Whitewater State Park

Whitewater State Park

Altura, Minnesota

10/27/12

5.3km, 2 hours

70 Days to Africa

This past weekend found Deb and Greg driving an hour south of the Metro area to Rochester, MN where we connected with our friends Sara and Kevin for a hike in their neck of the woods.  It was a beautiful day for a hike.  The sun was shining and, though the weather could not exactly be called "warm," once the blood got pumping staying comfortable was far from an issue.   

 

Whitewater State Park provided the challenging grounds and diverse terrain we sought for training purposes.  Sara and Kevin provided the kind of company that we love to keep, and they were tremendous hosts and guides.  The park features several projects completed by the CCC during the Depression.  The building material of choice at the time appeared to be limestone blocks and the effort required to complete some of the projects must have been tremendous. 

 

 

The first trail we traversed brought us across an impressive bridge over the Whitewater River.  After we crossed the river, we went up a steep incline along the riverside that featured a sufficient number of steps.  It was sufficient to leave a person winded, but not enough to send any of us tumbling back down the hill to the river below.  Upon reaching the "summit", we found a great rock structure to take a break under and assess our preparedness to move on along the ridgeline. 

 



 

Once we completed our first challenge, we moved across the rugged terrain and then followed a decline back down to the roadside of scenic Highway 74.  We subsequently crossed the river and looked for our next challenge.  We found it in the form of the Coyote Point trail.  Our challenge on the Coyote Point Trail was compounded by several factors:  First, we had to cross a floating bridge before heading up a steep and prolonged hillside to reach the bluff.  The terrain on the incline was less rugged than the initial steps on the previous trail, but they were covered with damp oak leaves.  The series of steps were also much longer than ones on the first trail.  Several members of our four member crew either removed garments, or at least unzipped them, in the process of going up the hillside.  To add to it, we were running short of time because we had told the babysitter taking care of Sara and Kevin's son that we would be back by a certain time.  What was estimated as a two hour hike had to be done in an hour or less.  That made for a power hike, which for Deb and Greg was excellent training for the challenge to come. 

 

 

 



 

Once we made it to the bluff  we found a prairie that appeared to have entered hibernation for the winter and moved into an Oak Forrest so full of leaves that we had to follow Kevin's natural hiking instincts to navigate the trail.  It was a cool experience to be on a bluff overlooking the river and the surrounding farm land and having the sense that you are alone to enjoy it in peace.  At one point the trail took us literally feet from the edge of the bluff and a glance over the side served as a good reminder of the potential hazards that could await a person who is not careful or aware of their surroundings.  The trail's pinnacle was a a clearing in the woods with a generous vista of the bluff across the road.  We imagined that the fall colors would have been majestic just a few weeks earlier.  The final leg of the trail brought us down a steep wooden stairwell and another long series of steps to reach the parking lot where the vehicle was waiting for us.

 





 

 

 

In summary, the hike, the scenery and the company were all great.  It was really fun to have some fresh faces and energy along on the hike.  The couple of hours we spent on the trail, and the additional few hours we spent with Sara and Kevin, reminded us of how fortunate we are to have opportunities to connect with so many great people as part of this process.  We will definitely need to keep that spirit and energy alive as we are making our way up the side of Mount Kilimanjaro.  

 



Shout Out to the Jaguars

Shout Out to the Jaguars 

10/25/12

72 Days to Africa

 

 

The Kilimanjaro Challenge blog would like to acknowledge the students in the Conservation and Natural Resources class at Ashwaubenon High School in Wisconsin.  Deb and Greg are excited to hear that the students and their esteemed teacher have articulated an interest in our preparations for the trip to Tanzania and our climb of Kilimanjaro.  We are looking forward to working with these students to assist in their gaining an appreciation for the real life applications of the lessons they are learning in the classroom. 

While neither of us are scientists, teachers, or conservation specialists, there seems to be an easy compatibility between the students' learning objectives and firsthand experience in the world we live in.  The class these students are participating in often takes them out of the classroom entirely and into the real world.  Most recently they have been studying wolves and their natural environment, and learning about the ways in which that research was used to create and develop a video game called Wolfquest. 

Africa is a continent that in many ways is extremely rich in natural resources.  The distribution of those resources varies based upon geographical, topographical, social, economic and political lines. While it is true that the mission of our trip will not be directly focused on conservation, we believe there will be many aspects of the trip that will demonstrate the need for, and importance of, conservation, sustainable use, and protection of the natural resources available in the region we will be visiting.

