DISPATCHES: Kilimanjaro (Tuesday, March 26)
By Gary Fallesen
President, Climbing For Christ
Michael Heitland and I were in the air again, traveling from Tanzania back to our families in the United States. Joshua Cook was headed for Kenya and then on to South Africa. We all will be back on the s...
DISPATCHES: Kilimanjaro (Monday, March 25)
By Gary Fallesen
President, Climbing For Christ
We shared our appreciation and said our good-byes to the team that trekked Kilimanjaro with us during the traditional tipping ceremony in Moshi. (Guides and porters make more in tips from climbers than th...
DISPATCHES: Kilimanjaro (Sunday, March 24)
By Gary Fallesen
President, Climbing For Christ
Our team finished our descent off the mountain on Day 7 of the Kilimanjaro trek. We completed a 45-mile (72-kilometer) circuit up the Machame Route and down the Mweka Route. After Joshua Cook and Michael ...
DISPATCHES: Kilimanjaro (Saturday, March 23)
By Gary Fallesen
President, Climbing For Christ
Joshua Cook and Michael Heitland reached the summit of Kilimanjaro accompanied by guide Saidi and assistant guide Mohamed at 7:20 a.m. in extremely high winds and bitter cold. Joshua and Michael give al...
DISPATCHES: Kilimanjaro (Friday, March 22)
By Gary Fallesen
President, Climbing For Christ
Our old friend Yusuf joined us a Barafu Hut on Day 5 of our Kilimanjaro trek. Barafu is the high camp on the Machame Route at 15,360 feet (4,680 meters). We ascended only 2,105 feet, taking 3 hours to hik...
DISPATCHES: Kilimanjaro (Thursday, March 21)
By Gary Fallesen
President, Climbing For Christ
Milaji brings hot water to our tents in the morning and offers us a choice of coffee or tea to drink. Milaji is one of 10 porters working on our trek. He has the slightly higher standing job of waiter.
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DISPATCHES: Kilimanjaro (Wednesday, March 20)
By Gary Fallesen
President, Climbing For Christ
Riziki, our cook, came to visit after breakfast to see if the porridge, mango, eggs, toast and drinks were to our liking. Riziki has cooked for trekkers for eight years; he first worked with us in 2007...
DISPATCHES: Kilimanjaro (Tuesday, March 19)
By Gary Fallesen
President, Climbing For Christ
Saidi, left, and Mohamed during a rest stop on the trail.
Saidi and Mohamed led us out of the Machame Hut and directly uphill for about 1,200 vertical feet to start Day 2 on Kilimanjaro. We trekked an...
DISPATCHES: Kilimanjaro (Monday, March 18)
By Gary Fallesen
President, Climbing For Christ
Mohamed, our assistant guide and another friend on Kilimanjaro, led us uphill from the Machame Gate. It’s ALL uphill from here, starting at 6,000 feet (1,830 meters) and ascending to 19,340 feet (5,...
DISPATCHES: Kilimanjaro (Sunday, March 17)
By Gary Fallesen
President, Climbing For Christ
“And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.” - Luke 22:43 (ESV)
I shared during worship an email I received yesterday about a house pastor in China who'd been arrested...