Kilimanjaro Update

Colby Coombs called in last night (their morning) and all is well. They are doing a great job working together and moving higher up - so far everyone is doing well with the altitude and terrain and route is great. They said the food and local help is really doing a great job and they are really kind and helpful. They are focused on this climbing challenge and getting some good research accomplished as well.  They are a strong well connected team.

According to their itinerary....

"A short but steep climb up grassy slopes is rewarded by superb panoramas of the Kenyan plains to the north. We leave vegetation behind shortly before reaching the next camp at Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4,330m/14,206f), spectacularly situated in a cirque beneath the towering cliffs of Mawenzi. The afternoon will be free to rest or to explore the surrounding area as an aid to acclimatization. "

Kilmanjaro Expedition

We heard from Guide Colby today.  The group is moving slow and steady,  they are having a great time.  The group visited the Treasures of Africa Orphanage before departing for the climb.  The children were happy to meet them.   The group read to them and played soccer.  The children sang two songs for them.

I did two jobs in one today - I helped Ed and Cathal reach the summit of Ben Nevis and we helped the Lochaber MRT find a lone walker who had spent the night in the summit shelter. Ed and Cathal were on a quick stag trip to Scotland. They played golf at St. Andrews yesterday and came across ready for the walk up Ben Nevis today. As we were getting things together for the walk the rescue team call out for the missing person went out.

Fresh snow fell last night down to 500m or so and there was a good cover this morning. There was about 10 to 15cm of dry, soft powder in most places so the skiing must have been excellent. It was colder than it has been as well so the old snow was quite firm underneath. Unfortunately the visibility on the summit was very poor which is why the lone walker decided not to leave the summit shelter for fear of losing his way without a map and compass.

Walking off the hill was a good test of compass work! We could barely see the ground under our feet. Without a compass and the ability to use it there would be no chance of finding your way. The cairns above 1200m are buried and almost useless; you certainly can not rely on them to find the way. It's an excellent reminder of just how challenging the hills here can be and how good your mountaineering skills need to be even on quite a nice day like today.

Slightly warmer today so Mick and I headed slightly higher. We climbed Pinnacle Arete on Ben Nevis which was good fun. The SE wind has been blowing onto the Trident Buttresses and there was less of the fresh snow. The old snow is still soft but there were one or two blobs of ice that made quite a nice change. It was quite windy on the top section of ridge but not too bad.

We had time to go down Ledge Route which was actually quick and easy. There is so much snow on it you could ski down! There is a little ice around and today's slight warming followed by tomorrow's freeze will help. However we are forecast yet more snow and strong winds. Other teams climbed Tower Ridge and one team walked up to Minus Three Gully ... I'll be interested to hear how they got on.

Spring Break Special

Oh, what a beautiful day!
It's 3 degrees & sunny!

We have a NEW PROGRAM for you beginners to consider ~ we're calling it our Spring Break Special. It's an 8 day Mountaineering Course, held on the Matanuska Glacier, for just $2000 per person, including food, fuel, group gear and transportation from Talkeetna. The dates are March 13-20, 2010. We have room for 2 more people. Contact our office for details. You could either meet us at the Glacier or meet us in Talkeetna. Otherwise, it will be very similar to our 6-day Mountaineering Course, with more time for practicing skills.
Contact our office: info@climbalaska.org

Wilderness First Responder Course is filling up fast! Secure your spot as soon as you can, here is the registration form.

2010 Denali, West Buttress Expedition Availability:
April 27- May 17: 2 places Available
May 3- 23: FULL
May 10-30: FULL (waitlist)
May 17-June 6: FULL (waitlist)
May 24-June 13: FULL (waitlist)
May 31-June 20: FULL (waitlist)
June 2 -June 22: 4 places Available
June 7-June 27: FULL (waitlist)
June 14-July 4: FULL (waitlist)
June 21-July 11: FULL (waitlist)

July 4-July 24: 4 places Available

Denali, West Rib, 2010 Availability:
May 29-June 18: 3 spaces. Contact AMS for details, this is the famed "full" West Rib!
Custom Dates Available

Denali, Upper West Rib, 2010 Availability:
June 5-June 25: 4 spaces
Custom Dates Available

Kahiltna Dome Expedition/Denali Prep Course, 2010 Availability:
June 3-12: 6 spaces
Custom Dates Available

Wilderness First Responder Course, 2010
March 6-14: 6 spaces available

WFR Re-certifications, 2010
March 20-22: 8 spaces available
March 27-29: 10 spaces available

Glacier Travel & Crevasse Rescue Workshops, 2010
April 10-11: 5 spaces available
There are also sessions in July and August.

Alaska Range Mountaineering Courses, 6 days, 2010 Availability
April 16-21: 8 spaces
May 7-12: 8 spaces
June 4-9: 8 spaces
The sessions in July, August & September have availability.