In addition to acknowledging your interest in our adventure, we would also like to thank you for your support.  We recently received some Ashwaubenon High School t-shirts and are proud to let you know that they will be making the trip to Tanzania with us.  We are also putting the shirts to good use in our preparation for our journey. 

Part of our preparation has focused on our physical health and fitness.  Recently, Greg took the opportunity to put a Jaguars t-shirt through its paces by wearing it to a personal training session.  Check out the photos from the session below.  You can refer to one of our earlier posts (the GreenBody post dated 9/26/12) for more information about out the workout session.  Please note that while we certainly are enjoying our experience with the trainer and are reaping the rewards of our hard work, the smiles and goofy looks on Greg's face in the photos are mostly a product of laughing as there were several timing issues associated with pushing the camera button and the actual picture being taken.  We look forward to your continued support and hope that you will stay connected with us as we prepare for, and embark upon, our journey. 

Mount Elbert - A New Level of Challenge

 

Mount Elbert - A New Level of Challenge

Twin Lakes, CO

10/13/12

13 miles, 7.5 hours

84 days to Africa

If you ever want to know what your butt looks like once it has been handed back to you, Mount Elbert is a great place to go find out.  Deb and Greg made a trek out to the beautiful State of Colorado to officially make a bid to become "14'ers", which is the term commonly given to individuals who manage to hike up to 14,000 feet.  The theory behind the trip was that it would be great to get some experience hiking at an elevation that is clearly higher than anything available in Minnesota.  The process of testing that theory was both rewarding and challenging.  The results of the test were mixed, and included a healthy respect for mother nature, a sense of slight disappointment, and an overall feeling of satisfaction and a firm belief that we are heading in the right direction with our training.

 First off, we did not make it to the summit of Mount Elbert.  The mountain's peek is 14,333 feet and we maxed out somewhere in the vicinity of 14,100 feet.  It was agonizing to come so close to the top of the mountain only to turn around and head back down, but the experience gave us a great chance to exercise the adage that it is best to live to hike another day than to die or get injured attempting to reach the peak.  The context for our decision to turn around rather than press forward were 30-40 mile per hour winds (with gusts that may have exceeded that) and an unpleasant sleet/snow mix that traveled horizontally into our faces and backs as we trudged forward towards the summit.  The conditions themselves were not ideal, but the truly frightening factor that ultimately led to the decision to turn around was the near whiteout conditions that would occur when the wind and the snow acted in unison to essentially mask the trail we had just climbed up.  The wind was blowing so hard that our foot prints were quickly erased in the thin layer of snow that clung to the mountain top, and the only guide posts that remained were a series of four deep ruts that have been carved over the years by hikers and a large boulder that sat firmly at the edge of the trail about 500 hundred yards below where we ended up turning around.  Needless to say, it is a bit unnerving to look behind oneself and have to guess where exactly you think you last saw the path you just hiked up.  Fortunately, the whiteout conditions were not continuous and, with minimal difficulty, we were able to find our way back to the large boulder that served as a guide post.  From there, the trail became much clearer.

 

We have read, and heard, enough at this point to not have any delusions that our hiking at 14,000 feet will in any real way compare to hiking at 17,000 or 19,000 feet on Kilimanjaro.  The word on the "hiking community street" is that the elevations 15,000 and above are when oxygen levels become even more limited in supply, and that some of the more serious side effects from the altitude are experienced.

 



What is comforting, however, is the fact that both Deb and Greg were able to hike at 14,000 feet without feeling any significant altitude or physical effects, such as nausea, dizziness, or headache.  Deb reported feeling as though she had someone standing on her chest, and Greg reported a very slight nauseous feeling a few times when he would start to hiking again after taking a short break.  But, neither of us felt that either condition was prohibitive to our moving forward.  What was surprising was how hard our bodies were working without some of the more common signs we would have expected.  Each time we would stop for a break, we could hear our hearts thumping.  However, neither of us had the sensation that our hearts were working that hard as we climbed.  

 

 

What proved to be an effective strategy was to set miniature goals and allow ourselves time for a brief break upon achieving the goal.  Deb took the lead on the hike while Greg played pack mule and carried with him a slightly heavier pack load, including an HD video camera and some hiking rations to maintain our strength.  Deb set small and achievable goals as she hiked.  She would select a point ahead of herself and then push herself to make it to that area before allowing herself a break.  Greg, meanwhile, labored behind working hard to achieve his own goal of making it to Deb's location.  He would then stand there long enough to allow his heart to calm down a bit.  Deb's determination shone through and was truly inspirational.

