Mt. Kilimanjaro 2013December 17 – December 28

Tanzania, Africa

The Basics

• Kili is the highest free-standing mountain in the world.

• Kilimanjaro is 19, 340 feet high• You must go through a guide service in order to

climb.• The guide service cost about $2,500 and airfare

was about $2,600.• As many as 40% of climbers turn back before

summit.

The Route and Weather

• There are several routes to the top.• I am taking the Machame route, which is a seven day

climb, summiting on Christmas day.• The Machame route is one of the hardest routes to

climb, but is more scenic with better views of the mountain.

• This route has high traffic during peak climbing season, which is August, September.

• December can be rainy and misty, but has very low traffic.

The Five Zones

• Kilimanjaro has five different zones.• Climbing Kili is like starting at the equator and

ending up at the North Pole.• Temperatures at the bottom can be 70 to 80

degrees.• Summit can be between 0 and -15 degrees.

Expand Your Comfortable Limits

• Seeking insight about life, who you are and what is truly important to you.

• “It’s the journey and not the destination.” –Okay, maybe it’s both.

• Role model for students and daughter. • Challenge my own comfortable limits to see

what I can learn about who I am and my relationship to the world at large.

Altitude Sickness

• Approximately 1,000 climbers a year are evacuated from the mountain.

• There are roughly 10 deaths a year due to this sickness.

• The body must adjust to having less oxygen as the air gets thinner the higher you climb.

• As many as 40% of climbers turn back a year.

Altitude Continued

• Air at the summit contains only half the oxygen it does at sea level.

• Almost everyone experiences some sort of sickness during the ascent.

• Symptoms: Nausea, fatigue, difficulty sleeping.• Help by drinking lots of water and eating right.• You can take medicine to help relieve

symptoms.

Just in case the food isn’t good.

Impulse buys.

Climb for Calvin Todd

• Last October Army Medic Calvin Todd was running to the aid of his fellow soldiers, who had tripped on an IED.

• When he ran to the front, he also tripped on an IED, resulting in losing his leg.

• Calvin continues physical rehabilitation, but is in need of a modified home due to his injury.

My cousin Calvin and his family.

Inspiration

Strength

Determination

Climbing Mt. Washington For a Cause

2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013

Climb for Stan Larson

Climb for Tyler Ricard

Climb for Boys and Girls Club

Climb for Jacob: Cancer Survivor

Tip Top House

Summer Ascent

Mt. Moosilauke

Carter Notch

Potrero Chico, Mexico

• Donations can be made to:

Adapt, Overcome, Live

• Keep track of my progress:

www.kili4calvin.wordpress.com