Showing posts with label climbing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label climbing. Show all posts

Tuesday, 2 November 2010

The Climb:Tanzania - Day 6

The first photo we've received from the Kili Mums: can you work out who's who?

Kiliwarrior Expeditions Mountain Report: Nov. 2
Anna, Nicoletta, Clare and Catherine had a short 1.5 mile hike to Arrow Glacier Camp (15,978ft.) today. Everyone is doing well! The weather is still cloudy with some snow falling. Best wishes to the "Kili Moms" on the breach tomorrow! They will be up very early tomorrow morning long before th...e sun comes up to start their trek around 5am.

Text from Clare: Nov. 2
Signal really bad. Going for summit a dat early. Tough going for me today. Huge day tomorrow climbing 1km in a day.

Christina Warren: Nov. 2
Yoo hoo! I know you won't be picking this up for a while but just to let you know I am thinking of you as you are climbing! Be safe. Tina xx

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Monday, 1 November 2010

The Climb:Tanzania - Day 5

Kilimanjaro Lemosho Western Breach Route Map from eben schoeman on Vimeo.

Our Kili Mums are taking the Lemosho/Shira/Western Breach route. It lasts 9 days and is the best way to experience the thrill of climbing Kilimanjaro. It is one of the least crowded routes, it is one of the most fascinating and it is long enough to provide proper acclimatization. It is essentially the same route as the IMAX team used during the filming of "Kilimanjaro: To the Roof of Africa". The Western Breach route is more risky due to the potential for rock falls, which is why climbers are asked to wear helmets.

Kiliwarrior Expeditions Mountain Report: Nov. 1
Second day at Sheffield Camp. Instead of resting today the group opted to go on an acclimatization hike. Lava Tower was a bit too snowy and icy to climb today. The weather is cloudy and foggy with some snow expected.

Gary Mott: Nov.1
Bite em back the little buggers, they won't like that. Glad you're all well and in high spirits, sounds like you're all enjoying the experience, keep it up. Will keep following your adventure and will write again soon X

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Sunday, 31 October 2010

The Climb:Tanzania - Day 4

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Safari Ants
image: hmcbrayer.blogspot.com

From the Kili Mums: Oct. 31
Day 4 now and here is a quick resume of our experiences to date. Bitten by safari ants. Drinking 4 litres per day with 4-8 hour hikes with only bushes to scurry behind. A wonderful crew who welcome us to camp in song and we eat like a sty of pigs. Freezing rain, racing hearts, spacey heads. Far too much laughter, not enough sleep. Now at Lava Camp 4.6 km. We are safe, freezing and very happy. Love to you all. xx

Kiliwarrior Expeditions Mountain Report: Oct. 31
Today was a short 2.5 mile hike to Sheffield Camp (14,940 ft.) where they will spend 2 days. It's cloudy and rainy. Everyone is doing well! Tomorrow is a rest/acclimatization day.

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Saturday, 30 October 2010

The Climb:Tanzania - Day 3

Nik Miti (Nicoletta's son): Oct. 30
Go team!! Go mom!! nik

Gary Mott: Oct. 30
Please let Clare and the others know that Gary, Chris and the kids are very proud of them and to keep the sterling work up and big love from us all

Kiliwarrior Expeditions Mountain Report: Oct. 30
Today was a long hike, almost 7 miles to Moir Hut Camp (13,700 ft). We did not hear from the team today yet as cell coverage from this camp is very tough!

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Friday, 29 October 2010

The Climb:Tanzania - Day 2


Carol Schoeman, Kiliwarrior Expeditions: Oct. 29
I just received a text from one of the mountain guides as follows:

"Anna's phone is broken. No signal for Clare until Sunday. Please let Clare and Anna's husband know this!"

It sounds like Clare's phone is working but will not get a strong cell signal until Sunday when they are at Sheffield Camp. Texting from Moir Hut camp tomorrow (Sat) is always really tough because cell service is very spotty to nothing at that camp typically. Coverage is much better at Sheffield Camp where they will be on Sunday for 2 days/2 nights to acclimatize!

Kiliwarrior Expeditions Mountain Report: Oct. 29
Update - the trekkers are doing very well and happy! They are almost to Shira Camp (11,520 ft). and had some sunshine today! Today's trek was almost 5 miles.

Kiliwarrior Expeditions Mountain Report: Oct. 29
Everyone on the mountain is doing great and leaving Forest Camp this morning for the long trek to Shira Camp! The weather is cloudy with a little rain!

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The Climb:Tanzania - Day 1

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Kiliwarrior Expeditions Mountain Report: Oct. 28
We did not receive an update today, but this is not uncommon as the group is deep in the forest where cell coverage is tough! After a short 2.5 mile hike today, their first night is at Forest Camp (9222 ft).

A text from Anna: Oct. 28
We've just filled our stomachs ready for a flat out day. 3 and a half hours of potholed typical African roads followed by 3 and a half hours trekking thru mosquito laced rainforest to a forest camp at 2,800 mtrs. Where we will settle for the night. Bye for now x

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The Climb:Tanzania has begun


After months of training and fundraising, our 4 very brave mums Anna Koska, Nicoletta Iacobacci, Clare Beale and Catherine English have set off on their journey to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in aid of SafePoint Trust!

Our 4 mums are, in fact, the first all-mothers women group to ascent Mount Kilimanjaro along the particular route they are taking.

