And they are off to Kilimanjaro! The Schmidt family has met our guide Marcus and the local crew including lead guide Fares (Bongo) at the Ndarakwai Ranch outside of Moshe Tanzania today.  Marcus left from Colorado in a snowstorm and was delayed a day, but caught up to everyone in time and still got to enjoy some wildlife viewing at the Ranch.  We’ll be posting Kilimanjaro Expedition Dispatches here regularly so you can follow along their adventure.  The team has more limited communications once they are on the mountain, but we are in touch on a daily basis with our crew.

The Schmidt family, Jason, Trilby and Rachel will be heading up the Machame Route on Kilimanjaro over the next week.  Marcus is returning to Kilimanjaro, leaving winter behind for a little bit before returning to teach an Avalanche Level 1 course as soon as he returns to the San Juans. Best of luck to everyone for a fun trek up Kilimanjaro!

Here’s a note from Marcus this morning as they prepared to leave for the trailhead and begin the trek: “Fueled, rested, and ready to go. The January 6th Kilimanjaro crew has been in country for two days, and is off to the mountain today. We’re stoked to start and cannot wait experience the highest free standing mountain in the world. Thank you everyone that supported us getting to this point. Talk to you all later!” – Marcus Bailado

Marcus, Trilby, Rachel and Jason at the Ndarakwai Ranch in Tanzania!

Zebras and Kilimanjaro in the background from the Ndarakwai Ranch today!