James’ Mount Kilimanjaro Challenge
Success!
I did make it to the summit, but not without ... erm ... how can I put this ... ah yes, "an excessive looseness of the bowels" (Collins Dictionary) and a slipped disc. Arrived at Uhuru peak at 07:20 Sunday 11th January, unfortunately without two team-mates both beaten by altitude sickness.
It was a great adventure: very tiring, very cold, but extremely rewarding. The views from the summit and of the crater were breathtaking and the sense of achievement was very real and quite overwhelming given the rotten state I was in. The descent took two days and the taste of beer after seven days abstinence was almost as good as the wash and the clean clothes.
A challenge of a life time
This shifty plan evolved from the presence of my brother-in-law David in Tanzania, doing voluntary teaching work in a school in Moshi, a town on the slopes of Kilimanjaro. His father, Robert, a keen runner and general fitness freak, took himself and David's mum out to visit their son in July, and despite three weeks at their disposal, failed to attempt Kilimanjaro. It was agreed it would be attempted before David's departure from Tanzania, in February 2009.
And so the offer came to me to join my fit and fearless in-laws in their jolly jape. The first challenge was bigger than that of climbing Africa's highest mountain: persuade my wife Susan to be a single parent of three boys (5, 2, and six months) for thirteen days in January. After an exchange of words, favours, and all my night passes for the next millennia, agreement was reached and money found to fly 4500 miles and climb 19,340 feet while subjecting myself to cold, exhaustion, and altitude sickness. Living the dream.
The Plan
Between now and the end of the year: train, train, train! This will consist mostly of cycling 16 miles to and from work every day and, where time permits, climbing some Scottish mountains. Alcohol and coffee consumption should be reduced (at least I'll try), and I'll be doing my darndest not to break a leg.
4th January 2009 - Fly via Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania, and keep all fingers crossed my luggage arrives. I don't fancy climbing a mountain without clean underwear. Spend a pensive and sober night in the Keys Hotel in Moshi.
6th January - Enter Kilimanjaro National Park with our guides and porters (yup. Porters. It's a mandatory requirement stipulated by the National Park, which effectively means we are paying for others to carry seven days worth of supplies, including food, tents, cooking utensils, and er, mostly everything actually. Methinks that's probably a good idea). Start up the Machame route, which is long and undulating and requires tent accommodation, sleeping bags, and dinners round campfires.
As we ascend, we expect the temperatures to drop and the landscape will change, from agricultural to lush rainforest and on to alpine then plain rock, snow, and ice.
The big day for reaching the summit starts at 2 a.m. when we will be woken (like we'll be sleeping!) by our guides to begin the ascent in time to reach the top at sunrise. At that height we expect our drinking water to freeze as the temperature drops to -20 deg Celsius, and, due to very low air pressure, only half as much oxygen is taken in per breath than that at sea level. That means we'll be knackered before we take a single step. To stand stationary for longer than a few moments can result in getting very cold very quickly, and is not recommended. Electronic equipment such as cameras need to be kept close to the skin to prevent them malfunctioning. A short pause on the summit will be accommodated for photographs, followed by a rapid descent to get blimin' warm again.
The Purpose
Raise as much money as possible for Riding for the Disabled. Rhona McPhail, a volunteer at RDA, described the fantastic and rewarding work carried out here, creating a great opportunity where they offer tuition in riding and riding–related activities to people aged from pre–school to adult, who have disabilities and/or learning difficulties.
The centre in Dunfermline has 8 ponies. I would be delighted if I could raise enough money to buy another pony and in doing so, give access to RDA to even more people.
Result
James raised over £700 for RDA Dunfermline - well done!