“It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.”
(Edmond Hillary)
July 16, 2017: SUMMIT DAY
On this particular morning, the sky was dark, the air cold. When I awoke from my short and uncomfortable slumber, I only had only one thing on my mind, to successfully climb to Uhuru Peak, the Roof of Africa. On summit morning I woke up at 3:00 a.m., in order to be ready to begin my ascent at 4:00 a.m.
It is never easy to wake up at 3:00 a.m. However, after spending a few minutes in my tent wishing I had more time to sleep I was excited that my opportunity to reach the summit was only a few hours away. I knew that I had to prepare myself for a long, cold, and extremely challenging day. I mean, if climbing the tallest mountain in Africa was easy, then everyone would do it, right?
It was very hard to get dressed on this particular morning. I was exhausted. Getting dressed was a huge challenge. I woke up to the coldest morning that I experienced on the mountain. Everything was frozen. Things that you didn’t think could freeze, froze. For example, my iPhone wouldn’t work, because the battery was too cold. The two water bottles that I used for drinking water during the night were frozen. Some of my clothing was frozen stiff. It took me forever to get dressed.
Clothing:
To prepare for my summit climb I wore three main layers of clothing. However, I only wore two layers of socks and gloves. To dress appropriately for summit day, I picked out and organized my clothing the night before. On summit eve, after dinner, I dressed in my base layer so when I woke up in the morning I would already have on my first layer. The following describes what I wore on summit day:
First layer: One Synthetic underwear shorts, long base layer long-sleeve top, long base layer pants, one pair of liner socks that go up to my knee; Second Layer: One pair of thick mountaineering socks, one pair of fleece pants, and a red coat liner for my second top layer; Third Layer: windproof/waterproof mountaineering pants, and a lightweight windproof/waterproof outer shell jacket. Other clothing articles I wore included hiking boots, gaiters, thin base layer gloves, Burton ski gloves, ski face and head cover, and my Marshall University ski cap (aka toboggan), and sunglasses. It took me well over thirty minutes to put all of this on in the middle of the night.
It did not take long after I woke up on this particular morning to finally feel the weight of what I had accomplished up to this point. Standing still in the dark, quiet mountainside at camp, I realized I was about to climb to the summit. My mind was racing a thousand miles an hour. My nerves were out of control. I was excited, nervous, and scared all at the same time. Have you ever experienced being an emotional wreck on the verge of a full blown panic attack? That was me on this particular morning. I have not been married yet, but I could imagine that a bride and groom felt similar feelings right before they walked down the aisle at their wedding. While getting dressed on this freezing morning in my tent, I thought about how the years of preparing for this moment was finally here. I was going to climb the highest mountain on the African Continent (19,341 feet).
After I finished getting dressed I immediately ate breakfast. At breakfast, everyone seemed to be in good spirits. Mixed emotions and nerves were shared by many members of the group. However, the mood was positive and healthy because we were all excited to finally go for the Gold after climbing for six long and challenging days.
Breakfast was good, but all I could think was: holy crap it’s 3:30 a.m., and I am going to climb up 4,000 feet today to get to Uhuru Peak. After breakfast, I brushed my teeth, filled my daypack with plenty of water, and turned my headlamp on. I was almost ready to get moving.
But on this particular morning, before I took one more step to the summit I decided to complete my old pre-race ritual that I always did before my cross-country racing in college. I took some time to meditate for just a minute or two to clear my head. I said a short prayer, thanking the Lord for keeping me healthy and safe. I asked Him to continue to help me find the energy and motivation to climb to the summit of just one of His many creations. After I said my prayer, I was ready to go.
The adventure finally began a few minutes past 4:00 a.m. It was dark, cold, and quiet. When we started climbing on this dark and cold morning no one talked. I think it was because everyone was feeling mixed emotions and was focused on successfully reaching the summit.
The only light guiding my way was my headlamp. Climbing with the headlamp on took a few minutes for me to get adjusted to. I could not see anything around me other than what my headlamp illuminated. I kept my head down for the first several hours of the climb, and I just focused on putting one foot in front of the other. When I would look up my light only illuminated on the back of the climber in front of me. I have never had the privilege of walking on the moon (yet), but I thought to myself that if I ever did, my experience might look very similar. The video below shows how dark it was outside at the beginning of our trek.
