Summit Update – 9/25/09
Ouch! Long day. 10.5 hours. Technical from start to finish. Unrelenting. A series of about 1000 3-4 second sprints at 12,000 feet and 3300 vertical. I didn’t use the winch. We’re saving it for the upper mountain. The Harken winch is a great mechanism. We’re still figuring out the intricacies for our purposes. We’ll figure it out. On the other side, the rig ran great. I was constantly surprised at what I climbed. The new pivot is fantastic.
I knew this would be the most difficult day other than the summit day. It took longer than I hoped, but it’s behind me now. With each step of this journey, I feel more optimistic – but cautiously optimistic. The first half of tomorrow will be technical. The second half will be on the road. Hopefully, the dust subsides. Sarah Walllis told us before we left that it was “exploding dust” on the mountain. She was right.
The coolest sight of the day: leaving the rain forest and getting our first majestic view of Kili and her glacier-crowned glory. It’s a magical draw.
- Chris
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Way to go Chris! I (and many others I’m sure) have been checking in here way too frequently looking for updates. Keep at it.
Lincoln
Chris – Best of luck on the climb! I’ll be checking in on you, “Cricket”
Hey Chris, in all those Tarzan movies there were always willing elephants to do the heavy lifting. I’m thinking you need to learn to do one of those Great Ape calls- “AHAYYYYAAAH” (translated from Ape: “Tantor come carry Tarzan Waddell up the big mountain”).
Good luck my friend; all of us down here in the flatlands are looking up at you in amazement and admiration (as usual!).
Chris,
WAY TO GO!!!! Keep it up. Your updates are the highlight of my day. No my life is not dull. This is just REALLY exciting. Hang tough! THinking of you. Ginger
C.,
WOWZA! What wicked progress you’re making. Man. I shook your hand at the Kelly Brush Century at Middlebury, and later told your buddy Rob Tod that your handshake felt like like some sort of pneumatic clamping device for crushing small cars. Now’s the time to use that strength! Take a measured pace — they say getting to Kili’s summit is all about acclimatization.
Jay
Jambo Chris – I can’t wait until each afternoon when I check for your updates. Thanks for all your sharing. Any pictures or video to look at? We’re cheering loudly for you here. One revolution at a time. DELL
Just don’t let the penguin pass you. Great job team, keep climbing, you’ll get there.
I look so forward to each update. Keep up the great job!!! We’re all with you on this climb.
From 7,000 miles away, at altitude 8,000 AMSL, two seniors are, in Zen sense, pushing your Hybrid to summit. Anxiously and daily, we watch your progress on the heavenly course to the summit of “Kili” through dust explosions, mental and physical fortitude, pain,
doubt,pride,exhilaration, and the determination you will be there, with all of us cheering from the world around. Our hearts are with you
and our fortune to know you. Close your eyes, we are all standing behind you.
Go Chris!! This is such an awesome journey! I don’t remember any dust. It’s going to be perfect. Enjoy. Don’t forget to stop and look at the beauty!
Hey there Chris-
Way to go! Everyone is thinking about you. Good job on the blog, it’s great to hear your progress. I hope you and your crew are having the experience of a lifetime. You did it! awesome.
Great things are done by a series of small things brought together- One revolution at a time. Don’t forget to breath.
Chris,
Amazing job, keep it up! Thinking of you here in Utah and being inspired by your journey everyday.
Emily
It’s so exciting for us here on level ground to know you are charging ahead and catching your dream. Ten hours is wicked. I hope tomorrow will be easier. Love, Aunt Beth
It’s so exciting for us here on level ground to know you are charging ahead and catching your dream. Ten hours+ is wicked. I hope tomorrow will be easier. Love, Aunt Beth
Hi Chris,
all through our night of games (wink!), didn’t realise we were in the presence of a true legend!! really wish you all the best on this journey and hope you and all your team make it all the way to the very top of the mountain. we’ll be rooting for you and checking in on your progress over the next few days. this is a really amazing thing you are doing. hope each day gets just a little bit easier! Nnenna (part of the ATD clan at Arusha)
Hey Chris,
Incredible effort….incredible inspiration to so many…..you are nature’s cure for whiners. Ellen sends her love and spirit. Our boys Ethan, Ash and Zane are following your daily progress and sharing it with their friends…..”we skied with that guy, he’s awsome, of course he’ll make it to the top!” From all of us in Princeton….see you at the summit!!
Hi Chris,
It’s exciting to read about your trip to Kili and all that you are achieving for so many. Climb higher, savor the views, and from the Top you’ll write about the joy of the journey.
Awesome job Chris– keep it up and you will be at the top soon.
Keep the updates and photos on Facebook coming they are great.. I know you can make it to the Summit. Cheers from Atlanta!!!!
Brenda
one-rev is shining its light!
Well we just dropped two to the yanks, but who cares it ain’t the yanks who are capturing the hearts and minds of this country right now it is you. Carrying the flag of red sox nation and placing it firmly in the ground of accomplishment. Doing what no person has ever done before. So on the day of a shut out look the red sox nation is delivering a knock out. “Hey A-rod try to finish day one in the bomba at under 10.5, thought so!” This year the Pennant is decided at the top of Killi… looks like the sox’s can order the banner now!
One revolution brother.
Andre, Greg and all the men and woman of the Eureka!
Henry wants to know if the climbing is good?
Margaret wants to know if it is hard work? We are assuming the answer to both is YES! We are thinking of you!
xoxo
The Melniks