Alaska Range Mountaineering Courses, 12 days, 2010 Availability
April 18-29: 6 spaces
May 14-25: 6 spaces
June 11-22: 7 spaces
The sessions in July, August & September have availability.

Things change quickly! Applications show up every day. If you are uncertain of your schedule but you are interested in participating, stay in touch with us: info@climbalaska.org or 907-733-1016. Leave us a message if we don't answer, we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

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Have a good weekend!
~Julia

It was a swirly, whirly snow storm today. There was no way under it, no way over it so we had to go through it. We didn't find a bear in the caves of Shelf Route but we did find fun climbing. The forecast made me quite indecisive first thing and D Gully Buttress was the first option for Mick and me. This looked quite black from the walk in and the snow was not falling so heavily so we went for Shelf Route instead. This follows the line of the right hand chimney on the side of Crowberry Tower in the picture above.

The snow was soft of course and the ground underneath was not frozen - turf and loose rocks were coming out from underneath the deeper bits of snow. There were a few blobs of ice but as with most routes there is a very good cover of snow on it.

The wind on Crowberry Tower was not so strong and on the summit it was fine. There was snow falling for part of the day but not that much accumulated and the descent down Coire na Tulloch was fine. Curved Ridge is in great condition and it has seen some traffic so the snow is compacted. Some ice is forming but it was only just freezing on the summit.

Breaket Wudang

Bracket Wudang, often known as Wonderful A harmonious relationship Pile, lies in Shiyan Location, Hubei State. Having 72 peaks, twenty four ravines, 11 caves, 9 comes, 9 water wells and a 1612-meter crowning high, your mountain's mystical attractiveness possesses long encouraged misconception and also story. Long before strict Taoism was created, Mt. Wudang had been used together with occult pros. Right after strict Taoism was shaped, the idea entered the favorite curiosity regarding Taoists.

Initiated within the 7th century during the Tang Empire, Taoist properties in Bracket Wudang are actually ruined and also repaired continuously in the course of beyond dynasties. With 1412, Emperor Zhudi of the Ming Empire managed the greatest degree structure in Mt. Wudang to be able to settle your sophistication that the To the north Our god experienced obliged your ex. This got 8 decades to try and do your 8 palaces, a pair of wats or temples, thirty seven shrines and also 72 caves. Ever since then many experts have the middle of Emperor Zhenwu's praise. Most of these properties are actually negatively destroyed simply by wars and also disorder previously a century, specifically during the 1920s. With Drive 1931, troopers of the Red-colored Affiliate marketer below Marshal This individual Prolonged quartered on Mt. Wudang, and also acquired the help of neighborhood Taoists, the majority of which were being cruelly covered up and also slain from the Guomindang Celebration following your Red-colored Affiliate marketer departed.

The particular extant Taoist wats or temples incorporate Wonderful A harmonious relationship Construction, Violet Nirvana Construction, Older Summit, Recuperate an ideal Brow, and also The southern area of Grotto Construction. Violet Nirvana Construction on the base regarding Unfolded A flag High cliff, which was started with 1413, is the most significant brow around the hill plus the functioning place of your Bracket Wudang Taoist Relationship. The particular properties of the brow line up with three series that your asian is your East Construction, your american is your Western Construction plus the center a single provides the Halls regarding Dragon-Tiger, Ten-Direction Lounge, Violet Nirvana and also Moms and dads Lounge. The particular Dragon-Tiger Lounge enshrines your Dragon and also Tiger woods Guardian. Ten-Direction Lounge enshrines your Divine General. In addition to a 9 meter high, 90 lot stele written with all the adventure regarding Emperor Zhu Di's restructuring regarding Mt Wudang.

The particular Supreme A harmonious relationship Construction was established with 1416. The particular middle hallway enshrines a older statue of the Emperor, and also the Eight Incredible Professionals of the Magic Ministry in both area. Some other properties incorporate Worship Lounge, Bell-Drum Podium, Chanting Lounge, Three-Element Gods Lounge, and a theater. Within the other high, Very little Lotus Optimum, is really a modest house known as Shifted Lounge. This purchased it's brand because there is put into the idea a small bronze temple-house on a natural stone altar which was donated simply by readers from Hubei, Henan and also Zhejiang with 1307 (in your Yuan Dynasty); it turned out transferred from your Older Summit good buy regarding Emperor Zhudi, who thought the idea also modest being around the top high.

The particular Older Summit is the top regarding Heaven's Pillar Optimum, your mountain's tallest high. Along with it truly is a great almost all bronze hallway developed upon a corian ter. It really is 5. 54 measures high, four. four measures long and also 3. 15 measures broad, and also was created with 1416 utilizing 21 years old tons of bronze and also 40 kgs regarding platinum. The particular interior statues of the Emperor, Divine Generals regarding Drinking water and also Fireplace, and also men and also woman escorts, together with the many house products also manufactured from gilded bronze. The site a shine older in fact!