Posts from the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Nov 7

Trekking Opportunity – Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro – Tanzania

Greetings all,

Next June I plan to trek Mt. Kilimanjaro with Azizi and his company Trek2Kili; hope some of you will join me. Over the past ten years I’ve visited northern Tanzania five times and each time mesmerized by the sheer presence of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Though generally hidden by clouds (Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa, 19,344’) and seldom seen (by me anyway) from ground level I have glimpsed its snowcapped peaks a few times from an airplane. And the summit is beautiful! So when visiting Tanzania this past June I discussed with Tanzanian friends Peter and Vicky the possibility of trekking Kilimanjaro next summer (2017). They connected me to Azizi and Trek2Kili (http://www.trek2kili.com/).

The dates are June 7 to 15, the route is Machame (there are a few different routes to the summit of Kilimanjaro but this may be the best) and the cost is $2,950 per person. Below is a listing of what’s included in the trekking package (oxygen cylinder included) and the 7 days 6 nights itinerary. For any of you who include Trekking to the Summit of Mount Kilimanjaro on your BUCKET LIST, now may be the time!

Cheers

Michael

The trekking package includes the following:

*Government taxes

*Emergency evacuation Cover with Amref

*Adequate and appropriate number of guides, porters, and cooks for your group

*Transfers to and from Kilimanjaro International Airport (2 transfers)

*All park fees, camping fees, rescue fees, and team fees +18%VAT

*Transfers to and from the route gate(s) (2 transfers)

*Sleeping mattress pad(s), dining tent(s), sleeping tent(s), and crew’s equipment

*2 nights at the 4**** Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel in Moshi on a Half board basis (1 before trekking & 1 after trekking)

*All guides, porters, and cooks wages

*Food and drinking water

*Private Portable toilet for the trek

*Complimentary oxygen cylinder

MACHAME ROUTE 7 DAYS 6 NIGHTS + 2 NIGHTS @ THE HOTEL IN MOSHI

Day 1: Upon arrival you will be met by our representative at Kilimanjaro Airport and transferred at Bristol cottage in Moshi for overnight. Bed & breakfast. Meet your climbing guide for briefing and final gear check.

(Data is approximate. Distance: 64km / 39 miles in 7 days. Elevation Gain: 4,891m / 16,044’ Elevation Loss: 5,020m / 16,444’)

Day 2: Start: Machame Gate 1830m/6,000’. End: Machame Hut 3000m/9,900’. Elev gain: 1200m/3900’. Time: 6 hours on average. Distance about 10km (6 miles). We travel by a Van from the Bristol cottage in Moshi to the Machame trailhead, winding through coffee fields and small forests of ferns and flowers. After registering with the park service, we meet our porters from the different Tribe, indigenous to the slopes of Kilimanjaro. They are an integral part of our African journey and become friends and provide insight into their culture and society. Our climb begins on the edge of a rain forest (elevation 5,800’). Below the watchful eyes of the monkeys, we trek seven hours to the Machame Camp (10,000’) and set camp for the night.

Day 3: Start: Machame Hut 3000m/9,900’. End: Shira Hut 3800m/12,500’. Elev gain: 800m, 2,600’. Time: 4–6 hours, average distance about 8km (5 miles).  Leave the Machame Hut, cross a small valley and begin our ascent. The environment changes from heath forest to moor lands. These moor lands are littered with two species of giant groundsel, Senecios and Lobelia. Halfway up the trail we meet a river gorge and ascend across the Shira Plateau (12,300’). We sleep at Shira Camp.

Day 4: Start: Shira Hut 3800m/12,500’. End: Barranco Hut 3900m/12,900’. Elev gain: 2,100’. Elev loss: 520m/1700’. Time: 6-9 hours, average distance about 10km (6 miles) * Day includes critical acclimatization gain and loss. (*Lava Tower option: additional 600’ gain/loss.) Today we climb to 14,800’ while crossing a ridge and view the plains far below. Here we eat lunch and admire the ancient glacier ice of the Breach Wall before dropping to our 12,800’ campsite at Great Barranco.

Day 5: Start: Barranco Hut 3900m/12,900’. End: Karanga Valley 4055m/13,300’. Elev gain: 400m/1,300’ Elev loss: 300m/1,000’. Time: 4 – 5 hours, average distance about 5km (3 miles).  We climb up and over the Great Barranco, topping out at about 14,500’ before dropping to our camp at the Karanga River at about 13,000’. This completes another day of acclimatization as we pass below the famous Breach Wall, the largest ice and rock face in Africa. (The Breach Wall climbing route, known as ‘The Icicle’, was first climbed in the early 1970’s by Reinhold Messner.) Daytime temperatures can reach (80°F), while evening temperatures often drop below freezing.

