Barefoot Climbers Summit Kilimanjaro

Remember those crazy trekkers that I told you about a few weeks back who wanted to go up Kilimanjaro barefooted? Last weekend they actually accomplished their goal, standing on the summit of the 5895 meter (19,340 ft) peak, without any kind of protection on their feet. On the way to the top, they braved cold temperatures, plenty of snow, and lots of sharp, loose rocks, and yet they still managed to make it without shoes.

The team actually topped out on Saturday, although it wasn't easy. When they set out from the Kibo Huts that morning, the temperature was below zero (presumably Celsius) and they still had to traverse plenty of loose scree. It took them about 4.5 hours to reach Gilman's Point, and along the way they encountered several climbers who had turned back from the summit, and were clearly suffering from altitude sickness. That was a sobering experience for the entire crew, but they continued on to the top none the less.

As they approached the summit they faced plenty of snow as well. More than two feet has fallen just a few days earlier, and walking the final few hundred feet without shoes, in snow, was yet one more challenge to overcome. But in the end, they stood on top, which is pretty amazing to me. I can barely walk across smooth pavement without shoes on.

You can read more about their experience on their website – barefootimpi.org – which includes their reports from the field and photos from the climb. Remember, they undertook this journey to raise funds for the Red Cross Children's Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa as well, so it was once again an adventure for a good cause.

Congrats to the whole team on a job well done.

An African Adventure With Canadian RMC Cadets

In late December, a team of young cadets from the Royal Military College in Canada traveled to Africa, where they had quite an experience. The team went there to climb Kilimanjaro, with the hopes of raising $20,000 for a new "Summit Scholarship" that would allow a former child solider from Africa to attend university in Canada. While any Kili climb is an adventure in and of itself, that was just the tip of the iceberg for what they found on their journey through the continent.

You can read the long and detailed, yet very interesting, trip report by clicking here. It has some great insights into climbing Kili, which will definitely be appreciated by anyone considering a climb of their own, but also discusses the other aspects of the cadets' journey through Africa as well. For instance, upon their arrival to Nairobi, Kenya they spent the first couple of days visiting local hospitals and slums and getting an education on what life in Africa is truly like. It was an eye-opening experience for the young men and women on the trip. They also had an opportunity to interact with African wildlife, visiting rehabilitation centers for elephants, giraffes, and other creatures.

After getting their legs back under them, and acclimatizing to the sights and sounds of Africa, it was time to move on to Tanzania and Kilimanjaro, which they climbed along the Umbwe route. As I mentioned above, they go into good detail on their climb, sharing all kinds of experience from the trail, which was a focal point of their visit. Their African adventure wasn't over after a successful summit however, as they then moved on to Rwanda, where they spent a week learning about the culture and history there, including the horrible genocide that went down in the 1994. Some of the team even ventured into Volcanoes National Park, where they had the opportunity to interact with the famed mountain gorillas that live there.

The story is such a good one, as I can tell from reading about the cadets' experiences that they fell in love with Africa as much as I have. It is a complex, wonderful place, that once it gets into your heart, it is hard to shake. Their experiences were not the norm for many travelers, which makes it all the more interesting to read. It seems pretty clear that this group of young people didn't come home unchanged by their travels.  This sounds like it was an amazing journey and one that I would have loved to have been a part of.

Thanks to John Matlock for sending me this story a few days back.

Adventurers Set To Take On Kilimanjaro - Barefoot!

Next week, a team of five adventurers will set out to climb Kilimanjaro, the tallest peak in Africa, without wearing shoes. The group, which will be joined by a support crew of five as well, are part of an organization called Barefoot Impi, which strives to accomplish a number of outdoor challenges, while helping to raise funds for charity as well. In this case, their chosen beneficiary is the Red Cross Children's Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa.

The Kilimanjaro Challenge, as the team is calling it, will see the climbers covering approximately 65km (40 miles) up the tallest free standing mountain in the world. They've created strict rules for themselves regarding what it means to be going barefoot, and in a nutshell, that means they hike all day, everyday, for a preset distance, without wearing shoes or any other kind of artificial or natural substances on their feet.

In addition to the rocky, and often steep, trails the climbers will also have to deal with altitude and cold temperatures on Kili. The mountain stands 5894 meters (19,340 ft) in height, so needless to say, the thin air can be a problem for some people. Additionally, temperatures at the summit can be quite cold, and depending on weather conditions, they could easily be walking in conditions that are below freezing. That will come near the end of the expedition of course, after several days of barefoot hiking on less than ideal routes.

Having trekked Kili myself in the past, I can honestly say that there is no way I could even imagine undertaking this climb. The volcanic rock that is strewn about the area is rough, hard, and offers plenty of sharp edges. This will not be a walk in the park (pun fully intended!) and I can't even imagine what their feet are going to look like when they're done.

Still, its a great cause and a unique approach to climbing a mountain that has been scaled hundreds of thousands of times. I wish them all luck in the journey and hope they get up and down safe. You can follow their progress, starting next week, at BarefootImpi.org.




Old Mutual Barefoot Kili Expedition Promo from D4 Productions on Vimeo.

NY Mets Pitcher To Climb Kilimanjaro Against Team's Wishes

R.A. Dickey, a pitcher for the New York Mets baseball team, will set off tomorrow to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa, despite the wishes of the ball club. Dickey will be making the climb as part of a fundraiser for Bombay Teen Challenge, organization dedicated to rescuing and saving young sex slaves that are put to work in brothels in India. He will be joined on the trek by Dave Racaniello, a bullpen catcher for the Mets, and Colorado Rockies pitcher Kevin Slowey, who is a former teammate.

When the Mets got word of Dickey's intentions, they sent a letter to his agent objecting to the player's plans to climb Kili, the tallest mountain in Africa at 5895 meters (19,340 ft). The team wanted to go on record with their concerns in case something were to happen to Dickey, which would prevent him from playing for the team next season – a season in which the 37-year old pitcher is scheduled to earn $4.5 million. In the letter, Met's management stated that they reserve the right to terminate his contract should something go wrong while on the climb.

Of course, this is mostly just posturing on the part of the Mets, who don't want to see one of their players injured and unable to play before Spring Training even gets underway. But climbing Kilimanjaro isn't exactly fraught with dangers. Yes, it can be a physical challenge, and yes there are some risks involved, but thousands of people climb the mountain each year without any problems, and the likelihood of anything happening to Dickey is remotely small.

As the Adventure Journal points out, the Mets are actually missing out on a good opportunity for PR with this climb, and instead are coming off looking a bit like jerks. Professional sports are always about the money of course, and as I mentioned, they're out to protect their investment. It just seems like they could have found a better way of handling the entire situation.