Sean Wisedale http://seanwisedale.com/blog First African to climb the highest mountain on each continent…the Seven Summits Fri, 23 Mar 2012 07:03:47 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Kilimanjaro – Zanzibar http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?p=2750 http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?p=2750#comments Fri, 23 Mar 2012 07:03:46 +0000 sean http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?p=2750 The Kilimanjaro airport is in sight and the exhausted but happy group are on their way to Zanzibar right now where they will be able to enjoy a good soak, relax, walk on the beach and later this evening celebrate their wonderful achievements.  Cocktails, G&Ts and a rejuvenating dip in the Ocean Paradise pool coming up.

Home time tomorrow.

Many thanks to [...]]]> The Kilimanjaro airport is in sight and the exhausted but happy group are on their way to Zanzibar right now where they will be able to enjoy a good soak, relax, walk on the beach and later this evening celebrate their wonderful achievements.  Cocktails, G&Ts and a rejuvenating dip in the Ocean Paradise pool coming up.

Home time tomorrow.

Many thanks to the Kilimanjaro December 2011 group for the use of their pics.

 

 

 

 

 

]]> http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=2750 2 Kilimanjaro – Uhuru Peak (5895m) http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?p=2739 http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?p=2739#comments Thu, 22 Mar 2012 05:39:40 +0000 sean http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?p=2739 From Sean ‘We all summited Mt Kilimanjaro at 05h50 this morning – a full house!  Big wind on top which meant a temperature of minus 20 degrees Celsius.  It fogged out on the descent but we are all immensely elated’.

After descending, the exhausted summiteers will have a short nap at Barafu followed by lunch and then [...]]]> From Sean ‘We all summited Mt Kilimanjaro at 05h50 this morning – a full house!  Big wind on top which meant a temperature of minus 20 degrees Celsius.  It fogged out on the descent but we are all immensely elated’.

After descending, the exhausted summiteers will have a short nap at Barafu followed by lunch and then descend to the rainforest to Mweka camp (3000m).  Dinner and overnight at Mweka camp.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

]]> http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=2739 15 Kilimanjaro – at Barafu Hut http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?p=2726 http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?p=2726#comments Wed, 21 Mar 2012 14:37:12 +0000 sean http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?p=2726 Message just in from Sean ‘We’re all in our tents – waves of sleet are hitting the fly sheets loudly. Trying to get some sleep before 10pm. Chuffed we are under cover’.

Tonight's dinner and fuel for the summit

Barafu

 

]]> Message just in from Sean ‘We’re all in our tents – waves of sleet are hitting the fly sheets loudly. Trying to get some sleep before 10pm. Chuffed we are under cover’.

Tonight's dinner and fuel for the summit

Barafu

 

]]> http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=2726 4 Kilimanjaro – Barafu http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?p=2719 http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?p=2719#comments Wed, 21 Mar 2012 06:38:00 +0000 sean http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?p=2719 Today the group will trek through the wild alpine desert to Barafu hut (4600m). They will be feeling the effects of altitude so will be taking it easy and walking very slowly.  It takes about 4 hrs to get to Barafu. After lunch they will try to sleep and rest as much as possible before they [...]]]> Today the group will trek through the wild alpine desert to Barafu hut (4600m). They will be feeling the effects of altitude so will be taking it easy and walking very slowly.  It takes about 4 hrs to get to Barafu. After lunch they will try to sleep and rest as much as possible before they depart at about 11pm tonight for the summit.

From Sean ‘Beaut day today. There’s a head cold doing the rounds. Ginger tea a big hit!’.

Trek to Barafu hut

Karanga sunrise

]]> http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=2719 7 Kilimanjaro – Karanga camp http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?p=2705 http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?p=2705#comments Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:44:39 +0000 sean http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?p=2705 Today the group ascended the great Baranco wall (which looks far more intimidating than it is) and then descended to the Karanga valley. Dinner and overnight at the spectacular Karanga camp (3960m).

Message just in from Sean. ‘We’ve all reached Karanga and are well and strong. Happy days in the hills. Cloud came in [...]]]> Today the group ascended the great Baranco wall (which looks far more intimidating than it is) and then descended to the Karanga valley. Dinner and overnight at the spectacular Karanga camp (3960m).