Day 6: Start: Karanga Valley 4055m/13,300’. End: Kosovo Camp 4,760m/15,600’. Elev gain: 700m/2,300’. Time: 5 hours, distance about 5km (3 miles). From the Karanga River we climb about 4 hours to our Base camp Barafu (15,000’). As we wind through beautiful and rarely traveled regions, we enter a high desert zone, littered with volcanic boulders. Looking south we view the desert plains as the pinnacles of Mawenzi Peak tower before us. At Barafu we prepare for the summit attempt. We spend our time packing and preparing for the early morning, 12:00am departure.

Day 7: Base camp to Summit Start: Barafu camp 4,600m Summit: Uhuru Peak 5896m/ 19,344’. Elev gain: 1136m/3886’. Time: 8-10 hours, distance about 7km (4 miles) Summit Day! Awake at midnight and prepare gear for the ascent. We climb wearing headlamps until the predawn light is reflected off the African plains. Following a distinct ridge we approach the crater’s rim, then traverse northwest along the rim to the main summit, Uhuru Peak (19,340’). From here we view the Bismarck Towers, rock pinnacles along the rim and the hanging Rebman Glaciers. As the sun rises over Africa, we are privy to a panorama of incredible views. To the north stands the second highest mountain on the continent, Mt. Kenya (5199m/17,056’), with its unique twin summits. The southern exposure reveals the sprawling plains of Tanzania and East Africa and Mawenzi Peak

After Summit descent. Start: Uhuru Peak 5896m/19,344’. End: Millenium Camp 4000m /13,000’. Mweka Camp 3100m/10,200’. Elev loss: 1869m–2,796m (6,133’–9,170’). Time: 6-9 hours, distance about 13km (8 miles). After enjoying the view from the top, we descend to Barafu pack camp, and begin our traverse down the Mweka route on the southern side of the mountain.

Day 8 Start: Mweka Camp 3100m/10,200’. End: Mweka Gate 1800m/5,580’. Elev loss: 1300m/5,900’. Time: 4-5 hours, distance about 7km (4 miles). The sunrises are exquisite as we awaken below the towering mountain. We descend through the lush green landscape of the Mweka route into the thickest jungle we have yet encountered. The environment becomes primordial, with 20 foot-tall fern trees creating a prehistoric atmosphere. After reaching the Mweka Gate we drive to the hotel in Moshi for overnight.

Day 9: Transfer airport or start your Safari. Hotel check out time is 10am End of climb.

Oct 4

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Rocky Mountain High (October 2016)

Greetings all,

Though an entrance is located only 110 miles away from Laramie (approximately a two and a half hour drive) for years I have avoided Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). Given its proximity to Colorado’s Front Range the primary reason for this was the anticipation I would confront hoards of people. (Stretching from Pueblo to Fort Collins the Front Range now is home to over 4 ½ million people.) Though my reasoning holds, and crowds can be overwhelming, I can no longer ignore this majestic place – arguably the very heart of the Rocky Mountains. Though just a bit smaller than Grand Teton National Park in acres (415 square miles to 480 square miles) it seems nearly every meadow, lake, glacier and peak (including Long’s Peak, the very sentinel of the Park) can be explored; RMNP has an extensive web of hiking trails. There is good reason this stunning place is home to an extremely popular National Park — within it the very essence of the Rocky Mountains resides. This past year I visited RMNP four times (all visits taking place in Fall) but fully expect to return more often to experience and savor its awesome natural beauty. Below are a few photos.

Bull elk – Rocky Mountain National Park, ColoradoEmerald Lake trail – Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Arrowhead Lake, Gore Range – Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Hallett Peak & Tyndall Glacier – Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Fall colors – Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Young Mule deer – Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Bear Lake – Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Bierstadt Lake – Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Nymph Lake – Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Long’s Peak – Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Glacier Creek – Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Golden-mantled ground squirrel – Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Steller’s jay – Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Glacier Creek – Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Alberta Falls- Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Dream Lake – Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Long’s Peak – Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Mills Lake – Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Bull elk – Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Bull elk bugling – Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Aug 22

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A Few Days in the Park (August 2016)

