The Story of a Mountain Climber
“Anything is possible with determination, passion, and a love for adventure” I learnt many years ago, in 2006 to be precise, when I added a bucket list item, climbing mount Kilimanjaro. At the time, I was determined and passionate to tick off. I am fortunate to have a love for adventure and a desire to push my limits, this has been a part of me from an early age and has grown with me to my adult life.
So, when I set sights on the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro, all I could think about every time I flew over it, I either took pictures or glimpsed over it with admiration, adding to my determination.
After years of procrastination, my push started unusually, whereas, In December 2014, I had a health hiccup, that reminded me that I might not make it to tick off my bucket list. And so, in January 2015, I began my journey climbing the highest mountain in Africa.
Taking the Machame route, known for its steep inclines, spectacular views, and higher summit success rate. With each step, I was in awe of the breathtaking beauty of the mountain and the diverse landscape surrounding them. I pushed through the mental and physical challenges and reached the summit, standing victorious on the rooftop of Africa and putting a tick on my close-to-decade goal.
An exciting idea developed that transformed into nine ticks on my list over the past eight years. I knew one climb was not enough; I wanted to experience the mountain in all its glory. So, I set myself on returning to Kilimanjaro and experiencing it from different angles. The second is the Marangu route, known for its ease of access and comfortable huts. It was a tough climb, but I scoped from my determination and once again stood at the summit, feeling a sense of accomplishment and humility like never before.
The second trip only fuelled my desire, I could not get enough of the mountain, so I returned for a third and fourth time on the Marangu and Machame routes. On the fifth and sixth climb, I chattered on the Umbwe route, known for its rugged beauty and remote wilderness. The climbs were gruelling, but the sense of adventure and the stunning views made every step worth it. And once again, I reached the summit. The Lemosho route is known for its gentle slopes and scenic views of the mountain around the Shira Plateau, which made my seventh climb to the summit. I did two more Marangu route summit climbs for work-related activities which will be a story for another article.
My climbs of Mount Kilimanjaro were not just physical journeys, but also mental and spiritual journeys that I had to endure. Each climb was an opportunity to learn and grow, to push beyond my limits, and to discover my true strength and resilience. And it all started with the first climb. After that, there was no looking back heeding the Marangu route call four times, the Machame route twice, the Umbwe route two and the Lemosho route once, each time I approached the mountain with more experience, humility and wisdom, scaling the heights with ease and embracing the beauty of the climb.
I am sharing this short story from my bucket list, as an inspiration to all those who dream of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. It shows that anything is possible with determination, passion, and a love for adventure. And it’s a reminder that the real victory is reaching the summit and the journey of reaching it, how you conquer yourself as you attempt to conquer the mountain.
