Journey to
This past summer Jill McKean took the trip of a lifetime. She joined Backwoods Adventures’ two-week Kilimanjaro Ascent and Safari excursion, which includes a climb of Africa’s highest and most storied summit, Mt. Kilimanjaro, followed by a wildlife safari through the legendary game country of Tanzania. She recounted her trip in words and photos.
AFRICA Getting Ready Climbing for a Cause
“I wanted to do this as a mission trip, so my church recommended I contact Impact Africa, Impact Kids, an organization based in South Africa that takes in kids from squatter camps and provides them with an education. I decided to complete my climb as a fundraiser for them, and I ended up raising $8,800. The money I raised will enable another classroom to be opened that can accommodate 45-50 kids.”
On the Mountain
“We spent the first day getting adjusted in the town of Moshi, visiting the local markets and taking in the surroundings. The next day we were bussed out to Machame Gate to begin our climb up Kilimanjaro. There were 11 of us on the team, including our guides from Backwoods Adventures. The climb seemed to get harder every day with a new challenge on different terrain. It started on a paved road, but as we headed into the rainforest it turned into a muddy trail. Then we started climbing over boulders and rocks. By day three we were moving through desert ash with a lot of lava rock. It was amazing to see how the climate changed with each passing day. On day four we climbed the Barranco Wall, which was a 1,000-foot straight ascent. My heart was pumping, and I made sure not to look up
or down. I just kept going. On day five we reached high camp, around 15,500 feet. We set up camp and went to bed early in preparation for the approach to the summit. We started the final stretch to the top at midnight the next day. It was 25 degrees, so we were bundled up and equipped with headlamps to see the path ahead. We pushed through rocky terrain with plenty of sand and shale, as 40 mile-per-hour winds whipped us in the middle of the night. Our local guides sang to us all night long to keep us going. As the sun started to rise we caught an amazing bright red view of Mars. As we finally reached the summit at 7am, the sun was beaming off the surrounding glaciers. The chilly temperatures didn’t spoil the moment. We all took pictures and celebrated what previously seemed like an unattainable accomplishment to many of us. It was hard to sleep that night back at camp, as the adrenaline was still pumping from standing on the top of Kilimanjaro.”
Safari
“After the summit, the perfect way to wind down was our three- day safari. It was a time to relax and take pictures and soak up the beautiful scenery. We visited three national parks, and I saw elephants, hippopotamus, and zebras as well as birds with vivid colors that I never could have imagined. I also enjoyed seeing a pride of lions that was napping and sunning. When they woke up they backed themselves into the shade of our vehicles and gave us a great close-up view. We also visited a Masai Village and had a chance to experience their culture. The people were so gracious and friendly. They appreciated anything you gave them, even if it was just a smile.”
“The climb ended up being the toughest thing I’ve ever done. It was physically challenging but I was prepared. As a marathon runner, my training included long runs during the week, as well as a variety of cross training. On the weekends, I made sure to do several hours of hiking and hill climbing.”
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FALL/WINTER 2011
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