When I first looked into this excursion about ten years ago I thought it is a obstacle that few could conquer, but as I recently researched about 40,000 people a year trek this mountain. It is the highest peak in Africa and the tallest free standing mountain in the world. It is a volcano, created from lava millions of years ago. The hike is started in a rain forest and ends in, what is left, of glaciers. I will spend a total of seven days camping on the mountain. Five days going up and two days coming down. The biggest challenge will be battling altitude sickness. As much as one trains and prepares, you will not know how your body will respond until you are there. The journey up is taken slowly in five days to give your body a chance to acclimatize to each new high altitude as much as possible. Headache, fatigue, nausea and disorientation are pretty much expected during most of the week I will spend on a mountain. Enjoy your vacation Samantha!
If you support me and the path I have chosen please donate on my behalf to the American Foundation for Children with AIDS.
http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/samantha-obrien/climb-up-kilimanjaro
I wish I was Mountain Size....
40,000 people each year. Wow, that is 100 times the population of Garberville.
ReplyDeleteI have been at about 14,000 and it is intense. I got the headache and nausea. Then I took the altitude medicine Diamox and was fine. The only side affect was that about 30 minutes after taking it, you have an extreme urge to pee. This could prove difficult if you are wearing lots of warm weather clothing.
YOU CAN DO IT!!