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Kilimanjaro

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Porters: An Inspiration
Tuesday, February 29, 2000

Jamie
Pierce
Hear Jamie's Call from Africa
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Hello Mountain Zone, this is Jamie Pierce calling from Arusha, Tanzania. The team has descended the mountain safely — the whole team — no problems on the walk out. We have a lot of sore knees and backs, but the group is very excited and happy to have come off of a successful expedition.

I think one thing that I've just wanted to mention that I haven't up until today is the success of an expedition like this is really focused around the porters, here on Kilimanjaro, and the...certainly on this expedition was how great the porters are. Not only with their willingness to work very hard, but under the conditions; oftentimes without the best equipment, it is just unbelievable to watch the porters cruise around on the mountain with very little on their feet, cotton clothing, and just not a lot of it. And it was very, I think, inspirational for the team to see that. Anyway, that was a very close setting, we had four porters or guides — excuse me, I should say — including myself, go with us to the summit, and it was a phenomenally good climb.

The walk out, like I said, was uneventful and very happy. Freshening up this evening before we start our safari tomorrow, Wednesday, heading out to Ngorongoro Crater here in Tanzania. So, as of right now...[Unintelligible]...today. Jamie Pierce saying good night, bye-bye.

Alpine Ascents Guide Jamie Pierce, MountainZone.com Correspondent

EXPEDITION DISPATCHES



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