Jeff Belanger

Jeff Belanger

Mt. Kilimanjaro - Photo by Jeff Belanger
Blah Blah Blog, News, Views, & Interviews

Mt. Kilimanjaro – The Journey

How do you sum up the profound experience that was climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro? In reality, it will take a whole book to do so, and that’s a book I’m diligently writing. In short, I feel like I was walking the razor’s edge between the world of the natural and the supernatural. Of course there’s the majestic beauty of this giant mountain, but I was surprised to find how much of this journey was inward. Our team arrived in Moshi, Tanzania, the evening of March 18th. So everything was dark when we checked into our hotel. The next morning, after breakfast, I asked the staff if I could get to the roof of the hotel. They informed me there was access, so I climbed the stairs to what would be about four stories in height. As I came around the final turn, I looked out and saw Kilimanjaro filling the horizon. She’s huge. I mean, I knew that, but to see her take up the entire landscape is something different. I felt the way one feels when they realize they’re in the same room as their favorite celebrity. My stomach did flips, I’m pretty sure I let out a giggle, and my body shrugged with giddy excitement. There it is! It’s Kili! That’s where I’m going tomorrow! And so it began. Or rather, concluded. The journey began back in August of 2016 (though the seeds were planted years earlier). The next day we drove four hours to start the climb on the Lemosho Route–an eight-day trek that would take us about 42 miles through forest, above the tree line, through desert, up to the arctic summit, and back down. Everywhere I turned my head it was like a postcard. As I gained elevation, the vistas opened up showing Africa for as far as the eye could see. Rolling hills, great plains, and lush green landscapes of farmland lay in the distance. But I didn’t spend much time gazing outward, My head was mostly turned upward. For the first two days, I couldn’t even see the summit because the route we took had us coming up the long way, the real summit was blocked by the foothills, plus there was cloud cover. But after passing through 10,000 feet in elevation, often the cloud cover was below us. Though we had a team of climbers and a huge support staff between porters and guides, hiking is a solitary act. No one can step for you. I need to put one foot in front of the other, which is easy to do early in the journey, but becomes more difficult over time and elevation. At night I’m sleeping in below-freezing temperatures as is evident by the layer of frost on the tent and ground when I wake up. I’m not the biggest fan of camping, but that colossus above me is the reason I’m willing to do it. Each day she gets closer, looms larger. Though I slip in a few places, and I hurt my quad muscle at one point, I keep going, because there’s no other choice. As we push our way past 15,000 feet in elevation, I feel the strain to breathe. It’s not so bad if I stand still or move very slowly, but any sort of exertion and I’m huffing and puffing like I just ran a sprint. Want to know what it’s like? Go grab a drinking straw, put it between your lips, and go jogging. You want more air don’t you? So did I. I passed multiple plaques commemorating people who died on the mountain. One death was caused by a lightning strike. As greyish clouds whip around us, I can’t help but wonder what I would do if an electrical storm formed out of nowhere. I’m the tallest thing around here right now, and I’ve got plenty of metal on me between my pack, carabiners, hiking poles, and cameras. If lightning starts zapping about, all I can do is drop my pack and try and hide behind a rock. Fortunately, the grey clouds that drift by us like ghosts don’t seem angry with our presence. They just pass through. Still, the mountain is getting closer. She’s towering over me now, her glaciers and ice remind me that the environment up there is hostile. Saturday, March 25th is a big day. We’re hiking about five hours to base camp where we’ll eat something, and rest at 15,300 feet. By 11PM that night we’ll need to wake up, eat some food, and start for the summit by midnight. We’d already lost two people in our group to the altitude, they were forced to turn back two camps ago, but those who are left gear up and strap on headlamps. If you’ve ever been on a ghost investigation with me, you know headlamps hold a special place in my heart… I’m sure for coal miners they’re quite useful, but for the rest of the world, they’re a danger. Turn to look at someone and BOOM! It will take their eyes three minutes to adjust to the low light (and eyesight is necessary when trying to decide your next step up a mountain). So I place my headlamp around my neck and let it light up my feet. I can only see about a three-foot radius around, plus the glow from other headlamps around me light a centipede-like trail heading up. One step, then the other. It’s a snail’s pace, but critical if I’m going to have enough energy to get to the top. As the hours melt away, and we gain elevation, a chill sets in. 3 AM is the darkest and coldest part of the night. There is no mountain anymore. Just me, my breaths, and steps. I can’t see anything beyond that. By roughly 17,500 feet, I’m struggling. Each breath hurts, my head hurts, and all of my muscles are sore. The thought of quitting crosses my mind, but I worry what I’d tell my family,

Zombie Prom
Blah Blah Blog, News, Views, & Interviews

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to Hold Zombie Prom in Bellingham to Support Their Climb 2 Cure Campaign

