Timmerman Traverse for Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation

The team arrived back in Arusha the afternoon of Feb. 16. It has been a long and invigorating day. We started by descending from Millennium Camp at 12,000 feet all the way to the Mweka Gate at 5,500 feet. Our legs are tired and our souls are full. We were lucky enough to see several monkeys in the forest zone. We had lively, no BS, authentic conversations on the trail about biotech and life. We sang and danced with our 100-person strong Tanzanian crew. Then came lunch and a spirited tipping ceremony. Our porters, cooks, tent crew and guides all came up to receive their generous tips from our team. The spirit of gratitude and fellowship was palpable. Now it's time for showers and a final team celebration dinner at the hotel before some folks head off on safari and others fly home. 

One week ago, hardly anyone on this team knew each other. Now, plans are being hatched for reunions and follow-up calls. These deep, meaningful relationships that will be enriching for participants on a personal level. I have no doubt some of these personal relationships -- forged in shared sacrifice for the greater good of cancer research -- will lead in productive directions that advance science and business.

Sunny skies and warm temperatures made for a lovely start to Day 5. We hiked through the steady rocky terrain from Karanga Camp at 13,300 feet to Kosovo Camp at 15,900 feet. This will be our staging area before we make the push to the summit, starting in the middle of the night. We had some headaches and upset stomach on the team, but lots of support for our teammates who aren’t feeling so well. Lots of smiles and laughter in the dining tent. We enjoyed singing and dancing with our Tanzanian crew — the A-team. This was a real spirit boost for the ‘pole pole posse’ — a half dozen teammates who are taking a little extra time. We had a hearty lunch at about 2 pm, and a detailed summit preparation briefing from Eric. We will get our gear organized and rest this afternoon before we make our move to the summit.

We woke up at 4:30 am to get ready to ascend the Barranco Wall at dawn. This was the fun scrambling section that requires some careful footwork and hands for balance. Everyone did great. We basked in some morning sun on top of the Barranco Wall and enjoyed a cup of tea. The rest of the day was an easy hike with some 500 feet of uphill and downhill terrain on our way to Karanga Camp at 13,300 feet. Some people are feeling headaches and some nausea that is normal for these altitudes. Everyone is hydrated and taking care of themselves well. The Tanzanian crew and Eric are doing an excellent job of helping people navigate whatever challenges they may encounter. We had a long, relaxed afternoon at Karanga to prepare for our move to Kosovo high camp at 15,800 feet. Some afternoon rain settled down the dust on the trail, and blanketed the high flanks of the mountain with light snow. Conditions look good for the Summit. Anticipation for the next couple days is building.

Today we started out with sunny, clear skies from Shira Camp. Clouds rolled in as we made it to our new high point at Lava Tower, elevation 15,000 feet. We had lunch and then descended to 13,000 feet at Barranco Camp. Some folks are feeling the altitude, but also marveling at the beauty of the unique plants and trees from this part of the world. I captured a few video interviews in which hikers raved about the camaraderie, the natural wonders, and the warm Tanzanian crew. We felt some light rain and hail at the end a long 8-hour day on the trail. Tonight we go to bed early and get up early for a fun scramble up the Barranco Wall. Thanks for following!

We had a grand day on the trails, moving from 10,000 feet through the heather and moorland zone to Shira Camp at 12,500 feet. Weather was cool and cloudy, making for comfortable hiking. The Tanzanian crew sang welcoming songs for us, sharing a special part of this mountain experience. During the afternoon there was much joking around in the dining tent. The food was delicious, with rice and beef stroganoff, steamed vegetables and banana fitter for dessert. We are looking forward to warm sleeping bags tonight.

The Timmerman Traverse for Damon Runyon is off to a great start. We departed Arusha on time, Feb10, and began our hike on Kilimanjaro from the Machame gate at about 12:30 pm. The day started warm in the forest zone, and then we caught some light rain later in the afternoon. Lots of smiles and laughter on the trails. We kept a slow, steady pace, just as planned. We arrived at camp at 6:30 pm, got settled, and had a delicious meal of tilapia and potatoes, with spinach and sautéed veggies. We are enjoying the 5-star Kilimanjaro experience. Before bed, we stared up at clear night skies, enjoying the stars.

Gear check is when it starts getting fun and getting real.

Our team of 21 hikers has arrived in Tanzania and gotten all our gear sorted. We’ll start the trek on Kilimanjaro Feb. 10. Then we spend the next seven days together on the trails to the top of the highest peak in Africa, elevation 19,341 feet / 5,895 meters.

We are getting to know each other over meals. We’re cracking jokes. We’re soaking up the warm and welcoming atmosphere of the Tanzanian people.

It’s time to slow down and savor these days. We’ve put in months of hard work getting physically and mentally ready, and tapping our networks to raise $1.2 million for high-risk / high-reward cancer research through the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation.

Thanks to all of you who contributed. If you haven't yet contributed, there's still time to do so using the donate button below.