It is great news! Our all team members are reach at the top of the Kilimanjaro! including all Alaskan students (Parker, Spencer) and teachers (Jenny, Robbie) in this morning!!!

They are strong!

We are approaching Crater Camp where almost summit. Main team will join us tomorrow! Entire Journal, please jump to  http://xpeditiononline.com/2010journal.html

Main team keep going to original trail to Katanga Valley. Dr. Narita and me were farther looking for permafrost to off trail.

Entire Journal, please jump to  http://xpeditiononline.com/2010journal.html

It is first day for walking higher than 4000m!! I feel air getting thiner.

Entire Journal, please jump to  http://xpeditiononline.com/2010journal.html

We are walking long distance but not much gain hight! Just before camp site in the afternoon, we walk in front of cave that has own plant grow environment.

Entire Journal, please jump to  http://xpeditiononline.com/2010journal.html

Everybody relax at lunch place.

We are still Jungle at the morning, however, after the lunch, plant hight get lower and could see landscape!

Entire Journal, please jump to  http://xpeditiononline.com/2010journal.html

Dr. Kenji Narita teaches how to measure tree hight.

Rainforest, but frost in the morning!

Finally we could see Kilimanjaro, but far away!!

Soil protocol, Jenny working with students

We left Arusha hotel in the morning, it takes about 2 hours to get National Park Entrance. After sign up, we drive another 1 hour to start point!

The air temperature is 19 degree C!

Entire Journal, please jump to  http://xpeditiononline.com/2010journal.html

My first impression of Africa was that it was very beautiful and the people were very nice.

-Spencer, Expedition Member

Arusha, Tanzania is a very pretty town. The people here are hard working and make most of there things out of the things they have (resourceful).  This shows me how lucky I am that I live in a place where it is easy to live and that you have a house to live in.

-Parker, Expedition Member

I have mixed emotions right now.  I am very excited to begin making a dream of mine a reality by beginning my climb to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro.  I am also very humbled by the wonderful people of Tanzania.  I am honored to be a participant with my wonderful students and to work with the great staff and scientists on this expedition.  I will continue to learn so much that I hope I can share with others.  It is especially exciting to share this experience with my youngest son Parker.

-Robbie, Expedition Faculty Member

Having spent the past 3 days on a safari to Olduvai Gorge, the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater Conservation area has already given me such wonderful experiences of the local people and the beauty and diversity of nature is beyond words.  I am truly honored and proud to represent Valdez, Alaska and I look forward to sharing my experiences on this learning journey with my students, friends, and family.

-Jenny, Expedition Faculty Member

Arusha National Park

Olduvai Gorge is located about 200km west of Kilimanjaro. The site semi arid condition with deep depression around the lift valley made unique Alkaline lake  environments that preserve well bone.

Australopithecus boisei (about 2 million years ago) was found here in this valley. You may remember this usually first topic on human history book!

I am Tanzania now! long long two day air plane ride! Before Kilimanjaro expedition, I visited Olduvai Gorge and Ngorongro Crater with Kenji Narita.

Olduvai Gorge is very special gorge for all of humans! About 4 million years ago, first human was started here! I try to upload more pictures but internet is slow here, hope tomorrow…

Ngrongro is actually caldera landscape with a lot of anumals stay (stack!) in the bottom

!