Two weeks to go - and a million questions running through my head!
With three months down (since selection/training) and two weeks to go - it's a little bit of an understatement to say I'm about to burst from excitement and anxiety.
How are you feeling?
First, excitement. When I land in Africa, it'll be my fourth continent in less than a year (North America, Asia, Europe, Africa - in that order). I've signed up to do a safari with other Golin colleagues the day before we start hiking. I figured it will help distract me from the unbridled nerves I'll be feeling before we start climbing. This is probably the most grueling and dangerous activity I've ever done - not to mention it lasts for a full 7 days. I don't want to hype this up to seem like a brazen daredevil, but there is some risk and challenge to what I'm about to undertake. I signed two liability waivers this week - which is probably why my mind has been flooded with more thoughts about Kilimanjaro lately.
Are you nervous?
Yes, so let's get back to the anxiety. There is so many unknowns and 'what ifs' running through my head at this point. It's as random as 'Do i have the right clothing and snacks?' 'Will I have enough room in my bag for all this gear?' 'How do we really go to the bathroom on the mountain?' and 'How do I avoid AMS [Acute Mountain Sickness]?' - just a random assortment of questions that run through my head at any given point. Luckily, I know a few people who have successfully climbed Kili - not to mention the 25,000 others who start the trek up the mountain each year. I'm sure I'm not the first to wonder this stuff!
Not all of the most common questions I've received since I announced my trek have been related to me - lots about the mountain itself.
Where is Kilimanjaro - and how are you getting there?
Mt. Kilimanjaro is in East Africa - right on the border of Tanzania and Kenya. I fly out of here the Thursday evening prior to the climb and land in Tanzania Saturday evening. With two 8-hour layovers (in Doha, Qatar and Nairobi, Kenya) - it gives me plenty of time to deal with flight delays... but also lots of time to myself! I plan on sleeping as much as I can - since sleeping a week in tents on the mountain is only so comfortable :)
How tall is Kilimanjaro?
Well, it's tall. Kilimanjaro is the tallest freestanding mountain in the world. Give or take, it's summit reaches 19,350 feet - of which I'll be hiking every inch of. I found this interesting graphic online because I had heard the Kilimanjaro climb is actually MORE than Everest. Given the sea level and base of each mountain, Kili is a higher climb (400 feet more, to be exact) from base to summit. What gives Everest the advantage (or disadvantage if you're choosing to climb it) in the record books is because it's base is much higher than Kilimanjaro and helps it reach to 29,029 feet. (Image courtesy of the BBC)
What is the climb like?
The climb is almost as opposite as you can think of Everest's. I've read that Kilimanjaro has a lush, tropical jungle at its base, rocky (Mars-like) tundra in the mid-section and only has a freezing, snow-covered summit. There are steep paths to climb each day - but no rappelling (rock climbing). Depending on your route - there is different terrain to encounter... but I don't anticipate my feet leaving the ground at any time :)
Let me know if you have any more questions about Kilimanjaro - happy to address them here!
As always, I'd really appreciate a donation, no amount is too large or small. We're so close to meeting our $20,000 goal as a group. Visit www.bit.ly/GoAllUp for more details
How are you feeling?
First, excitement. When I land in Africa, it'll be my fourth continent in less than a year (North America, Asia, Europe, Africa - in that order). I've signed up to do a safari with other Golin colleagues the day before we start hiking. I figured it will help distract me from the unbridled nerves I'll be feeling before we start climbing. This is probably the most grueling and dangerous activity I've ever done - not to mention it lasts for a full 7 days. I don't want to hype this up to seem like a brazen daredevil, but there is some risk and challenge to what I'm about to undertake. I signed two liability waivers this week - which is probably why my mind has been flooded with more thoughts about Kilimanjaro lately.
Are you nervous?
Yes, so let's get back to the anxiety. There is so many unknowns and 'what ifs' running through my head at this point. It's as random as 'Do i have the right clothing and snacks?' 'Will I have enough room in my bag for all this gear?' 'How do we really go to the bathroom on the mountain?' and 'How do I avoid AMS [Acute Mountain Sickness]?' - just a random assortment of questions that run through my head at any given point. Luckily, I know a few people who have successfully climbed Kili - not to mention the 25,000 others who start the trek up the mountain each year. I'm sure I'm not the first to wonder this stuff!
Not all of the most common questions I've received since I announced my trek have been related to me - lots about the mountain itself.
Where is Kilimanjaro - and how are you getting there?
Mt. Kilimanjaro is in East Africa - right on the border of Tanzania and Kenya. I fly out of here the Thursday evening prior to the climb and land in Tanzania Saturday evening. With two 8-hour layovers (in Doha, Qatar and Nairobi, Kenya) - it gives me plenty of time to deal with flight delays... but also lots of time to myself! I plan on sleeping as much as I can - since sleeping a week in tents on the mountain is only so comfortable :)
How tall is Kilimanjaro?
Well, it's tall. Kilimanjaro is the tallest freestanding mountain in the world. Give or take, it's summit reaches 19,350 feet - of which I'll be hiking every inch of. I found this interesting graphic online because I had heard the Kilimanjaro climb is actually MORE than Everest. Given the sea level and base of each mountain, Kili is a higher climb (400 feet more, to be exact) from base to summit. What gives Everest the advantage (or disadvantage if you're choosing to climb it) in the record books is because it's base is much higher than Kilimanjaro and helps it reach to 29,029 feet. (Image courtesy of the BBC)
What is the climb like?
The climb is almost as opposite as you can think of Everest's. I've read that Kilimanjaro has a lush, tropical jungle at its base, rocky (Mars-like) tundra in the mid-section and only has a freezing, snow-covered summit. There are steep paths to climb each day - but no rappelling (rock climbing). Depending on your route - there is different terrain to encounter... but I don't anticipate my feet leaving the ground at any time :)
Let me know if you have any more questions about Kilimanjaro - happy to address them here!
As always, I'd really appreciate a donation, no amount is too large or small. We're so close to meeting our $20,000 goal as a group. Visit www.bit.ly/GoAllUp for more details
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