Many of the steps we take in life are in the dark, where we are scared, where our hearts pound, and where we head toward a place we haven’t been before. But rest assured, there is always guidance and some light to lead us on our paths. We can overcome our fear and doubt, and climb to higher ground.
On the night of November 12th, I and four other fellow trekkers along with five guides, started the steep climb up Kilimanjaro at midnight. It was below freezing with 25 mph winds at the Kibo camp at an elevation of 15,500’.
It was pitch black outside. It was bone chilling cold. The air was thin and it was difficult to breathe. With only a few hours sleep, we would gather together and start our climb. The only light was from our headlamps; the rays of the headlamps cast a ghostly aura over the alpine desert landscape. We could see only ten feet in front of us.
I was warm in my multiple layers of technical clothing and confident in my abilities, but others started to shiver and openly cast doubt on their competence. I ignored the open grumblings, and relied on the instincts and knowledge of our guides to lead us up the formidable monster known as Kilimanjaro. They knew the climb was possible…they were confident and had done it many times before. I trusted them.
The climb would be a slow slog, one or two steps at a time, then take a breath. Over and over again and again. The 4,000 foot ascent from Kibo to Gillman’s Peak would take almost six hours, and then another hour-and-a-half around the volcanic cone to arrive at Uhuru, the highest point on the mountain.
The climb is perhaps one of the hardest physical undertakings I have ever done. Not because of lack of physical strength, but because of lack of oxygen. Being able to breathe is a gift we often ignore; to take a deep breath, to slow down, and be at ease is often taken for granted. Without adequate oxygen, your body does funny things. We all react differently.
From the very start of the climb that night, some were already reacting to the high altitude. A few were lethargic and slow to respond. Just ten minutes into the climb, other climbers along the way we’re turning around. Within half an hour, some were vomiting and others feeling extreme pressure in their guts. Edema also plays its game with our brains and lungs, forcing some to quit out of agony. By the time we reached the peak, at least two people had to be evacuated off the mountain by rescue teams and transported to Kenya by helicopter. The climb is far from easy.
I was lucky in that I didn’t experience any deep problems. But at the crest, I have never felt fatigue like I felt there. It not only slowed my body down, but made my normally positive mind occasionally doubt itself. I was extremely thirsty (my camelbak hose had frozen) and hungry. By this point, our team had broken up into three units. I was alone with my guide, Charles. He stayed close to me for the duration.
Without his guidance and help, I might not have made it to Uhuru. He helped me with food and water. He slowed me down by taking “chameleon steps.” But most importantly, he kept me focused with encouragement…with a positive outlook and a can do attitude. He was there for me.
It wasn’t easy or a jog up the mountain. I have done four full Ironman races and hundreds of other triathlons, swam open water courses, landed on aircraft carriers, been caught flying in hellacious thunderstorms, been through a divorce, and practiced law, but none compares to the effort it took to climb Kili. None.
But, the lesson taught that night is similar to so many other lessons I’ve learned in my life. The lesson was a reiteration of what my parents taught me over the years…if you want something badly enough, face your fears, focus, and just do it. Don’t let fear and the pronouncements of others keep you from achieving your dreams. We are all unique and can accomplish so much more than we think we can if we only take one step at a time and focus on the moment.
What are your dreams? What are you waiting for? Who is really holding you back? I think deep down you know the answer. The answer lies within yourself.
(Turn the sound up watching this video- the howling wind adds to the effect).
Lawyair On The Run 