Monday, January 17, 2011

Jan. 17, 2011

I was perusing the broccoli at a local supermarket when I saw a friend with her shopping cart. We started talking about her upcoming trip to Mt. Kilimanjaro in June 2011. I hope I didn't scare her.
She has been doing a lot of training, but said I was the first to tell her the climb was hard. She is a runner and has climbed Mt. Whitney (at 14,505 ft. the highest point in California and the contiguous United States). My daughter, who summitted Mt. Kilimanjaro with me last July, wanted to know if I had suggested the friend turn around and climb Mt. Whitney six more times in a row to get a feel for what it's like to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. Of course I didn't.
I promised to make a list of items I wished I had taken. The list follows:
A handkerchief - my nose ran constantly and was beyond the help of tissues.
Another roll of toilet paper - this needs no explanation.
More snacks - the three meals are wonderful, but snacks are essential
Better gloves - I was warned to take two good pair of gloves for summit day. I thought I had, but I was wrong. This was where I should have spent extra money. Snacks cannot be eaten with the outer glove, so it must be removed numerous times. A good inner glove would have made this task a lot easier.
A good moisturizer - I did have one, but just thought I would mention it. One of my daughters had sunscreen, but still got pretty wind chapped. My moisturizer cleared that up.
My friend and I made plans for coffee and further chatting. I assured my friend that her trip leader would fully prepare her for the climb. She will be with the same woman who led our trip, the same woman who just climbed Mt. Vinson in Antarctica. Then again, maybe I can give my friend some more hints about how an ordinary woman (like me) can summit Mt. Kilimanjaro! (check out my website www.janicecoy.com)

8 comments:

  1. Great short summary things that most people forget to carry with them. kudos


    Lemosho route is the most Scenic Climb up Mt Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route using different routes; the one that is most popular is the Mt Kilimanjaro Marangu Route Climb since it is the shortest, is easier and you get to sleep in bunker beds in the huts on the hiking trail with luxuries like beverages and beer. Marangu route up kili is the most popular and therefore the one with the highest traffic. Click here to see the Marangu Route Map

    ReplyDelete
  2. Very helpful post(s). Thanks for keeping it down to earth to encourage a Kilimanjaro hopeful. You mentioned earlier that you had climbed Pike's Peak to get into shape for Kili- do you have any benchmarks as to how one should perform on Pike's Peak to meet the demands of climbing the White Giant?

    Thanks for the info!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Are you still training or did you complete your climb? So sorry for the late reply! The best training is to get in the most hills/mountains and longest hikes you can. I should have done more days of 20 miles to prepare. How did you do?

      Delete
  3. Very nice and helpful post. I already tried to climb mountains up to 6,000 ft. And it only need some things, but the higher you the mountain, the more things are needed to be prepared.

    Climbing Mt Kilimanjaro

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! Have you climbed higher mountains yet?

      Delete
  4. Awesum blog
    for more exposures of tracking plz visit us
    mount kilimanjaro hiking

    ReplyDelete
  5. Very nice and helpful post. Kilimanjaro is not only the highest mountain in Africa but it is the tallest free-standing mountain on earth. Inhibiting its apparent snow capped peak has been the dream of keen trekkers as well as seasoned mountaineers for decades. Thanks for sharing this information which will help and encourage trekking this mountain.
    Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing

    ReplyDelete

A final view of Mt. Kilimanjaro

A final view of Mt. Kilimanjaro

It's Official

It's Official

At the Roof of Africa

At the Roof of Africa

Crater

Crater

Glaciers

Glaciers

Barafu Camp

Barafu Camp

Looking back at Karanga Valley Camp

Looking back at Karanga Valley Camp

Morning Send Off

Morning Send Off

Barranca Wall

Barranca Wall

Top of Barranca Wall

Top of Barranca Wall

The Dining Tent

The Dining Tent

Trail to Lava Tower

Trail to Lava Tower

Shira Camp

Shira Camp

Machame Trail

Machame Trail

Machame Gate

Machame Gate

Half Dome cables

Half Dome cables

Towering Tree

Towering Tree
this is a former house plant that I tired of, I didn't want to throw it out, so I dug a hole for it in the dog yard. It's thriving despite me.