Frequently Asked Questions

Did you go by yourself or with a group?

I flew to Africa by myself then hooked up with a group when I got there.  The group tour was organized through a company called Exodus.  I met my trip leader and most of the other group members at the Kilimanjaro airport.  Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro had been a group effort but reaching the summit was a solitary experience.

How long was the flight to Africa?

Five flights, four countries and three days later.  I left Toronto airport on a Thursday night and got to Tanzania Saturday night.

How long did it take you to climb to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro?

It took 5 days to ascend and a day and a half to descend.

Why does it take so much longer to hike up then come down?

For obvious reasons but with any high altitude trek you need to hike slow in order to allow your body enough time to adapt to the lower levels of oxygen.  At 12,000 ft you only have 60% of the oxygen you have at sea level and by the time you've hiked to the top you are only breathing in 50%.  The slower you hike, the better chance you have of acclimatizing and the higher your success rate of reaching the top.

Did you make it to the top?

Yes, I made it to Gilman's Point.  Altitude sickness prevented me from hiking on top of the volcano, along the rim of the crater to Uhura Peak which is the highest point in Africa.

Would you do it again?

No.  But if I ever did, I would choose a different route and take more time to do it.  The 5 day ascent was not enough time for my body to acclimatize.

Why do you hike at night?

Only the summit push is done at night.  The trail to the summit is an incredibly steep shale slope of loose scree.  During the night the ground freezes making walking a lot easier.  Also, at that altitude the heat would make it tough to climb as you have to carry your own water.  You would also get a wicked sunburn being so close to the sun.  On a personal note, it's probably a good thing you hike in darkness because if you hiked during daylight hours and saw how steep the hike was, the temptation to turn back would be much greater.

What kind of training did you do to prepare for it?

Mountain hiking is all lungs and legs.  I trained on the eliptical trainer at the gym to increase my cardiovascular fitness and I did lots of leg presses to strengthen my thighs.  I did some hiking up steep ravines and walked around and up stairwells as much as I could with my backpack on.  I am in good physical condition and have previous experience with high altitude mountain hiking.  There is nothing you can do around Ontario to train for altitude and the best level of physical fitness will not prevent it so I took altitude medication with me instead.

What is altitude medication?

Diamox is a prescription drug which helps combat the symptoms of acute mountain sickness.  For more information about it return to the home page and click on altitude sickness.

How long have you been mountain climbing?

I've never considered myself a mountain "climber" but rather a "trekker".  I have hiked other mountains but not with ropes or crampons (yet).  I do have rock climbing experience and have climbed Mt. Seneca in West Virginia via ropes and rapelling.  I have also trekked many mountain ranges and canyons in the USA, summited Mt. Olympus in Greece, hiked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru and trekked to Mt. Everest Base Camp in Nepal.

How much does it cost to hike Mt. Kilimanjaro?

Cost varies depending on what trekking company you go with.  But considering your flight to get there (from Canada) and the cost of the hike itself you'll need at least $5,000 CAD. (This price does not include any game parks or other things you want to see while you're there).

Did you have to carry your own gear?

It was a "walk and talk" trek.  In other words, porters carried our camping gear, cookware and food.  They would set up camp and cook our meals.  Believe me, it is the only way to go because you need to save all of your strength for the mountain.  Plus, you give locals employment by hiring them as porters and guides.  Our porters worked for a company called the "African Walking Club", which is contracted by Exodus.

So what is your next adventure?

Mt. Everest Base Camp (completed in 2005).  Mount Kosciusko and Ayers rock in Australia (2007).

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