For the first several hours, I climbed up boulders and rocks. The trail grew dusty and bland the higher I climbed. It was like walking uphill in the desert, in the dark.
While I was climbing our porters and guides started singing in Swahili. It was a pleasant surprise because they did not sing during the first six days of our climb. But hearing them sing calmed my nerves and helped me focus. The video below was recorded by my group member and good friend, Sawsan, on our way to the summit.
One of the added bonuses of starting the climb at 4:00 a.m. was that I saw the sun rise above the majestic clouds at 16,000 feet. Believe me when I tell you it was absolutely spectacular. After already climbing for several hours on this cold and dark morning, I really enjoyed watching the sunrise. The video below is just a small glimpse of the gorgeous view.
“Without mountains, we might find ourselves relieved that we can avoid the pain of the ascent, but we will forever miss the thrill of the summit. And in such a terribly scandalous trade off, it is the absence of pain that became the thief of life.”
(Craig D. Lounsbrough)
As you may know, I trained and exercised for several months prior to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. I ran a lot, climbed the stair-master at the gym religiously, and also lifted weights. I hiked with my pack on during a sixteen mile hike the month before I flew to Africa. I tried to be in the best shape I could possibly be. I trained and planned out every single detail, almost to a level of insanity. However, the one thing that I could not train for was how to combat altitude sickness.
Altitude affects everyone differently. No two cases of altitude sickness are the same. Symptoms of altitude sickness can include headaches, nausea, blurred vision, vomiting, and confusion.
During the first six days of my climb, I only suffered from very short spurts of minor headaches. Once I drank water and ate a snack, my headache soon dissipated. However, on this day, my luck almost ran out about four hours into my climb.
Early into my climb, I started suffering from a severe headache. I immediately started drinking water hoping that it was just a sign of minor dehydration. My headache really did not bother me all that much until I climbed up to about 17,000 feet. But my headache worsened the higher I climbed. I knew then I was starting to suffer from altitude sickness. I felt discouraged because I knew if my headache grew too severe then it would jeopardize my chance of reaching the summit.
After about two or three hours of suffering through an excruciating headache, I finally took a small break and drank some water. I guzzled down almost a liter of water so I would not suffer from dehydration. The break only lasted a few minutes and then I was back on my way. However, the headache persisted to torment me. My headache was not like any headache I have suffered from before. It felt like my head was in a vice and someone was turning the lever, squeezing my head tighter and tighter.
At this point, I started to think that I would fall short of reaching the summit. I started doubting myself. I began to think I would fail to reach the summit by just a few hundred feet, breaking my heart and shattering my spirit. But finally, at about 12 p.m., and at around 18,500 feet my headache began to subside. At this time my nerves started to calm, and I knew that I was going to make it to the summit.
After seven long hours of nonstop climbing, we finally made it to Stella Point (18,885 feet). Here, we had lunch. And I was starving. I was also cold, tired, and an emotional wreck. It was hard to believe I was less than an hour from reaching the summit.
Below is a video of Stella Point and a wonderful view of the volcanic crater at the top of the mountain.
After I ate lunch and guzzled some more water, I was ready to finally head to the summit. I left Stella Point, heading to the summit with my trekking buddy, Laura, and my guide, Evans Eric, with a few porters trekking right behind us as well.
The view on the trail from Stella Point to the summit, Uhuru Peak, was breathtaking. While trekking to the summit, I admired the massive volcano crater on my right and the huge ice glaciers on my left. Although I was anxious to reach the summit I still took the time to admire the view before me. Evans Eric kept reminding me to maintain a steady and slow pace up the mountain. Evans would say, “Remember, Pole Pole!” But my emotions almost got the best of me. I was able to calm my nerves once I caught up with a few other members of my group who just left Stella Point a few minutes ahead of me. At this time many of us stopped to enjoy the beautiful view of the glaciers and the sea of clouds blanketing the sky below.
We quickly took pictures, because we knew we could take more pictures at the same location on our way back down from the summit. So, after the short break, I got back on the trail heading to the summit. Soon after getting back on the trail, I could finally see the famous sign that marked the location of Uhuru Peak. It was at this moment my emotions grew out of control. I was filled with so much excitement. My heart was racing so fast I was surprised it did not burst in my chest.