The hike back down presented its own challenges.  On the way up, we made every effort to avoid snow drifts in the trail as they made hiking more difficult.  However, when going down we tended to stay in as deep of snow as possible because it provided some cushion and relief on our legs as we went down such a steep grade.  The descent was also much less taxing on our lungs and hearts, but it placed a higher emphasis on our quadricep muscles than the hike up the mountain did.

 

Regardless of the direction of travel, the scenery was awe inspiring.  It was a great challenge to look ahead and consider that in a matter of hours we would be traveling from the relative comfort of the lowlands of 9,500 to 10,000 feet into the snow covered summit at 14,000 feet.  It was also extremely welcoming to descend into familiar territory, warmer temperatures and reduced winds as we made our way back down.

 

If the goal was to summit the mountain, Mount Elbert won the battle.  If our goal was to get a better sense for the types of conditions we may experience on Mount Kilimanjaro and to gauge our bodies' response to those conditions, then we are much better prepared for the next battle.  We are comforted by the fact that it was our own safety that pushed us off the mountain rather than our physical limitations.  That said, it should be noted that both Deb and Greg were more than happy to indulge in a nap upon returning to our quarters, followed by a great homemade dinner and then an early bed time.  What will it be like to end a similar day of hiking with the reward of sleeping in a sleeping bag on the ground in a tent versus a relatively comfortable bed?  We are guessing that time will tell when we begin our climb of Mount Kilimanjaro.

 

We left Colorado as "14'ers", who have a great appreciation for the challenge that lies ahead for us.  We are invigorated by the experience and will take the lessons we learned from Mount Elbert forward with us as we continue to train for the Kilimanjaro challenge. 

 



High Adventure & Global Philanthropy

High Adventure & Global Philanthropy

 

10/11/12

 

86 DAYS TO AFRICA

Mount Kilimanjaro: 19,340 vertical feet, trekking 60 miles through five climate zones from the equatorial rain forest to the glacier strewn summit.

 

 

Mount Kilimanjaro is a beautiful inactive volcanic mountain, the tallest free standing mountain in the world.  It rises out of the African savannah to the awe inspiring height of 19,340 feet (5,900 meters) above sea level.  Our expedition begins in the hot and always misty rain forest, and continues through the heather and moorland zones.  We then make our way through the artic desert and move on toward the glacial zone, where temperatures can reach near or below zero degrees Fahrenheit.  The climb is a total of six nights and seven days.  For those who are able to summon all of their physical, mental and physiological fortitude to endure just one more step, and then another, we will summit on day 6 of the the seven day mountain adventure. 

Our climb will be led by Evans Adventure Tours.  On the first day, we will meet our climbing crew at the gate of Machame Route.  There are three or four crew members for each trekker.  During day one, we will ascend for about five to seven hours through the lush, tropical rain forest.  We will see magnificent birdlife and many unique flowers and plant species. 

Day two will be a short four or six hour climb on a rather steep, rocky and dusty trail.  We will cross many ridges and see the first of many Senecia Trees on the mountain.  We will camp on the Shira Plateau with beautiful views of the peak.

On day three, we will hike through the Alpine Moorland Zone to the Alpine Desert Zone with spectacular views of the Western Breach.  Next, we will continue to the base of the Lava Tower and camp just below the Barranco Wall.  A total of six to eights hours will be spent hiking on day three. 

Day four brings the challenge of scrambling up the Great Barranco Wall.  Once we get to the top, we will have some lunch and enjoy the beautiful views of the Heim Glacier.  After lunch, we will descend into the Karanga Valley and back up to the ridge for camping.  We will spend a total of four to six hours hiking. 

On the fifth day, we experience a short but steep four to six hour climb to our final camp before summit.  We have an early dinner, briefing, gear preparation and head to bed for an early night's sleep.  We wake around 11:00 p.m., dress for the summit, have a light meal and hike three to five hours to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro! 

The final portion of the climb is on day six, and it includes steep rocks, and a snow covered area to Stella Point.  The hike from Stella Point is slow with frequent breaks.  We will reach the summit of Uhuru Peak (19,340 feet) as the sun rises.  This offers incredible views in all directions from the highest point in Africa!  We will then descend via Stella Point to Barafu Hut Camp.  The total hiking time for day six is eleven to fourteen hours, which is our longest day. 

We will spent our final day - day seven - hiking back down through the rain forest with a delicious lunch waiting for us at the Mweka Gate.  This hike will take three or four hours, which will seem like no time after the endless hours of hiking at the end of day five and the bulk of day six.  After lunch, we receive our certificates for completing the climb and we say good bye to our climbing crew.  At this point, we will all be giddy with excitement to finally be able to take a shower after seven days of climbing and camping in the great outdoors!