Greetings all,

Just returned from a few days in Yellowstone. As many of you know I find spending time in Yellowstone National Park totally revitalizing, no matter the weather, number of visitors or road conditions. But the past few days the park also experienced numerous fires; one fire “Buffalo Plateau” burned just a few miles to the northwest of where I stayed (Roosevelt Lodge near Tower Junction). Added to the smoke of the fires the weather was generally overcast and windy … not the best conditions for taking photographs. And, added to that, the wolves appeared absent in the Lamar Valley – though it seems there were numerous wolf sightings in the Hayden Valley. Yet, the park continues to surprise and satisfy. Below are a few photos.Buffalo (American Bison), Northern Range – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Buffalo Plateau Fire, Northern Range – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Osprey, Northern Range – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Fawn Mule deer, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Southern Rim – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Lower Falls, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Brink Lower Falls, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Wandering Garter snake, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Southern Rim – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Mountain bluebird, Northern Range – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Pronghorn, Northern Range – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Red fox, Northern Range – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Red fox mousing, Northern Range – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Jul 11

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Three Cats and Sea Turtles

The opportunity to experience wildlife abundance and diversity attracts increasing numbers of visitors to East Africa – for Susan and I this was our fourth trip to East Africa together (I’ve also visited 3 other times). The other attraction (for me anyway) is generally not knowing in advance which wildlife you’ll actually be fortunate enough to observe for an extended period of time and up close. This time, the highlights of our wildlife viewing were three cats (leopards, lions and cheetahs) and sea turtles. While visiting the northeastern Serengeti (in Tanzania) we observed a leopard and two cubs relaxing and playing for nearly 90 minutes. In the western Serengeti we observed a cheetah with a recent kill wait to eat until her four cubs could join her, and a pride of lions lounging about until the lone lioness decided to hunt a zebra. One evening at sunset on Mnemba Island (off the northeast coast of Zanzibar) we watched over a hundred baby sea turtles emerge from their nest on the sand and crawl out to sea; early the next morning we saw a female sea turtle (her shell nearly 5 feet in length) using her hind flippers dig and then cover a large hole where she deposited likely another 100 eggs in a secluded section of beach. Fascinating! Below are a few photos from our recent trip to Tanzania.

Leopard – Klein’s Camp, Tanzania

Leopard cubs playing – Klein’s Camp, Tanzania

Leopard and cub – Klein’s Camp, Tanzania

Leopard and cubs – Klein’s Camp, Tanzania

Cheetah calling cubs, western Serengeti – Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Cheetah with dead gazelle calling cubs, western Serengeti – Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Cheetah cubs, western Serengeti – Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Cheetah and cubs eating, western Serengeti – Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Lioness and cubs, western Serengeti – Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Lion cub, western Serengeti – Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Male lion, western Serengeti – Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Male lion stretching, western Serengeti – Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Lioness hunting, western Serengeti – Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Sea turtle leaving nest, Mnemba Island – Zanzibar, Tanzania

Sea turtles crossing beach to reach Indian Ocean, Mnemba Island – Zanzibar, Tanzania

Sea turtle crossing beach to reach Indian Ocean, Mnemba Island – Zanzibar, Tanzania

Sea turtle about to reach Indian Ocean, Mnemba Island – Zanzibar, Tanzania

Sea turtle entering Indian Ocean, Mnemba Island – Zanzibar, Tanzania

Jun 5

Enigmatic Temples of Angkor

Greetings all,

I’m displaying a few photos from Angkor, Cambodia at Artisans’ Gallery. For those living in or near Laramie I hope you’ll visit the gallery sometime during the next month and attend a reception Saturday, June 18^th from 3-4 pm. Angkor is one of the most fascinating places I’ve ever experienced; Susan and I plan to return in 2018.

Jun 1

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A Few Days in the Park (May 2016)

Greetings all,

Just returned from a few days in Yellowstone. As some know, May in Yellowstone National Park can be wet (rain & snow); though landscapes can sparkle and wildlife viewing can reward. Photography can be a challenge but a bit of luck and lots of patience sometimes provides wonderful opportunities. Below are a few photos.

Canary Spring, Mammoth Hot Springs – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Upper Terrace, Mammoth Hot Springs – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Brink of Lower Falls, Canyon Area – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Yellowstone River, Canyon Area – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

North Slope, Mount Washburn – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Lamar River, Lamar Valley – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Lamar Valley after morning rain – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Bison, Lamar Valley – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Bison dusting, Lamar Valley – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Mule deer, Northern Range – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Bull elk, near Floating Island Lake – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Bald eagle, Lamar Valley – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

American coot, near Slough Creek – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Barrow’s Goldeneye, Canyon Area – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Trumpeter swan, near Roaring Mountain – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Black bear and cubs, Tower Area – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Black bear, Tower Area – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Black bear cub, Tower Area – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Male pronghorn, Tower Area – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Bison, Lamar Valley – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

May 23

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Three National Parks Collage

Greetings all,

I’ll soon return to Yellowstone for a few days and was thinking about how much joy the park provides. By now I’ve likely spent over 100 days experiencing the unique beauty and grandeur of the park (from the roadside and trails) taking thousands of photos. Also precious are the two national parks near Yellowstone where I’ve also spent a significant number of days: Grand Teton National Park, just a few miles to the south and Glacier National Park, around 350 miles to the north of Yellowstone. These three national parks truly are majestic natural treasures.

