I knew hiking the highest mountain in Africa wouldn’t be easy, I didn’t know how much it would change my life! On the 5th night of hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro we woke at 11 pm to try to make it to the summit for sunrise. In the darkness my doubts of success were foremost on my mind. This was by far the hardest physical and mental challenge I had ever attempted! Could I push past every fiber in my body telling me to stop?
As our line of hikers slowly walked up the switchbacks, our guides hiked easily beside us off the trail. The guides were watching us for signs of altitude sickness with their trained eyes. My feet had frozen long ago, along with the hose to my water bladder. My head pounded at times, and I felt I would be ill at any moment. I continued on wondering why I was doing this. There was no enjoyment at this point. My mind wrestled with me to give up. Emmanuel our head guide must have sensed my internal struggle and tiredness. He insisted on taking my backpack. While I didn’t like him doing this as I wouldn’t have easy access to my snacks and water, I had no energy to argue with him about it. Without the pack on my back, I became more cold and needed hand warmers in my winter mittens. I fumbled to get the warmers out and then Emanuel opened them for me with his mitten less hands. I felt reassured that our guides were taking good care of us, and somehow would get us up the mountain.
Reaching the summit of a particularly difficult peak often makes me a little emotional from the effort, but I keep those feelings in check. Hiking Kilimanjaro on the other hand was a completely different story. When we arrived at Stella Point (the ridge to the summit), I had a complete breakdown. A year’s worth of planning, training, and preparing for the most difficult hike to date was coming to the climax and I was going to be standing on the “Rooftop of Africa”. One of the Seven Summits of the World. All I could do is cry…for joy…for disbelief…for everything.
Our team of hikers trudged along looking more like “the Walking Dead” than hikers. We stopped frequently to admire and photograph the beautiful glaciers. Glistening in the early morning ray’s of the sun the glaciers looked like Superman’s fortress.
Rounding a turn in the trail we finally saw the two summit signs. After almost a year of preparation for this moment, finally being at the summit felt like a dream. Arm in arm the team walked to the signs. Numerous photos were taken and more tears were shed. I knew my life had been forever changed reaching this goal. I couldn’t say that there is anything I can’t do. I had pushed myself more than I ever had both physically and emotionally. I would have loved to stay in that moment for hours and relish the achievement longer. Our bodies could not handle the elevation for long though and our day was far from over! Despite having hours of hiking left the highlight of the day my life was the special moments at sunrise on the summit. Basking in the glow of accomplishment and the early morning sun’s rays is how I will remember that day forever!
More info: roarloud.net
Mt. Kilimanjaro
Sunrise brought hope
Sweet success!
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