Although we will be taking on an extreme physical and mental challenge and there are many factors that come into play, we will be well taken care of by our climbing crew.  All of the guides are certified and trained through the Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School). They will make sure we are all safe throughout the climb. 

The following link is a video of Lynn's (our leader's) first climb of Mount Kilimanjaro in June 2011:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7GqhRmFUi4   Even though it is not the same route we will be climbing, it will give you a good idea of what the experience is like.  Lucky for us, the route we are taking is even more difficult than what you see in the video!  We will also be staying in Northface camping tents instead of huts for our mountain lodging.  
 

 

 

A Proven Leader

A Proven Leader

10/9/12

 

88 day to Africa

We want to take the opportunity to introduce you to the leader of our expedition to Africa and Mt. Kilimanjaro.  Lynn Foulke is the CEO of RE/MAX Results in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and her experience with the company spans 23 years.  RE/MAX Results is home to nearly 700 real estate agents within 24 RE/MAX franchised locations in Minnesota and Wisconsin.  Lynn's relationship with Africa began in June 2011 and has been growing ever since. 

Our trip in January 2013 will be Lynn's third Kilimanjaro trek, and the second time that she has facilitated charitable contributions and fundraising for the people of Tanzania.  Lynn's work to bring resources and support to this area of the world will continue beyond our trip as she has three additional charity hikes on the horizon.  The focus of Lynn's work has been to empower those within local communities at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro in order to help eliminate poverty and improve quality of life.    

Lynn's first charity hike supported higher education tuition for two women from the Tanzanian Maasai people to attend Concordia College in Moorehead, Minnesota.  It was also for the benefit of malaria education and prevention for 3,000 Kilimanjaro area children.  Click on the following link to view the malaria initiative:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEmBbSr5LDs.  This video also highlights the children of the early childhood education center.  Our group's fundraising efforts will help to complete the construction of the education center and provide ongoing support and materials to the facility.  

Lynn's leadership of our group has been tremendous.  Since August, Lynn has held monthly meetings at her home for the members of our group to become familiar with one another and with the activities and requirements associated with the trip.  At these meetings, we talk about topics such as gear selection, physical training, medications and vaccinations, the culture of the areas we will be visiting and about all other aspects of the trip.

Perhaps the greatest impact of Lynn's leadership thus far has been the contagious nature of her boundless enthusiasm for Mt. Kilimanjaro, TAFCOM, Tanzania and the people of the region.  Her willingness to share her past experiences with us has fueled our belief that we too will find success in climbing the mountain, and that we have the opportunity to make a difference for the people of the community as part of our endeavor.  Lynn's advice about training has been practical and straightforward.  She speaks from experience and her past success instills confidence in ourselves that we will have similar results.

Despite the fact that we will be traveling to a foreign land, encountering experiences that most of us have never previously had, and staying in environments that may be lacking in some of the many luxuries we have become so accustomed to, there has been a sense of peace and reassurance knowing that Lynn has planned out every detail of our trip.  The relationships she has built during her previous trips leaves us feeling as though we are in capable hands, and we know from the stories she has shared that our guides and porters will take good care of us.   

It would be unfair to say that our hopes, expectations, and satisfaction with the journey we will be undertaking lies squarely on Lynn's shoulders.  Each of us has a responsibility to commit ourselves to proper preparation, and our experience may be dependent upon our own lens that we use to view the situations we encounter on our travels.   What can be said about Lynn, however, is that we have every confidence in her commitment to preparing us for the journey in any way possible, and her unwavering support of our efforts toward making this a meaningful and unforgettable experience.  And because of all of this, she is a proven leader.

TAFCOM - PART II

More About TAFCOM

 

10/8/12

 

89 Days to Africa
 

TAFCOM's children all come from the most impoverished area
surrounding Mount Kilimanjaro.  All are aids orphans or are
classified as vulnerable children

Here is a short video about TAFCOM: http://youtu.be/2qG4bLSENFc.  The video was produced by the CEO of RE/MAX Results when she traveled to Tanzania in June 2012 to work with TAFCOM and climb Mount Kilimanjaro.  In the video, Nie Mashafi talks about some of the projects the organization is currently working on. Ms. Mashafi is the project coordinator for TAFCOM, and her husband, Jonas Kyanfura, is the Executive Director.  The projects Ms. Mashafi describes will help to give you an idea of how TAFCOM is carrying out its primary objectives of: 1) Education; 2) Child Welfare; 3) HIV/AIDS Outreach; 4) Women Empowerment; and 5) Environmental Conservation.