Climbing Kilimanjaro is a life changing experience. It's the highest point in Africa and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world. Reaching the top and returning safely requires being fit, determined, having the right equipment, and knowing how to use it. Here is my recommended packing list for Kilimanjaro.
Read MoreThe baselayer. This unassuming layer sits next to your skin, transporting sweat away from you and into itself—so that it can evaporate slowly without leaving you chilled. It's the first thing we put on. (And often leave on the entire trip!) Baselayers can help stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Choosing the best baselayer is super-critical to your comfort and enjoyment of more intense climates outdoors. The market is full of brands. Full of styles. Full of Fabrics. How does one choose? It's a bit overwhelming. This post chips away at this problem by examining the two main baselayer fabric categories to head to head to determine which fabric is makes the best baselayer: Is it wool or polyester?
Read MoreGetting to Tanzania is an adventure in itself. We flew Qatar Airways and had a multi hour layover in Doha. If you are keen on the logistics behind the trip, check this out. If you prefer to learn about the actual hike, just skip ahead to Day 1. Otherwise, read more...
Read MoreThe bus dropped us off at this sign and we began walking into the rain forest. Our guides acquaint us with the local flora and fauna and begin drilling into our heads the importance of moving slowly.
Read MoreOn the morning of day two we emerged from the canopy and began to gain some noticeable elevation. The views were striking and the air noticeably thinner.
Read MoreWe plotted a course straight at the summit cone and slowly crossed the massive lava flow known as Shira Plateau. And then everything started going wrong. The group pushed on to Moire Hut, and completed a slack-pack acclimatization hike. Then I was rocked with altitude-related nausea and headaches.
Read MoreStill not feeling very good, I struggled on the hike to Barranco Camp and poured myself into the sleeping bag as soon as we arrived. Late in the evening I began feeling some relief.
Read MoreOvernight, my altitude-related issues disappeared but Heidi came down with severe gastro-intestinal distress — conveniently on the day we had to hike the steepest section, and she's afraid of heights. What could go wrong?
Read MoreWith Heidi feeling slightly better and myself well on the way to recovery, but still nervous about altitude issues, we took our sweet time on the short hike to basecamp. With the summit attempt beginning only seven hours later, my mind was filled with doubts.
Read MoreThe air was crisp and still. Ice crystals formed over our packs and outer layers. The digital thermometer died in the cold and I was too miserable to pull my analog one out. It felt like it was in the single digits—which is actually quite good weather for this section of the climb. Our team of climbers, the guides and two summit porters slowly made their way through the night toward the summit another four-thousand feet above.
Read MoreWith the summit in the bag, and having descended an additional several thousand feet, the group had a bitter-sweet, but gentle hike out to civilization, Followed by a feast at a Moshi restaurant.
Read MoreIn Februrary 2016, Heidi and I set off for Tanzania. Our goal: Climb Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, and tallest free-standing mountain in the world. This was a super-adventure for us. Read our story, peruse the photos, or learn from the resources gathered in this section.
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