| Professionals | Balsigers |
| Mike Lindhass | Chris and Christy Balsiger |
| Heidi Eichner | Angela, Joey, Camille, Avery |
| Iyume – Local Guide | Heather Wuletich (Joey's fiancée) |
| Aaron Kahn (Angela's fiancée) |
The team arrives in Africa on July 6th full of excitement and nervousness. Of the Balsigers no one is quite sure what to expect. While all have trained extensively and have done some high mountain trekking, all are relatively inexperienced when it comes to a full scale mountaineering expedition. The team feels that they all have a realistic shot at the summit and are particularly excited, that at age 13, Avery has a chance to be one of the youngest ever to summit Kilimanjaro.
Prior to beginning the climb, the team experienced a three-day African safari. Having enjoyed ourselves immensely, it is time, however, to set about the task that brought us to Africa.
 | Today we started our 7-summit quest. Having traveled on rough dirt roads to
6,000 feet we met up with Iyume — our local guide and head of our porter
contingent. With the assistance of some 37 porters we will climb for the next
6-10 days. This is quite an undertaking and the seriousness of climbing a
"relatively easy" mountain is beginning to sink-in. After trekking some 7-8
hours through the rain forest, we arrive at Camp I at 10,000 feet just inside
the Heather Zone. All did well. |
 | After a 5-6 hour trek/climb we arrived at Camp 2 on the Shira plateau at about 12,000 feet. The day was reasonably aggressive and we worked hard at developing our pressure breathing and the rest step; two simple skills that are absolutely critical to mountaineering. The camp is at a beautiful site and the porters are tremendous in setting up the tents as well as our dining tent and food preparation. All continued to do well and as we are well away from civilization, the kids are beginning to realize the seriousness of the expedition. |
 | Today was a long day of trekking. The summit was in site as the high clouds were scattered. We gained some altitude during the day but came down into a valley at 12,500 feet for sleeping to further aid the acclimatization process. According to Mike, Heidi and Iyume the African words "poli-poli" meaning "slowly-slowly" is the key to the summit, which can only be achieved with renewed strength acquired through proper acclimatization. We have already passed several groups returning to base that very much underestimated this climb...so much for an "easy" mountain. |
 | Today was another long day of trekking. We climbed through a pass at 14,500 feet and traversed around the mountain to a beautiful high glacier run-off valley at 13,500 feet. A few on the team are experiencing high altitude headaches but are learning to pressure breathe them away. The nights would be great if we did not have to look at part of our route tomorrow, apparently a pretty vertical rock scramble of some 700 - 1000 feet. |
 | What a day. The rock scrambling/climbing was thrilling, all did well. We are safely in camp at 13,000 feet and now positioned on a route that will take us to the summit. All are in good health, the weather is good and we all have a shot at the summit. |
 | We are at high camp at 15,300 feet with just 4,000 feet to go. Weather is holding and tomorrow at 12:00 a.m. we head for the summit. Hopefully all eight of the Balsigers will make it. We go to bed at 5:00 p.m. and rest for our summit bid. |
 | Today was summit day. 6 of 8 of the Balsiger team summitted. Camille got
severe high altitude sickness during the night and was evacuated down to our
10,500 camp to recover. Christy chose to stay with Camille and assist her. The
team while excited about the summit is devastated that Camille and Christy have
been denied their chance. We have learned another hard mountaineering lesson.
Having reached the summit in about 9 hours; we retreat back to high camp at 15,300, pack and then trek down to camp at 10,500 feet, a 20-hour day. We reunite with Camille and Christy and have a good night of food, laughter, reflection and tears. |
 | We prepare to depart down to our jeeps at 6,000 feet and are given a
beautiful, touching closing song/ceremony by our porters. The total experience
has forever changed us for the better. After a 10-hour day we arrive at our lodge, shower and sleep. In a couple of days we will depart for home. |
| Note:
It is gut wrenching to train for a mountain climb for several months and then put up with the grueling climb itself and then be denied an attempt at the summit. Considering this, Chris and Christy along with Mike and Heidi, returned to Kilimanjaro in late September of 2002 to get Christy another shot. This trip, the weather was not good and the climbing was difficult. Many teams faltered and much tragedy visited several teams that were unprepared. Well prepared and climbing much faster than in July, our team put itself quickly in summit position and on the fifth day of arriving in Tanzania received a brief weather opening and Christy along with the others got to the summit of Kilimanjaro. |
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