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Preparing to Conquer Mount Kilimanjaro

Edrika Gutierrez0

Anticipation: Control via Preparation - Equipment and Mindset

I don’t even know where to begin.

The trek up Mount Kilimanjaro was EPIC! Actually, it was so much more than epic, but that one term is the most appropriate way to summarize it in a way others can understand. My friends and I conquered fears, pushed our bodies to the limit, and formed strong bonds as we pushed our boundaries to stay alive! 

I jest you not!

Having read through countless blogs, videos, and in-depth Reddit threads, I thought I knew what to expect. However, I was mistaken. Doh! Several portions of the trek simply could not be documented while also focusing on foot placement, breathing, and just staying alive. One wrong step and injury was certain. Still, the entire experience was amazing, scary, anxiety-ridden, and breathtaking all at the same damn time! I felt alive!

But lets start from the beginning...

While scrolling through Facebook, I noticed a message in one of my groups. ‘If anyone is interested in ascending Mount Kilimanjaro, let me know’. I paused for a minute, scrolled past the message, then returned to take note of the details. Trekking Mount Kilimanjaro is one of those bucket-list trips you didn’t even know you wanted to tackle. But I was up for the challenge. And so were 17 others. BAM, we have a team!

Over the next six months, we met several times, via Zoom, to flesh out the details, and exchange tips & tricks learned through research. We also took notes from Airais who had already tackled the Mountain, and Trisha who had over 10 years of experience helping people learn how to recreate safely and comfortably.

 

 

PACKING DISASTER

As the months passed, my guest bedroom became Mount Kilimanjaro Central. I had created a packing list and that room became the collection point. The time I spent preparing for the trip was intense but proved to be my primary means of control.

How does one train to climb one of the tallest mountains in Africa? I continued with my fitness regime of cycling, rowing, running, & weight lifting, but I believed my chance of a successful summit was directly linked to having all the equipment, clothes, and mental tenacity I could muster. 

Things to Consider

Clothing

We opted to trek to the summit via the Lemosho Route. Our 8-day journey was touted as one that offered the greatest chance of a successful summit. And although, understandably, one might be tempted to pack 8 pairs of clothing (hiking pants, shirts, underwear, socks, jackets, etc.) for each day, that was not possible. A team of porters would transport our duffle bags with all of our gear from one camp to the next. Thus, the bag could only weigh 33 lbs.

When I say transport, I mean they literally carry the bags and beat us to our next campsite. The porters made it look effortless. As such, it fell to all of us to determine exactly what to pack. I spent two days in each pair of pants. Essentials only! Everything got dusty anyway.

Of course, hiking boots played a critical role. They had to be comfortable. We would be hiking for 8 days. I purchased a pair of Salomon OUTpulse Mid GORE-TEX Hiking Boots for the warmer climate zones. They were perfect. For the summit night and in the colder climates, I wore KEEN Steens MID WP Hiking. This pair was a half-size larger to allow for thick wool socks. 

Most important were the warm clothes meant for ‘summit night’. I wore a thermal pair of running pants, fleece-lined hiking pants, and ski pants over everything. Up top, I had a base layer shirt, a fleece-lined 3/4 zip-top, a Big Agnes Shovelhead 700-Down Jacket, and a Mountain Hardwear Boundary Ridge GORE-TEX Jacket on top to keep the rain and wind at bay. I was warm!

Sleeping Gear

To keep warm our sleeping bags had to be rated for 0 degrees. I purchased a Therm-a-Rest Parsec 0F/-18C Ultralight Down Mummy Sleeping Bag. That, and the fleece sleeping bag liner, bag kept me warm. And although the trekking company provided mats, I purchased a NEMO Tensor Alpine Air Insulated Sleeping Pad. With an R-rating of 4–8, being cold while I slept was no concern. One less thing to worry about. Lastly, one of the best purchases I made was a blow-up pillow. I didn’t realize how much of a creature comfort a pillow could be. 

Miscellaneous Creature Comforts

As relayed previously, there would be no bathrooms along the route. Stepping off the trail to water the plants was common-place. There was no shame, just go. But I knew I wanted an option that allowed me to stay dressed. The P-Style was clutch! 

Female Urinary Devices

And, of course, a large battery pack was a must to keep our devices powered. Most of us wear Garmin watches. I knew I wanted to track my hikes, which meant recharging my watch. I also took my GoPro, phone, and head-lamp (another crucial item) that was rechargeable. Many, including myself, brought solar-powered battery packs. I brought two and was powered the entire trip.

Porter Tipping

Money

There is a whole tipping etiquette to follow for tipping the porters, guides, etc. The porters task is difficult one. Their tenacity, grit, and will to do whatever it takes to make a living humbled me. Read Kameron Abilla’s article about the Porters on Mount Kilimanjaro here. We all built bonds with the porters, guides, cooks, and crew. You can’t help but want more for them and do what you can to improve their lives.

We calculated the tip amount based on the number of climbers (17) and porters (77). One of the requirements for preparing the tip was to make sure the notes were from 2017 or later and were free of rips, tears, and creases. You read that correctly. After visiting a few ATM’s, two separate banks, and hitting up my co-workers and family, I was good. I was not prepared for that to be such a challenging task, so I spent the last week frantically gathering more bills. But in the end, the mission was accomplished. 

Lets GO! 

After purchasing more equipment than I needed, preparing my body and mind, and having regular meetings with my team, I was as ready as I was going to be. With each meeting, I found myself purchasing one last item. In the end, there was only so much I could pack into my 90L bag and I had to keep that in mind. 

After a few stressful night of packing, I was off to meet the rest of the team. Some arrived days ahead to acclimate. I would have one whole day to exhale before we got down to business. I was excited and ready to start the journey up Mount Kilimanjaro!

Lets GO!

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