Jeff Belanger from Ghost Adventures and Dustin Pari from Ghost Hunters set to host Zombie Prom at Jalapeno’s Grill January 19, 2017 — BELLINGHAM, MASS. – Who needs a Valentine heart when you can have braaaaains? The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) New England Climb 2 Cure Team in Training is holding a Zombie Prom on Saturday, February 4, 2017, at 7:30 PM at Jalapeno’s Grill, 15 North Main Street, in Bellingham. Six individuals from Massachusetts and Connecticut are climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in March to raise money for LLS. To-date, the team has already raised over $36,000. All proceeds from the ticket sales and charity auction at the Zombie Prom will go toward LLS. “This may be the most un-Valentine’s Day event you can go to in February,” said Jeff Belanger, researcher and writer for the Ghost Adventures series on the Travel Channel, and co-host of the Zombie Prom. “The Zombie Prom is a chance for people to get together for a good time and a great cause. Attendees can also meet our team as we get ready to climb the tallest mountain in Africa in order to raise funds and awareness for LLS in their fight against blood cancers.” The Zombie Prom will include games, dancing, music provided by DJ Damont Batchelor, a charity auction, there will be volunteers available to help guests with their zombie makeup, and a photographer to take “Prom of the Dead” pictures. 101.3 MyFM radio is the official media sponsor. “This is one prom where you can bring a date, go solo, or just show up with friends,” said Dustin Pari, one of the stars of the Ghost Hunters show on Syfy and co-host of the Zombie Prom. “If people are wondering what to wear, you can come-as-you are, or hit the thrift shop, buy some old clothes, take them home and tear them up, mark them up with markers and paint, and then get your makeup done at our event and boom! You’re a zombie!” Both Belanger and Pari are part of the six-person team climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in March. Tickets cost $20 per person if purchased online from LLS here: http://events.lls.org/pages/ma/C2CZombieProm or $25 at the door. The ticket price is considered a tax-deductible donation, as LLS is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. The event is 21 and over only. About the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society ® (LLS) is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care. Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Rye Brook, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org.

Blah Blah Blog, News, Views, & Interviews

Christmas is Getting Creepy December 8th at the Blackstone River Theatre

Local authors, lecturers, and paranormal television personalities Jeff Belanger and Dustin Pari present A Creepy Christmas Carol multi-media program, bringing back the ghosts and monsters that make this festive season a little spookier. November 22, 2016 – Cumberland, Rhode Island – Have you been naughty or nice this year? There was a time when kids on the naughty list didn’t have to worry about coal or sticks in their stockings Christmas morning, they had to fear a monster called Krampus coming for them! Or Der Belsnickel. Or any number of various Yuletide ghosts and monsters from different cultures around the world. A Creepy Christmas Carol is a unique stage show that brings together the oration talents of Jeff Belanger and Dustin Pari, who will present a multi-media program Thursday, December 8, 2016 at 7:30PM at the Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland, Rhode Island. The performance will take the audience through the history of this festive holiday and explore the ghosts, monsters, and legends of the season that have all but been lost to time. “There’ll be scary ghost stories and tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago,” said the Christmas carol Andy Williams made famous in 1963. But whatever happened to those ghost stories? Why did we stop telling them at Christmas time? “Winter has long been a season associated with fear,” said Jeff Belanger. “Our ancestors thought those howling winds outside were the cries of ghosts. They would place evergreen branches over their doors and windows thinking the prickly pine needles would keep out evil spirits.” “Christmas is my favorite holiday,” said Dustin Pari. “And A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, is my favorite ghost story of all time. When you fit that story in the context of the history, the legends, and even the monsters of the season, the message of redemption becomes even more powerful. We’re looking forward to telling the whole story of Christmas at the Blackstone River Theatre.” A Creepy Christmas Carol is a two-act program that will cover the history of the holiday from its earliest roots in ancient Rome, to modern-day ghost stories related to the holiday. The legends of creatures like Krampus, Der Belsnickel, the Tomten, and the Gryla will be discussed, as will the history of Saint Nicholas. The Blackstone River Theatre is located at 549 Broad Street, Cumberland, Rhode Island. Tickets are $15 in advance, or $20 at the door. Tickets can be purchased online at: www.ghostvillage.com/xmas. About Jeff Belanger Jeff Belanger (www.jeffbelanger.com) is one of the most visible and prolific paranormal researchers today, and he’s the Emmy-nominated host and producer of the New England Legends series which debuted on PBS in October of 2013. He’s the author of over a dozen books on the paranormal (published in six languages) including the best sellers: The World’s Most Haunted Places, Weird Massachusetts, Our Haunted Lives, and Who’s Haunting the White House? (for children). He’s the founder of Ghostvillage.com, he’s written for newspapers like The Boston Globe and USA Today, and is the series writer and researcher for Ghost Adventures on the Travel Channel. He’s been a guest on hundreds of radio and television programs including: The History Channel, The Travel Channel, Biography Channel, PBS, NECN, Living TV (UK), Sunrise 7 (Australia), The Maury Show, The CBS News Early Show, CBS Sunday Morning, FOX, NBC, ABC, and CBS affiliates, National Public Radio, The BBC, Darkness Radio, Australian Radio Network, and Coast to Coast AM. About Dustin Pari Dustin Pari (www.DustinPari.com and www.ParanormalRockstar.com) is one of the most entertaining, and by far one of the busiest, personalities in the paranormal field today. Known primarily for his appearances as a cast member on Ghost Hunters, Ghost Hunters International, and Destination Truth, Dustin is also a well-respected author and speaker. He travels the globe delivering paranormal and motivational lectures, offering insight into the unknown, and inspiration as well. His recent book And The Devil Shivered offers a behind-the-scenes look at a man who is living his life out on the road, helping those he encounters along the way.

