The Challenge of Mt. Kilimanjaro

A group climb to Mt. Kilimanjaro is a life-changing journey for Andrea Metcalf

Mt. Kilimanjaro, the tallest free standing mountain in the world and tallest mountain in Africa, has an altitude of 19,341 feet with temperatures below zero and minimal oxygen. The challenges of climbing this beast are both physical and mental.

Last spring, Becky Pope of Houston, Texas, finished her last round of chemotherapy from a second bout with ovarian cancer. She wore a cheerful countenance and crazy costumes each time she endured the six-hour treatments. To celebrate and inspire other survivors to live life, she decided to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. Her fitness trainer, Shana Ross, planned their training regimen, gathered the troupes and helped Ms. Pope launch a crusade to raise money and awareness for others facing difficulties and encourage them in reaching personal summits.

Ms. Pope would climb with 16 women with different backgrounds, health conditions, fitness levels and personalities, brought together by Choose to Climb, a non-profit that raises awareness and funds to support ovarian cancer research. As a lifestyle journalist, I was invited to join the group, share the experience and undertake what turned out to be a life changing, enduring climb. Throughout the climb, we’d connect, support and pull for one another.
Initially Mt. Kilimanjaro was just a place, a vision, a challenge to meet. But it turned out to be much more.

The first few days of the Rongai route (the intermediate, six-day route) were somewhat easy. The daily trek through the pine forest starting at 4,600 feet up to the Kibo camp at 15,500 feet averaged four to five hours. Diamox (a diuretic to help oxygen uptake) helped us breathe easier as the altitude increased and oxygen thinned. I’m sure I couldn’t have survived without it, but it also kept me awake at night with jittery side effects.

Hours without Internet interaction were spent thinking about my purpose, family, next challenge and the mountain appearing so far away in the distance. That was one of the craziest parts of the trip: the down time. Although we had some text and Internet abilities along the journey thanks to AT&T, my thoughts were flowing, creating and analyzing past experiences, from divorce to my career path and now, goals for the future.

We face many challenges in life, and most of the time we’re the ones standing in our own way. We know what direction we should move and the path to get us there. But we wait, procrastinate and doubt. This journey was no different. Doubts came as we moved closer to summit day.

Venita, a Washington, D.C.-based attorney, recently diagnosed as HIV-positive, twisted her knee the second day. Becky, the cancer survivor, who just four weeks before departure was diagnosed with yet another recurrence of cancer, now in her liver, was weakening. Deb, an FBI agent near retirement, was feeling the effects of altitude sickness, including nausea, headaches and seeing light flashes. Their aspirations of reaching summit were dwindling.

On the eve of the summit climb, just minutes before midnight, we started our final seven mile journey. The moonlit sky was filled with twinkling stars and crystal-clear constellations. Cold air bit our faces and fingers; poles in hands, we switchbacked up the mountain. At 16,000 feet, my cell phone buzzed and I could Tweet, Facebook and text. I felt empowered and strong.

What we endured in the next hours, however, was a challenge so great that many of the group were brought down the mountain, hypothermic and hallucinating. As morning came, temperatures dipped ever further below zero.

The slow, one-two, step-breathe pattern pushing me along was met with an increasing need to close my eyes. Our guide shouted out to stay awake. My body slowed down and determination to keep moving and inch my way to the top dwindled in the unconscious movement. We took breaks, but when we’d start again, the pounding in my chest was so strong it hurt. Then the flashes of light that accompanied a headache became something I just endured.

Upon reaching Gilman’s Point, I reached my turning point. I knew I wanted to reach the end of this journey, but after a few sips of water, the vomiting started. My cameraman was now sitting, starry-eyed and ready to descend. Only a handful of us were left for the remaining two miles to the summit. Somehow, through sheer determination and eight hours of hiking, five of us reached the ultimate goal: Uhuru Peak, the highest on Mt. Kilimanjaro. It was 7:15am, and the sun was rising. We were standing at 19,341 feet above sea level.

Like life, when I reached my goal, no matter how tired or physically exhausted I was, overwhelming happiness washed over me like a tidal wave. I was no longer defeated. We descended the mountain in just under three hours with exuberance. Each person I passed, I felt obliged to encourage and cheer. There was nothing like it before in my life – so many visions, smiles and feelings.

Becky and Deb made it to Gilman’s Point. Venita dropped back at 16,000 feet, unable to endure the altitude. Reaching Uhuru Peak is hard to explain. I feel different. Inspired and grateful for the experience and chance to meet so many amazing people.

Will I climb again? We all face mountains every day. One step at a time, taking a full breath, is the only way to do it. I choose to climb.

Tagged as: health and wellness and Fitness Focus