Although I had been trekking side by side with my friend, Laura, since we left Stella Point together, she decided to burst ahead of me. I did not mind. I knew victory was near and I wanted to see everyone in my group make a successful summit.
Finally, at 1:15 p.m., after seven grueling days of hiking, I finally made it to the summit. Emotions consumed me as I walked over to the famous sign that marked the point of Uhuru Peak. I cried tears of joy. I was so happy, and excited. A sense of relief set in. The years of daydreaming, planning, and preparing for this once in a lifetime moment was now a reality. After congratulating my fellow climbers and guides on a successful summit, I finally put my daypack down and started to take pictures and savor my accomplishment.
I took several pictures at the summit with my digital camera, and with my iPhone. Below are just a few of my favorite pictures that were taken while I enjoyed my moment while on the roof of Africa.
As a proud graduate of Marshall University, I had to get a picture of me holding my school’s flag at the peak. As you can tell from the picture below, it was hard for me to hold the flag because the wind was pretty strong.
The picture below is of me holding pictures of my dad and me after my law school graduation. The other picture is of my sister, my mother and myself at dinner during our vacation in Honolulu a few years back. I made sure my family was with me during my amazing adventure.
Below is one of my favorite group photos of all of us celebrating a successful climb. All members of my hiking group made it to the summit!
Shown from left to right: Emanuel (Assistant guide), Matthew, Marc, David (Assistant guide, aka “Scorpion”), ME, Edward (Lead Guide), Jim, Laura, Sawsan, Evans Eric (Assistant guide), Steve, Mark
Tanzania, Africa is far away from my family and friends back home in Almost Heaven West Virginia. So to celebrate my successful summit I played John Denver’s hit Country Roads while enjoying the view at the top of Africa’s highest mountain. Even though you cannot hear it well, I played the song on my phone and tried my best to sing along to the song. But its hard to sing in the thin air at 19,341 feet. Please forgive me for my horrible attempt at singing. Don’t worry, I am not going to quit my day job.
THE DECENT FROM THE SUMMIT BEGINS
After I spent about forty-five minutes taking several pictures by the iconic sign at the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, it was time for my descent. The time was approximately 2 p.m. and I was the last person in my group that left the summit. I did not want to leave. Believe me when I tell you that the earth looked absolutely amazing when I looked down upon it from 19,341 feet. I did my best to take advantage of every minute I could spend on the mountain. After celebrating my successful summit to the Roof of Africa at Uhuru Peak, I began my slow and long journey down the mountain, back to Barafu Camp.
My decent back to Barafu Camp took about four hours. My guide, Evans Eric, and my personal porter, Albert helped lead the way back to camp. We descended down a different trail than the way we came up. The decent down was very steep, rocky and dangerous at times. I still remember feeling the adrenaline rush of successfully climbing the mountain, but my legs were heavy and restless. I was extremely tired. However, Evans assured me that we had plenty of daylight left and that I could take my time on my way back.
On my way back down I fell a few times down the side of the steep mountain due to the loose rock and dirt. But thankfully I did not suffer any injuries. While on my way down I stopped to take a break and take pictures of the gorgeous view of one of the three mountain peaks on Mountain Kilimanjaro, Mawenzi Peak. Many may not know this but Mount Kilimanjaro has three major peaks on its mountains which in include Uhuru Peak (19,341 feet), Mawenzi (16,893 feet), and Shira (13,000 feet).
Below is a picture of Mawenzi Peak (16,893 feet) right behind me, peaking out of the clouds.
After taking a few breaks for pictures and to look for monkeys I finally arrived and joined the rest of the members of my group back at Barafu camp in the late evening.
When I arrived back at my camp I was welcomed with loud cheers and friendly hugs from all my fellow group members. It was an amazing feeling. After seven long grueling days of hiking and climbing, I finally achieved my goal. At this moment a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders. I DID IT!
After unpacking my gear and celebrating with my new family I sat down in a chair and finally had a few minutes to relax and reflect on my achievement. I sat and drank hot tea and enjoyed the cool air and the gorgeous view before me. It was one of the most peaceful moments of my life. Although I was extremely tired I enjoyed exchanging stories of the day with my fellow hikers.
After the long evening of laughing, and exchanging our adventures over dinner, I was finally ready to get to bed. Although the journey to the summit was a success, two more days of hiking back down the mountain was still ahead.
Climbing To The Roof Of Africa 