Training For The Climb . . .

 

The preparation for the Mt. Kilimanjaro climb is really quite intense as well as enormously exhilarating.

 

The preparation is taking place over a three year period. These hikes have collectively taken me over 1,000 rugged mountain miles while logging in over 3 million steps.

 

And imagine being out in the most glorious mountain settings our planet has to offer and not having a cell phone signal for a solid week!

 

The hiking preparation has a number of goals including physical strengthening, increasing endurance and high altitude acclimatization.

 

The conditions encountered so far are the range of blazing desert sun and heat to well below freezing temperatures in seemingly endless blizzards.

 

I discovered the most dangerous conditions to be those powerful summer thunderstorms in the High Sierras.

 

The following list of mountains climbed summarizes my primary training routine. Each mountain has different trails which enhances the training experience.

 

MOUNTAIN:                ELEVATION IN FEET:         RT MILES           ELEVATION GAIN IN FEET

 

Mt. Whitney                14,500                                  22                         6,200

Mt. San Gorgonio      11,500                                   22                         3,200-5,500

Mt. San Jacinto          10,800                                  11                          2,300

Mt. Baldy                     10,000                                 12                          3,500                 

Mt. Wilson                   5,700                                    14                         4,700

 

Another challenging hike is known as Cactus to Clouds where we begin our hike at the Palm Springs Museum (elevation 500 feet) and hike to either the top of the Palm Springs Tram (elevation 8,500 feet) or to the summit of Mt. San Jacinto (elevation 10,800 feet).

 

It's been said that if you are successful climbing the Cactus to Clouds day hike you are ready to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.

 

The most surprising element of the hiking preparation for me is that it enhanced my life and my physicality enormously.

 

I'll keep you posted daily. Simply go on the website everyday during the climb to follow my progress!

 

And finally one of the greatest thrills of hiking the highest volcano in the world is while climbing through all 5 of Mt. Kilimanjaro's climate zones is like walking from the Equator to the North Pole in 6 1/2 days!