Kili in 2007

Well. Here it is. I got what I wanted. A lifetime goal will be attempted. I leave at 10:51am tomorrow and will arrive after more than a day of travel in Tanzania sometime around 8 pm on June 6th.

I’ve gotten a lot of crazy looks and “why’s” out of a lot of people about this trip. The answers are many that I could give. I guess I just wanted to do it and see if it could happen. In our everday life we surround ourselves with all the things that make us stronger in life. Our titles, our jobs, our houses, our toys, our families to make us stronger against the world. I wanted to strip all that away from me and see what was left for a little while. For nearly half a month I’m going to travel to another continent, half way around the world, hiking over 60 miles and up 13,000 ft in elevation to over 19,000ft on MNT. Kilimanjaro because I asked to. I am going to do the best that I can to enjoy it and take it all in. I have a goal to achieve, but will enjoy the journey to get to it along the way.

Will I make it up or be one of the 60 percent that don’t make it? I could have told you five years ago that I would summit 100 percent. I would have pushed through the pain and sickness of altitude to finish. Now,  If I get sick and run a risk of any injury or death, I’ll turn around and go back down the mountain. I will not be one of the 15 or so people that die on KILI each year. I’ve got a son now and seeing him again is more important than my own goals. That being said, I didn’t go to Africa to fail and there will be “One Hell of an attempt” on my part to summit.

To those who helped me get in shape, thank you. Several of you went hiking and running with me to push me to get ready . To my wife, April you are awsome and have been nothing but supportive in my crazy adventures and have stood by me through all of this. Never once have you questioned any decision I have made.  Thank you so much and take care of the baby while I am away. I will see you soon.

This is my last post for the training blog. I will try to see you from the roof of Africa.

Not a very long day. I hiked just a shade over 3 miles. I took the yellow foothills trail up to the white and up to Shackelford point (hightest point on white trail). Got in some good hill work. I made it to Maggies glenn (1.3 miles) in about 20 minutes. Then up to the highest part of the white trail in about 17 mitues. I didn’t stop the whole way, though I really hurt today and wanted to stop. i rested for about 10 miutes once I got to the top and then turned around and came the same way back. Anybody thats been follwing this blog ( I assume there are a few of you as it has had several thousands hits now. One thing I wish I would have done was more consecutive day hikes like the last three days. Its easy to go hard for one day, but when you’ve got several hard hikes in a row I think that helps. My body is worn down from this though (Kili is going to be much worse and many more miles.)

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