New England Legends, News, Views, & Interviews

To Weigh a Soul

In 1901, Dr. Duncan MacDougall of Haverhill, Massachusetts, believed he could prove humans have a soul. Working with six dying patients, MacDougall convinced them to perform an experiment at the moment of their death that could verify they do indeed have a soul, and it has weight.

An Evening of Ghost Stories and New England Legends
New England Legends, News, Views, & Interviews

An Evening of Ghost Stories and New England Legends Featuring the Photography of Frank Grace Arrives at Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland, Rhode Island May 22

First-of-its-kind performance offers true ghost stories told by some of the region’s leading authorities on the subject set in front of haunting photography of New England’s most infamous legends. APRIL 15, 2015 – Cumberland, Rhode Island – New England is full of tales of ghosts, monsters, and other strange mysteries. Our folklore is intertwined with our past and our culture, and our historic buildings are both beautiful and haunting. This stage performance set for Friday, May 22, 2015 at 8:00 PM at the Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland, Rhode Island, is a first of its kind, combining the true history and ghost stories with the eerie photography of Frank Grace. The performers include some of the most accomplished experts and authors in the region: Jeff Belanger, Carl Johnson, Tim Weisberg, and Andrew Lake. “We’re bringing the ghost tour and the campfire tales to the audience,” said Jeff Belanger, producer of An Evening of Ghost Stories and New England Legends. “This isn’t a lecture on the paranormal, this is a celebration of ghost stories. We’re going to create a spooky atmosphere with the history and legends as the audience experiences the locations through the eerie eye of photographer Frank Grace. Frank can tell an entire ghost story with a single image.” The performance will feature stories and photographs from more than a dozen historic locations from around southern New England including: The Lizzie Borden House, Slater Mill, The White Lady of Easton, The Houghton Mansion, The Red Headed Hitchhiker of Route 44, the Grainge Hall Ghost, and many more! “This is the biggest photography project I’ve ever taken on,” said photographer Frank Grace. “I’ve been reading the books these guys wrote and watching them on television shows for years. To work with them on this stage show is an amazing opportunity. This is like taking one of my gallery shows to Broadway levels!” About An Evening of Ghost Stories and New England Legends An Evening of Ghost Stories and New England Legends featuring the photography of Frank Grace will be performed Friday, May 22, 2015, at 8:00 PM at the Blackstone River Theatre, 549 Broad Street, Cumberland, Rhode Island. Tickets are $15 if purchased before the show online at: www.legendtrips.com or $20 at the door. About the Performers: Jeff Belanger is the author of more than a dozen books on ghosts and legends, he’s the Emmy-nominated host and producer of New England Legends on PBS, the writer and researcher for the Ghost Adventures series on the Travel Channel, and a noted public speaker and media personality who has appeared on the History Channel, Travel Channel, Bio., PBS, and Destination America. Carl L. Johnson has been investigating strange phenomena for over 30 years. He’s an interpreter at the renowned haunt Slater Mill, and he’s been featured on Syfy’s Ghost Hunters, A&E’s Paranormal State: The New Class, Animal Planet’s Finding Bigfoot and The Haunted. Tim Weisberg has been the host of the Spooky Southcoast radio show on WBSM since 2005, he’s the author of Ghosts of the Southcoast and Haunted Objects, and is the writer and researcher of the Ghost Stalkers series on Destination America. He’s appeared on the Discovery Channel, Living TV, the Travel Channel, and the History Channel. Andrew Lake is the founder of Greenville Paranormal, and is the author of Ghosthunting Southern New England, he’s a regular cast member on the 30 Odd Minutes show, a voice-over artist, and has been featured in documentaries and television shows about New England ghost stories. Frank Grace has been photographing eerie New England sites for the past 12 years. In 2014 he published his first wall calendar, Haunted New England, and he’s a two-time finalist for Ron Howard’s “Project Imagination.” His work has been shown at Gallery X, Artworks, New Bedford Art Museum, and Hunakai Studio.

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