23 Days...Fundraising Challenge!

As I get closer and closer to the departure date, this trip is starting to feel real!  Both of my visas are taken care of, I got my shots and prescriptions ordered (Malaria pills and altitude medication), paid my final deposit for the trip, have plane tickets, all my gear...etc.  To date, I have raised about $15,000 for the 3 organizations we are supporting in Kenya and TZ.  In the month of December, donations are being matched 2 to 1 by a really cool foundation.  Just this past weekend, I received a $500 donation...which will be met with $1000 from the foundation!  If I can get a few more gifts of support...we'll have a crazy amount to send over and make a HUGE difference for these causes.  As a team, we've raised nearly $100,000!  Help us get farther along and make even more of an impact.  You can visit my FirstGiving page to make a donation.

FIRSTGIVING PAGE...CLICK HERE!

Every bit helps...and remember, a $25 donation turns into $75, so you know what that means for a $5,000 donation.....:)

24 Days...Happy Independence Days Tanzania and Kenya!

Celebrate!

Remarkably, Kenya and Tanzania celebrate their Independence Days within the same week in December.  Tanzania gained independence December 9th 1961 (or 1964), and Kenya gained independence on December 12th, 1963.  During World War II both countries were territories of the British, and transitioned to independence in the 50s and early 60s.

• Tanzania was known as Tanganyika until Zanzibar united with them...the name Tanzania comes from merging the names Tanganyika and Zanzibar somehow.
• Kenya is an incredibly diverse country, with loads of different ethnic groups and tribes represented

25 days until I arrive in Kenya!

I can't believe I'm only 25 days away, excitement is building. Each day leading up to my trip from here on out, you'll get a small update about what's going on with my preparations. I got my passport back in the mail last week, so now I have my Kenyan and Tanzanian visas ready to go. Whop whoop.

Linville Gorge

This past weekend I found some time to take a hike!  Labor Day weekend was my last weekend off until Thanksgiving, so relaxing and finding some time to get out of town was great.  I headed to Linville Gorge, near Asheville, NC with two friends to hike and swim. Located in Pisgah National Forest, the gorge encloses the Linville River for 12 miles.  There's a 1400 ft. drop from the top of the gorge down to the river, so hiking out at the end was a great workout!

This guy freaked me out when he greeted us near the top of the trail.

We had some nooks and crannies to work through.

Someone lost a shoe on the trail.

Made it down to the Linville River!

I did not make this arch. Or bring the tire down.  The arch is awesome. The tire is not.

Arch framing our private swimming hole. And by private I just mean nobody else was there.

Janel adding to the epic rock tower.

We took turns jumping off a giant rock. Robert.

Janel's turn. Shoulda been a cheerleader.

My turn!

This is the only footbridge that crosses over the Linville River in the Gorge.  Naturally, we clamored over rocks in the river to reach the bridge.

Bridge!

Made it back to the top! Great hike!

I always like feeling a "good sore" the next day.  After our climb back up, switchbacks for nearly 40 minutes, we were sweating big time, and my legs were slightly like jello the following morning.  All part of the preparation for some insane Africa hiking.

"Everyman's Everest"

Here's an article from the Wall Street Journal about climbing Kilimanjaro.  Don't be deceived by the title of the article...they go on to say that only 40% of people who attempt to summit Kili actually make it.  Granted, that's a higher success rate than Everest, but still doesn't make it seem easy by any stretch of the imagination.

Everyman's Everest

I'm headed to Asheville, NC this weekend for a soccer tournament...I hope I can find time to get a short hike in between games!  That might be wishful thinking...

Until next time,

Sad things going on in East Africa...

Some crazy stuff is happening in Somalia.  Things there are as bad as they have been, ever.  They are in the midst of a massive drought, the worst drought they have seen in 60 years.  Currently, Southern Somalia is under the control of a radical group with ties to Al Queda.  Right now, it's considered the most dangerous place in the world for aid organizations.  So, they're in the middle of a drought, major famine, disease is rapidly spreading, and aid groups have fled because of the danger.  500,000 people are starving.  Literally starving.

Photo from NY Times

People are fleeing as much as they can into KENYA, where they are receiving some aid.  But it won't be enough.  This will be a disaster.  Pray for Somalia.  And the people. And the rebels. Pray for the aid groups and the doctors who are there risking their lives.  Pray for the U.N. so that we can get more aid, and food to the area.  Pray for rain. Pray for Kenya, so they can give as much aid as possible.
Photos from the NY Times
NY Times Article: "Somalis Waste Away as Insurgents Block Escape From Famine"

Female Hiker Breaks Record on the Appalachian Trail

So, a woman now holds the speed record for hiking the Appalachian Trail. Rad!

NY TIMES ARTICLE