Successful summit of Mt Kilimanjaro

On the Charities’ 1st birthday, 28th December 2008, Simon Buckingham, Rebecca Smith and I stood on top of the highest mountain in Africa and the world’s largest free standing mountain in the world and breathed deeply.

Simon Buckingham, Kate Evans and Rebecca Smith on top pf Mt Kilimanjaro

We had made it and it was an incredible feeling, none of us had expected it to be so emotional but we all got a little chocked up taking in the view from the roof of Africa. It was a spectacular view, taking in Mt Meru in the distance, the peak Mwenzi and the remains of the glacier that once covered this mountain. Special thanks must go to the Guides and Porters of Marangu Hotel (www.maranguhotel.com ) who where professional throughout and ensured that we made it safely and made it an enjoyable experience. We saw many people that were having less fun and some turned back before summiting, we also someone being evacuated from the summit, not a quick helicopter trip but being run down in a wheelbarrow/stretcher. We do not know if they made it! The mountain treated us well with good weather but we knew all too well that she can be cruel to those that do not respect her. We had lots of respect and listened to our guides who told us to Pole Pole (slowly slowly) giving our bodies time to acclimatise and listened to what it was telling us. For me the hardest part was the final summit day, we went to bed at 7pm and were up at 10pm for an 11pm start. It was not until 1115pm that we started after final adjustments, and then it was a slow plod onwards and upwards. Most of the groups started after us and over took us, this did not bother us, we knew that to go slowly was the way to succeed, and indeed many of those who over took us came down before summiting, being run down by guides to make it down asap and stop the advances of Pulmonary Oedema or Cerebral Oedema.

We were joined by a group of Americans, complete strangers at first but after six days on a mountain telling tales and sharing the wonderful experience we left firm friends. We would like to thank them for their support and encouragement on the mountain.
My personal thanks go to my friend and fellow zoologist, Rebecca Smith, who agreed to join us and raised nearly £1500 for us. She overcame altitude sickness to make it all the way to the top. Congratulations Becs and many thanks.

Thanks to all those who have already dug deep into their pockets, particularly during these hard economic times. You can still support us, simply visit www.justgiving.com/elephantkate. For other donations methods get in touch on elephantresearch@yahoo.co.uk. We all paid our own way for this venture so ALL PROFITS go to the charity. For Simon and I this is not the last of our challenges as before the charities next birthday we must complete a marathon and an epic bike ride. Our target £10,000 for a new research vehicle. Wish us luck.