The purpose of The Climb:Tanzania is to raise enough funds in order to donate a substantial number of auto disable syringes to Tanzania. Auto disable syringes cannot be reused, so their implementation within Tanzania's healthcare system will drastically reduce the number of deaths from HIV and other blood-borne diseases that currently result from reused syringes.

As well as climbing up the mountain, they will be visiting schools, orphanages and hospitals in Tanzania to educate children, nurses and teachers in safe and sterile injection practice.

Here is a summary of comments made during the preparation stage of The Climb:

Anna Koska - 27 Oct 2010:
Kit check
Body check
Head check
Then we are off.
Please sponsor us if you haven't already. Even the smallest amount will make the hugest difference! And will give us a boost when the going gets tougher at 5000 m. We are very honored to be raising these funds for safepoint to buy these syringes. It will make the difference for the Tanzania! Xxx

Marc Koska - 27 Oct 2010:
Anna, Nicoletta, Clare and Catherine - Good luck on behalf of all at SafePoint Trust UK and all your supporters, and well done for raising the money that you have raised so far, that will be put towards the Auto Disable syringes that will be donated to Tanzania.

Kiliwarrior Expeditions - 27 Oct 2010:
Kiliwarrior Expeditions Today Anna, Nicoletta, Clare and Catherine had their gear inspection and climb briefing. Tomorrow...Kilimanjaro! The guides will be Faraja and Gideon who is taking Hosea's place. Hosea is getting married in a few weeks!

Anna Koska - 26 Oct 2010:
Just to keep you posted. We are in Arusha preparing for our ascent. We've found out that we are the first all mothers womens group to attempt the western breach. Usually they take the women up the shorter less physically demanding route. So that's pretty cool. All for now xxx

Kiliwarrior Expeditions - 26 Oct 2010:
The next trek with Anna, Nicoletta, Clare and Catherine is a charity climb for SafePoint, a UK based charity, established in 2006 by Marc Koska OBE (Anna, Marc's wife is climbing). The purpose of their trek is to raise awareness and funds to donate much needed AD (Auto Disable) syringes to Tanzania. Please read more on... this important, life saving mission here: www.safepointtrust.org

J-A M-R - 24 Oct 2010:
Good Luck to u and all will be thinking of you. Will enjoy the updates. Look forward to hearing all about the trip. So proud of You. Xxxx

Anna Koska - 24 Oct 2010:
Training has at last come to an end.. and I think I'm ready for Kili!

Anna Koska - 23 Oct 2010:
Our good friends at Cocoa Loco have sent us a REAL mountain of chocolate to get us through those highs and lows and regulate our blood sugar (you know how girls are!) during our ascent up that 5892 metre hill. What priceless comfort! Lots of thanks to Rory and Sarah! XXX

Anna Koska - 20 Oct 2010:
Some facts about me: I'm very excited.
I'm extremely fortunate to have a wonderful bevvy of strong happy souls to climb with. I'm honoured to be doing it for Safepoint. I strongly suspect that I will want to climb a bigger one next.

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Thursday, 30 September 2010

The Climb Tanzania 2010: our High Altitude Health Assessments


Dr Jack Kreindler at 76 Harley Street, offered to give us a specialised High Altitude Assessment session to see whether we're up to the climb, both aerobically and anaerobically.

76 Harley Street is the most incredible and unique set up geared towards every aspect of personal health possible. One arm of that is one specifically geared towards the research and betterment of human performance, which is where we come in.

We were briefed on key aspects of the ascent by Jack Kreindler and tested by Jim Pate. We all thoroughly enjoyed the experience (in as much as anybody can whilst sitting on a bike wired up, gagged and going nowhere!) The experience was both fascinating and hideous and ended with us feeling happily capable but ravenously hungry.

We all now have a much clearer picture of what to expect and are all working hard to develop thighs like a prop forward, and eating for England.. well Tanzania actually.

Jim Pate, with Clare, assessing Nicoletta's performance

Nicoletta, the Italian Dynamo!

Clare, before kick-off

Me, wired up and gagged, and ready to go!

Catherine, setting the pace!

We are all very grateful to Jack Kreindler and Jim Pate of 76 Harley Street for the enormous support they have given SafePoint's Climb Tanzania 2010. By putting us through an incredibly thorough health assessment, it has enabled us to properly prepare for this infamously gruelling climb. So a big thank you to everyone at 76 Harley Street.

Anna x

About 76 Harley Street

76 Harley Street was established to set new standards in personalised medical and dental specialty care, diagnostics, screening and enhanced recovery - to prognose, prevent or get the very best outcomes. Their expertise now extends into coaching, human performance sciences, life-support / survival skills and high altitude pursuits for health promotion.

Thursday, 22 July 2010

TV News Report on The Climb Tanzania 2010 (aired 10 July)

Clare Beale, Catherine English, Ginny Simpson and Anna Koska

See the SafePoint team training in the Ashdown Forest, getting ready to take on the challenge of climbing Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in this Meridian TV news report. These four brave mums are climbing to raise funds to donate 2 million auto disable syringes to Tanzania. Tanzania are at the forefront of safe healthcare in Africa, soon to become one of only two countries converted to using AD syringes in the ECSA Region. Tanzania has policy in place, healthcare workers trained and a public information film (in Swahili), donated by SafePoint and waiting to be aired.

A donation of 2 million syringes is the perfect platform from which to kick start this campaign and convert Tanzania to a safe injection country.

If you would like to donate to this cause, you can do so through Just Giving or by contacting SafePoint directly on +44 (0)1825 713722 or info@safepointtrust.org

Thank you in advance.
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