Training for the Climb

I live in Minneapolis, not known for its mountainous terrain. As much as possible, I walk or bike within the city. Using a pedometer, I determined that I often walk about 12,000+ steps a day. I bike between 5 and 7 miles in an average day. In preparing for Kili, I have started stair climbing on an outdoor pedestrian bridge over a railroad track - for one hour nonstop, wearing a Camelbak with about 10 - 15 lbs of combined water and other weight. For much of June we will be climbing some of the 14,000 foot mountains in Colorado.

For the last 12 years or so, I have participated in an aerobics class up to three times a week. Both the teacher, Diane Penn, and all other regular attenders have become an important part of my life. When on the summit, I had a banner that I tried to display, but the wind was pretty fierce, so here are two pictures, one on the summit and one later in our hotel room, with the text more legible!

Previous Experience

In the early 80's we climbed in New Zealand and in Peru. For one memorable night in Peru we tented in a horizontal crevasse at about 18,500 feet. The highest I have ever been is about 20,000 feet. In 2003 we lived and traveled in Ecuador, and although I did not summit any of the volcanoes, I slept for several nights in a high hut at about 5,000 meters (16,500 feet).

The reason that I list all these numbers is to make the point that I have had repeated experiences at higher altitudes, both climbing and sleeping. One of the major problems that people seem to encounter on Kilimanjaro is related to the altitude. Just because I have handled higher altitudes successfully in the past is no guarantee that I will do so in the future, but it is one cause for some optimism about my chances.

Why Kilimanjaro?

My husband, Dave, is an avid mountain climber. I am less so. In 2009 he climbed Aconcagua, the highest mountain in South America. I stayed in the US and felt left out. This time, as he considered the highest mountain in Africa, I decided to join him. It is not a terribly high mountain, as highest peaks go (19,300 feet) and is not a technical mountain (no ropes or crampons required). Plus, we have climbed together in the past, and I am unwilling to concede that my climbing days are over. Consider this venture part "marriage enrichment" and part "personal challenge".