May 12

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Spring in Laramie

Greetings all,

Wyoming mystery writer C. J. Box once observed, “There was no spring in the Rockies … There was winter, summer, fall and March-through-June, which was made up of various highlights of the other three.” How true! Thus far March through May has been a steady continuation of harsh winter conditions (with plenty of road closures) sprinkled with a bit of sunshine: day after day after day shoveling heavy wet snow and then a few days enjoying some warm weather. But July is fast approaching and next month Susan and I return to the Serengeti in Tanzania. Conditions could always be worse — empathize a lot with robins this time of year — and the snow and sunshine provide excellent settings for fun photos. Below are a few examples:

April morning – Laramie, Wyoming

May nesting – Laramie, Wyoming

Pronghorn, April morning – Hutton Lake NWR Road, Wyoming

Canada geese, April morning – Hutton Lake NWR Road, Wyoming

Black-tailed prairie dog, April morning – Hutton Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Wyoming

Trapper, April morning – Hutton Lake NWR Road, Wyoming

April morning – Laramie, Wyoming

Mar 26

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Golden Jubilee Collage

This is a special year. Not only do I turn 70 but 2016 marks the golden jubilee of my enlistment in the U.S. Air Force — up to then, my home and travels consisted primarily of Daly City, California and the San Francisco Bay Area. That all changed on June 24, 1966. With the exception of my first six months of enlistment (Basic Training and Medical Corpsman School in Texas), from 1966 to 2016 I moved across the country and to Europe: Rome, New York; Wiesbaden, West Germany; Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Laramie, Wyoming. With each move new friendships were made and new places were experienced but the seven years I lived in Wiesbaden likely made the most impact: that’s where I met and married Susan, where I FINALLY completed my Bachelor’s degree, and where adventure became an integral part of my life.

Since meeting Susan in 1971, we’ve traveled to over 40 countries (visiting five of seven continents), cruised both the Nile and Mekong rivers and walked the beaches of four of five oceans. We’ve experienced the majesty and abundance of wildlife in East Africa and stood before grand pyramids and monuments in Egypt and the majestic temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Together we’ve run many of the major marathons in the U.S. and I’ve trekked to the Base Camp of Mount Everest in Nepal and rafted the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon in Arizona. I’ve also backpacked hundreds of miles with friends in both Glacier National Park in Montana and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.

I fully realize how extremely blessed and fortunate I’ve been. In part that’s why I constructed the collage. Also I hoped the collage might teach me a bit about myself. It did: I still like to take photographs; I’ve been blessed with wonderful friends; I’ve certainly aged and no longer run as fast or as far as I once did; I still enjoy skiing and experiencing the outdoors; we’ve enjoyed the companionship of some wonderful spaniels; and travel continues to entice. But most important, Susan and I still enjoy each other and doing things together. That truly is worth celebrating!

Nov 24

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Indochina Adventure

For many years Indochina was high on our To-Visit List though we were unsure which countries to include. We decided on Vietnam and Cambodia and glad we did! (Thanks to two very special friends who agreed to house and dog sit (Karen and Gary) we had no worries about being away from home for nearly three weeks.) Our Vietnam itinerary included a few days in Hanoi, a few nights sleeping on a private junket boat while cruising Halong Bay, two days in Saigon where we had the opportunity to explore the Cu Chi tunnels with a Viet Cong veteran, and our initial seven-day journey on the Mekong River. Our Cambodia itinerary began on the Mekong River with visits to fishing villages, small communities and numerous temples, and included visits to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Not really sure what to expect in Vietnam and Cambodia, what we found was both charming and disturbing: charming in its glimpses of city and village life as well as the natural beauty of Halong Bay and the Mekong River; disturbing in the numerous remembrances of the Vietnam war (referred to as the American War by many Vietnamese) and the three year, eight month and twenty day brutality of the Khmer Rouge government in Cambodia (1975-1979). Highlights of the trip included wonderful accommodations (thanks to our tour agent Kate at Jacada Travel), old Hanoi, the tranquility of Halong Bay, staff of the boat, Aqua Mekong, numerous friends we made, and the majesty, beauty and mystery surrounding Angkor Temples. Below are a few photos.

Lotus blossoms in moat – Angkor Wat, Cambodia