We all climb mountains. We all navigate storms. Our life journeys are remarkably similar. But the degree to which we climb and navigate in our journeys varies greatly.
I like the big adventures; the big thrills that get my heart pumping and my mind humming. A few weeks ago, I climbed Kilimanjaro in Africa; it is one of the Seven Summits (the seven highest peaks on seven continents). It was grueling and exhausting, but, for me, an ultimate in life achievements. It was a physical, mental, and spiritual quest that filled me to the core. I loved it.
Here is a brief look into the second day of the expedition; our REI group left the Kilimanjaro Halisi Resort around 8 am and started the climb from Marangu Gate around 10.
The five of us and 22 guides and porters trekked from 6250’ up to the Mandara Huts at 8934’ in just over 5.6 miles. The somewhat smooth dirt path at the beginning soon gave way to ever-increasing in steepness rock. The path is through tropical forest with occasional blue monkeys and the vivid red Impatiens Kilimanjari, a small flower that resembles the profile of an elephant when turned sideways, that kept us somewhat distracted.
In my group was Rob, and American Airlines A-320 Captain, and his son, Morgan. They are from Knoxville TN, and like me, are doing their first high-altitude summit. Ursula is a 70 year old mountaineer from Phoenix AZ who has climbed Mount Everest and is working on completing the seven summits. Oh, she also has two complete knee replacements. And Patty, 58, is from Columbus Missouri, and she is also an accomplished mountain climber with extensive experience including the heights of those peaks in Nepal and others around the world.
Once we arrived at the Mandara Huts, we had some time to settle in before we sauntered up to the parasitic volcanic cone known as Maundi Crater. From atop the crater we could see east into Kenya and north-west toward Mawenzi. We were surrounded by both blue and colobus monkeys yelling out to each other as we entered their territory. The reason for the trek up to Maundi is to “climb high, and sleep low” to get our bodies acclimated to high altitude.
I hope you enjoy my insights and can be inspired by them to climb a little higher in your own adventures and life.
Lawyair On The Run 