Tricks And Secrets For Making It To The Top: The Truth About Ascending Kilimanjaro By Someone Who’s Done It. “Today Show’s Anne Curry Struggling”—Dramatic Headline Tops Google Searches Yesterday
There are many interesting aspects to the Today Show’s Anne Curry climb up Mount Kilimanjaro, beyond the notion that she might not make it to the top. But, if Google rankings indicate popularity, David Bauder’s Associated Press article (which suggests that possibility) appears to be dominating search pages.
Readers and writers who haven’t had the privilege of ascending this great peak might not realize the daunting task this very talented and (usually) incredibly fearless journalist was given (at short notice). They also might not know that mountain sickness (like weather condition changes) can come in waves. Some days and hours are better than others. Those who have initial difficulties might do well later. Those who do well earlier might do poorly later. Luck, predictability, certainty, and confidence aren’t quite the same above the clouds as below them.
As I’ve revealed in recollections of my own climb, from last year, training doesn’t always matter as much as three other factors: Here are some personal tricks/secrets I discovered along the way, in an excerpt from from my December 2, 2007 Blog Entry: Climbing KILIMANJARO—Making it to the Top
I wasn’t the fittest person in the group, I also hadn’t done enough (almost any) training. So, how did I make it to the top (be in the 50% who do, and the only woman among peers)? I think three factors helped:
1. I had the proper clothing (and wore it)—really took time to organize packing and followed all formal instructions from guidebooks and informal instructions from travelers who’d succeeded previously.
2. I didn’t try to be clever or take chances in any way—used poles, ate and hydrated well, listened to the guides in going "pole, pole" (slowly, slowly), and took the necessary meds. Thank you Diamox (altitude sickness inhibitor)! Even though this drug made my hands and feet tingle relentlessly, it was a very good friend and support.
3. I didn’t go on the climb with the idea that I had to make it all the way. I was aware that I might not have the capacity to do so, and could forgive myself weaknesses. Competition was not what this journey was about for me. It was more of a spiritual quest about being there and experiencing whatever was meant to be—and accepting it, while still fit and young enough to get myself over there.
The lead-up days to the final ascent were a honeymoon of sorts. The final ascent was a whole different story—nothing similar—the most challenging physical endeavor I have ever faced (and no one had informed me about properly). What kept me going on the final ascent? Three gifts:
1. The camaraderie of those with whom I was climbing and our attentive guides.
2. The not knowing what was coming next and not having been prepared for the worst—being in a situation I could do nothing about and just getting on with it.
3. The not-giving up factor, once I was so close, and because there was no real reason to. How could I go down (in still bad weather conditions) if I hadn’t made it up? We’d been climbing for six days and, at the 11th hour, I couldn’t justify turning back. It was the same way down if you made it up or not, and I couldn’t find a good enough reason to turn around. Not thinking about what I was actually doing or the discomfort of continuing also helped. Automatic movements and focusing on other thoughts—and struggles—became a lot more meaningful and empowering. I acknowledged that I never really give up, no matter how awful the task is, making the climb a metaphor for so much more.
For the last hour I wept my way up, partly out of pain, partly out of emotion—maybe more out of emotion. I couldn’t turn off my tears or howls. The tears froze and the howls got absorbed by the wind. The feelings were intensely private. But, as discussed later with climbing peers, appropriately universal. These guys had had their own emotional releases too! Reaching the top, we all embraced. It was a magical moment in a glacial wonderland where we were too cold and tired to take photos or stick around.
Preparing to Climb Kilimanjaro? For more details about the Kilimanjaro climbing experience, as well as links to ealier blog entries, please see my posting from yesterday (November 17, 08): Anne Curry Climbs Kilimanjaro: “Today Show” Goes to the Ends of the Earth to Examine Life-Sustaining Sources of Water and Threats to Them.
