Mount Kili's life lessons

I set out to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro as just another check box on my bucket list. In the end though, it turned out to be a journey in its own way. Somewhere beyond Kilimanjaro’s snow-patched Uhuru Peak, I learned lessons that resonated beyond the mountain-climbing task at hand.

Here are some of them, not necessarily in order of importance:1. Go slowly, slowly.

“Pole. Pole.” (Swahili for “Slowly. Slowly”) I heard it thousand times on the mountain. It cannot be said enough. It is the single greatest key to the enjoyment of climbing and the satisfaction of summiting Kilimanjaro. A slow but deliberate pace is the key to continually managing energy and acclimatizing to altitude.

In life, sometimes pole pole – one foot in front of the other; slowly, slowly, surely and deliberate — all the way to the end — is the best way to ensure you reach your goals.

2. Your greatest inhibitor lives inside your head.

On Mt. Kilimanjaro, if it’s not only man vs. mountain, it’s most definitely you vs. yourself. On the way up, it’s easy to let the anxiety demons stop you. “Am I getting altitude sickness? I’m not going to make it. I’m not strong enough.” These fears take over during the day, and when you’re trying to sleep, they suck your mental and physical energy. You must overcome it to get to the top.

Don’t let the voices of panic and the ghosts of failures past cloud your success story.

3. Support is a powerful thing.

Understand in life that you are not alone, and that you’ll need the support of others. On the mountain, it comes in the form of a mob of people including guides, porters, and cooks all watching out for you. Not to mention, your partners in the climb. Take comfort in others who have taken the challenge before you, with you and in your wake. Along the way, accept their support. And give it, too.

Our entire Mt. Kilimanjaro team: climbers, guides, porters, cooks and all.


4. Enjoy the journey.

Keep your head down if you need to, but don't forget to look up. Look forward, but also look back to know where you’ve been and to appreciate the beauty of where you stand. Works on the mountain. Works in life.

5. Give yourself to acclimatize and adjust.

Take an extra day if you need to, or take short hikes to higher elevation at the end of each day. The idea is to take a taste of the thinner air that awaits you and return to a comfortable place so you can sleep at night; you will be better equipped – mentally and physically — to take on the challenge in the morning. Life is similar and when you move from one comfort zone to the next, give yourself some extra time to adjust along the way.


6. Be confident, but don’t underestimate what's ahead

How is Kili? Doable, but not to be underestimated. Kilimanjaro is not a technical climb, ascending to 5,895 meters (19,340 feet) is no easy feat.

There is a fine balance between confidence and underestimating the task. Kilimanjaro is within reach. Don’t freak yourself out about a challenge to the point of not doing it, but understand that it may take more energy and determination than you ever bargained for. That’s OK. You can do it.


7. Drink your water.

Water helps clear the body of all ills. Nowhere is that more true than at high altitude. We were instructed to drink at least four liters of water each per day. In reality, I had lot more. And yes, that meant a lot of bathroom trips in the middle of the night.


8. Personal victories are satisfying, but group victories are awesome.

Joy in the success of others. It’s a great thing.