If you're having trouble accessing the site directly, there is a link on Kevin's twitter page that will take you directly here.

 

Oh, dear readers, our climbers have made a valiant return.

 

Moshi must have been a sight for sore eyes for our poor, exhausted, exhilarated team of climbers. Not to mention how great their showers and beds looked.

 

Andrew lost 5 pounds on the climb. Perhaps this is the start of a brand new dieting trend?

"Get fit. Climb a mountain."

 

I like the sound of that.

 

After having come home, being fed, and freshly cleaned (natural showers can only be so refreshing...), the group has decided that their current hotel is too expensive and went out in search of another. I guess we'll just have to stay tuned to see what happened...

 

Kevin's got video footage and everyone has pictures that will be posted as soon as possible for everyone to see. Kevin's brother has volunteered his services to make a "commercial" of sorts for Climb for a Cure, so once that gets completed I'm sure they'll be quick to get it out there for everyone else to enjoy. As for now, it looks as though a safari in the Serengetti, (and perhaps a "day" trip to Zanzibar?) are in the works as the group spends their last few days in Tanzania relaxing and unwinding from their adventure.

 

 

So while the group wasn't able to contact anyone directly from the summit, they were able to pass along messages to friends and family shortly before tucking into their sleeping bags. According to everyone that we were able to talk to, they were all "spent."

 

Well, of course you were! You just climbed a freaking mountain! Gah, I still can't get over it.

 

According to my sources, it was extremely cold on the summit, but an experience that they would never, ever forget.

 

I'm thinking that given their positive attitude in the light of their exhaustion, they're going to be tackling Everest next. Or perhaps K2?

 

Right now our climbers are making their way down the mountain heading towards the gates of the National Park where they'll recieve their certificates of achievement for their ascent before being trollied back to the hotel for showers, bathrooms, and a mattress. (Oh, the anticipation!)

 

I'll bet those beds are so close they can practically taste them.

That was the text I just got.

 

"We made it. All 5."

 

They did it, they all summitted. Is it completely pathetic that I'm crying?

 

They made it to the top of the mountain, they reached their goal. I'm so unbelievably proud of all of them. This whole venture just started as an idea--a notion that Kevin cooked up in honor of his own life experiences. At first, it was just him--then Mitch, then Andrew, and Heidi and Lauren jumped right on the opportunity to do something great. And I'm not just talking about the fact that they've summitted. That... well, that's just icing on the cake. What was important wasn't that they were climbing, it was what they were climbing for.

 

All over the world, every day--children suffer and pass away from pediatric brain cancer. So far, the world has been unable to find a cure for cancer--and at times it seems like an impossible fight. But none-the-less, scientists, researchers, parents, and doctors push everyday to hopefully find an end to a seemingly incurable disease. People like those involved in Climb for a Cure, people like Kevin, Mitch, Andrew, Heidi, and Lauren give those fighters hope. They give them motivation and the promise that as long as they're still willing to fight the good fight, there are going to be people who want to help them.

 

 

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." - Eleanor Roosevelt.

 

Dream big, reach high, go far. This is only the beginning.

 

 

Be safe on the climb down, guys. We're all SO proud of everything you've accomplished.

Okay, so I'm combining two days here. Partly because being eight hours behind throws me off kilter and secondly because I'm pretty sure that the climbers are standing on the summit of the mountain RIGHT FREAKING NOW.

 

Yesterday (for them, today for us), involved a more rigorous climb in preparation for the push for the summit. They've made their way to the Barafu camp, which is the last stop ON THE WAY TO THE SUMMIT. WHERE THEY ARE PROBABLY STANDING RIGHT AT THIS VERY SECOND. (I'm still waiting for a phone call/text message/facebook confirmation).

 

This particular part of the climb is difficult because of the weather and climbing conditions. There's a lot of ice here, and the wind whips around pretty fast, so it's a good thing our climbers are in as good of a condition as they are right now, because that kind of environment is physically taxing.

 

They departed for the summit (HOLY CROW!) at midnight last night/this morning in Tanzania (which translates to roughly four in the afternoon in Central Indiana). The climb to the Summit should take around 7-8 hours. Which means that they are probably there right now... or are about to be. I legitimately cannot wrap my mind around it. They've been working for this for so long and are so close they can probably taste it. Knowing the group, someone probably has actually eaten something off of the groud either as a means of hydrating or being gravity-challenged and biting it.

 

I nominate Mitch for this particular honor, mostly because during a practice climb he took a flying leap and landed in a huge pile of muscle and body-wick technology clothing at the bottom of a stream.

 

Although I'm sure they were all incredibly excited to make it to the summit, I'll bet that Kevin was the last out of his sleeping bag. He's not much of a morning person. Or a rising-while-it's-still-dark-outside kind of person. Besides, it's cold. I wouldn't want to get out of my sleeping bag, either.

 

Have I mentioned that they're probably AT THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN RIGHT NOW!

 

Gah, I think I'm going to pass out... and I'm not even there. Think of how they must feel!?

 

WE ARE SO EXCITED FOR YOU GUYS!

Today is also an acclimatization day for our group.

 

They also will be heading a little lower today again (around 13,000 ft), in order to prepart for climbing the Uhuru peak. (Whooppee!). They've spent a great deal of time walking, and are quire tired. It's been raining for the past four days, which can tire anyone out even on a quick walk from the car to the store--imagine how exhausting 5-7 hours of walking in it would be. The good news is, at least they'll be clean! Outdoor showers  are good for the soul.

 

(Or, so I've heard).

 

They're all still pretty tired (and wet) but are enjoying their experience immensely.

 

I got a jumbled text message, or three, today from them, and I'm still trying to decipher it.

 

Here's what they were, verbatim:

1. "a 1110 vertical climb. it has been raining the past four days and"

2. "t 2 days have been acclimatization days and have he"

3. "the summit push. We hope to have a report to"

 

... yeah, I'm a little baffled as well. Anyone here know how to decode this for me or fill in the blanks?

 

Two more days until they summit!

 

Heidi, Lauren, Mitch, Andrew, and Kevin--we're all rooting for you, still. Especially now that the hardest part of your climb has begun. (If my watch is right, it's happening right now).