Message just in from Sean. ‘We’ve all reached Karanga and are well and strong. Happy days in the hills. Cloud came in fast after a beautiful, sunny morning.  Everyone amped for the summit bid tomorrow night’.

The Baranco wall

Climbing the wall

]]> http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=2705 3 Kilimanjaro March expedition – Baranco camp http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?p=2685 http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?p=2685#comments Sun, 18 Mar 2012 05:11:06 +0000 sean http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?p=2685 The blog is now working - apologies for the delay in sending updates.

On Sunday the group began the climb from Umbwe gate, through the rainforest to Umbwe caves (3000m).  Message received from Sean yesterday - ‘We’ve arrived at Umbwe caves – having lots of fun and laughs in spite of heavy rain today which means everything is soaked.  Everyone is in [...]]]> The blog is now working - apologies for the delay in sending updates.

On Sunday the group began the climb from Umbwe gate, through the rainforest to Umbwe caves (3000m).  Message received from Sean yesterday - ‘We’ve arrived at Umbwe caves – having lots of fun and laughs in spite of heavy rain today which means everything is soaked.  Everyone is in high spirits’.

Through the rainforest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today’s message from Sean ‘We’ve arrived at Baranco camp (3950m). The group is strong. We’re off now to the waterfall for an acclimatisation trek before dinner.  There’s lots of snow on the summit dome’.

Views of the summit dome

 

Baranco camp

]]> http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=2685 2 Ac – the summit – 6962m http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?p=2650 http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?p=2650#comments Mon, 20 Feb 2012 05:59:26 +0000 sean http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?p=2650 They made it!  Sean phoned last night which was about 4pm their time to say they were on the summit.  The satellite phone reception wasn’t great so couldn’t get much detail except that they sounded elated. 

They would have returned to Colera to spend the night and are on their way down to base camp [...]]]> They made it!  Sean phoned last night which was about 4pm their time to say they were on the summit.  The satellite phone reception wasn’t great so couldn’t get much detail except that they sounded elated. 

They would have returned to Colera to spend the night and are on their way down to base camp today – and heading home…

Thanks Rose, for the use of your pics.

]]> http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=2650 17 Ac – high camp http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?p=2635 http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?p=2635#comments Sat, 18 Feb 2012 17:27:54 +0000 sean http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?p=2635 From Sean: Although the winds are still high, 3 of us (Ant, Nico and I) are giving it another shot.  On our way to the high camp (Colera) at 5870m and will attempt the summit tomorrow morning.  

Pics courtesy Ac 2010 group

]]> From Sean: Although the winds are still high, 3 of us (Ant, Nico and I) are giving it another shot.  On our way to the high camp (Colera) at 5870m and will attempt the summit tomorrow morning.  

Pics courtesy Ac 2010 group

]]> http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=2635 7 Ac – back to base camp http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?p=2627 http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?p=2627#comments Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:25:45 +0000 sean http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?p=2627 A snow storm and howling winds forced the group to turn back just a few hours after leaving the high camp. Sean said the weather was too volatile to continue safely to the summit.

They are all on their way down to base camp where they will spend tonight.  Most of the climbers have decided [...]]]> A snow storm and howling winds forced the group to turn back just a few hours after leaving the high camp. Sean said the weather was too volatile to continue safely to the summit.

They are all on their way down to base camp where they will spend tonight.  Most of the climbers have decided to descend all the way down to the park gate tomorrow.  The others will decide at base camp tomorrow whether they will give the summit another push over the weekend.

]]> http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=2627 23 Ac – Camp Colera http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?p=2608 http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?p=2608#comments Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:04:19 +0000 sean http://seanwisedale.com/blog/?p=2608 Received a brief call from Sean earlier saying that they were about to leave Nido and head to Colera (5870m). Winds are picking up. Its going to be a long night for the group as they try to rest before the summit attempt tomorrow morning.

The first milestone tomorrow will be Camp Independencia at [...]]]> Received a brief call from Sean earlier saying that they were about to leave Nido and head to Colera (5870m). Winds are picking up. Its going to be a long night for the group as they try to rest before the summit attempt tomorrow morning.

The first milestone tomorrow will be Camp Independencia at 6300m. After that, they will encounter the infamous Canaleta at 6500m. The Canaleta is a steep section from 6500m to 6700m full of rock and sand which can be difficult to cross. Once they are through the Canaleta they are only 200 meters from the summit.

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