guide Godlove this morning for a briefing, giving us a flavor of things to come. This northern circuit route certainly seems circuitous, and at time will be going down to go up...but we're promised it will all help with acclimatization and ultimately summit success. Even the two nights here at 4000 feet is supposed to help ( and besides,it has allowed me to postpone my "last beer" yet once again!). So the day was not wasted, after a hearty breakfast we were treated to a game ride around the many thousand acred property, encountering our first baboons, grouse, gazelles, elephants, zebras and giraffes (no "oh mys" but some of the most vibrantly colored birds I've ever seen!). Pretty cool...now if I could only figure out how to get any of those pics posted here! (finally managed to do it!) As it is, this is my third time trying to get this post posted...I remain technically challenged and may even have to break down and get a smart phone when I get back!
Off now for a game walk...will be good to actually stretch my legs after doing not much physically for past few days...

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Greetings from Tanzania!!!

At 3:45 am on tues, June 25, after countless in flight meals, movies, cat naps and fortunately not too much wine (ok, so I haven't gone cold turkey yet!), I finally arrived in kilimanjaro international airport outside the city of Arusha, Tanzania. I have always loved those airports when you descend out of the jets onto the Tarmac (vail and Jackson hole being perennial favorites!). The air was crisp and breezy, though with skies cloudy as told by the absence of the night sky display i had hoped to see, in stark contrast to the sweltering heat of the Istanbul jetway or the stuffy cabin air in flight (ok, so Turkish airways was more pedestrian on this leg of the flight, but at least I had a bulkhead). I was quickly greeted by the smiling customs agent ("jambo") who was kind enough not to think my visa photo was too awful.  Even my luggage arrived in one piece, minus only the team fox stickers I had plastered all over it...Emerging from "customs" I was met with a sea of dark welcoming faces bearing signs, including one with the KIA Lodge and my name. After awaiting another guest, we embarked on the bumpiest, darkest 1mile journey down a rutted road and entered the gates of is peaceful lodge. Disconcerting at night, unable to properly assess my surroundings, I was escorted to my room, complete with the iconic mosquito netting and more surprisingly air conditioning.  After a long needed and mostly hot shower,  I finally got to sleep at 530, rejecting the temptation to stay up until sunrise. Waking just in time for lunch served in an open air gazebo style building, amidst flora and fauna (well, at least birds with many unfamiliar sounds, one of which sounds uncannily like a background noise in a favorite don omar song), I'm off to explore the grounds and re pack my bags for the umpteenth time, still unsure what I'll  need and what I won't...maybe the guides can help with that:)
More later, at least for as long as I have power and connectivity!

Monday, June 24, 2013

Greetings from Istanbul

Well, I'm actually more than halfway there, on a layover in the Istanbul airport. And I now know why Turkish airlines is rated the number1 European airline...despite the nightmare dealing with their reservations agents who spoke varying degrees of English, couldn't confirm seat assignments until days before the flight, and who changed my connection so that I arrive at 3 am in Tanzania, the rating is well deserved because : 1. New clean planes with wifi, big bathrooms, flowers, fancy soaps, service by guy in chefs hat and jacket, real silverware, and a special cake for some honeymooners which puts any other carrier to shame  2. Economy comfort (which no one really tells you really IS the same as business class)for same price as Kim regular coach (only other viable flt option), with another shout out to my sister Jeni for the plane ticket! 3. The most awesome airport lounge I've ever seen, exceeding some catering halls and with as many (free) food stations as a lavish bar mitzvah...Turkish salad bar, Schwarma station, flat bread pizzas cooked to order, cheese carts with more guys in chef hats serving you, fine wine and booze selection, not to mention cans of efes just lined up for the taking.(thats for you, michael!) and even the bathrooms have fresh orchids the likes of an Arlene horowitz rosh hashana delivery run! Did I mention the fresh fruit, espresso, Olive Garden courtyard and player piano? I guess I deserve a last taste of indulgence before my alcohol/shower/plumbing-free climb! For the record, I haveno idea what day or time it is, how many meals I have had in e last 24 hours, how many hours of sleep I've had, or what's in store for the next 24--and I don't care! yolo!!!!

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Sunday, June 23, 2013 -- 3:527a.m.

CLIMB KILI FOR A CURE!
19,341 feet = $19,341 for Team Fox and Parkinson's Research
In celebration of my "big" birthday about three months ago, I decided to mark it in a "big" way by climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.  After months of planning, I leave in less than 24 hours.  I've been told it's an adventure of a lifetime. I confess, I'm totally psyched!

It's not that "Kili" was always on my bucket list -- I'm not even sure I knew where it was, exactly, or anything about it, other than that Hemingway wrote a story about its snows.  But I was looking to mark this birthday -- which was starting to get to me months in advance -- in a meaningful way.  After rejecting cooking trips in Tuscany (too indulgent and fattening) and building houses in Mozambique (sounded cool, but dates weren't right), I started stumbling upon Kili expeditions.  When I learned that mere mortals in decent shape could climb this mountain without serious risk of death, I concluded it was the perfect solution to my birthday blues. 

But why actually climb a mountain like Kili -- with no showers or running water or even alcohol for 9 days?????
Because Mt. Everest is too hard?
Because the snows are melting?
Because, like The Little Engine that Could, "I think I can, I think I can…"
Because YOLO? (tr: "You only live once!")?

There's probably a bit of truth in all of the above. But as part of making this a meaningful venture, I decided that for once, it's not all about ME ME ME. . . (really!). Instead, in honor of my parents, I set the lofty (no pun intended!) goal of dedicating my mid-life crisis climb to raising money for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.  Unfortunately, I have watched first-hand the devasting effects of this disease, as both my parents suffer from it. 

Forgive my lack of eloquence, but Parkinson's sucks. Afflicting over five million people worldwide, PD is a chronic degenerative neurological disorder, which bit by bit hinders and eventually shuts down the most basic bodily functions. Currently available treatments temporarily mask symptoms while the disease continues to progress. At present, there is no known cure. But research is progressing rapidly, and the Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease through an aggressively funded research agenda and ensuring the development of improved therapies for those living with Parkinson's today.

Originally, my personal goal was to raise $10,000 before my June 23 departure. When I quickly reached and exceeded that goal, I raised the goal to $19,341 -- $1 for every 19,341 feet of Kilimanjaro's Uhuru Peak -- and I recently reached and exceeded that goal as well.  The support from family and friends from all parts of the world and from all parts of my life has been overwhelming.  But I have not reached the real goal, and hope to continue in my fundraising efforts until there is a cure. Please consider making a contribution. Donations are tax-deductible and can be made online through my Team Fox fundraising page at http://www2.michaeljfox.org/goto/barbaraclimbkili. Of course, any donations will go directly to Michael J. Fox Foundation -- they are NOT being used to fund my trip or my equipment.

In my next post (for any of you interested), I'll spare the fundraising pitch, and promise to share more information about my preparations for my climb, the type of information I trolled the internet for incessantly: the company I selected (Thompson Treks & Safaris), the route (the longest I could find -- called the Grand Traverse, aka the Northern Circuit), the shopping and shopping and shopping and packing (the logistics were mentally challenging), and the training hikes I took to prepare my legs, break in my boots (Purple Lowa's) and test out my equipment and clothes (for which I shopped and shopped and shopped -- Yes, REI loves me!) (Harriman State Park is a great resource for anyone in the NY metro area).  As I'm electronically challenged, not sure how much "real time" posting there will be during my trek, but I plan to share upon my return if all else fails.  Stay tuned...