Journey to the top of Africa
A trek up Mount Kilimanjaro in aid of Comic Relief by a group of celebrities last year was an inspiration for David Stern. In February, accompanied by five friends and twenty fellow climbers, he tackled this challenge, battling aches, pains and altitude sickness to climb to the top of Africa. David chose to support the LJMC and also inspired fellow climber, Clive Newman to support the LJMC as well. Between them they have raised more than £15,000.
The celebrity challenge in 2009 created a great deal of interest in overseas adventures. At the LJMC, we’d already got a fair idea of what was involved having supported two of our colleagues on their trek to Machu Picchu in May so we were prepared for the telephone to ring with fresh enquiries.
David was the first of the pair to call the LJMC. He’d made up his mind he was going to undertake the trek and started to approach friends to join him. Clive joked, “David said something about Cheryl Cole having done the trek. I must have thought he said she was coming so I signed up right away!”
David particularly wanted to support the LJMC having lost his mother to cancer twenty years ago. “I was really impressed by the LJMC when I visited. It does some fantastic work.”
Hearing David’s enthusiasm, Clive also chose the LJMC. They sent off their application forms and started training.
It was essential to get as fit as possible to prepare for the 5,895m mountain. The two men, plus their friends who were raising funds for other charities, embarked on serious training sessions. With their fitness levels at an all-time high, they boarded the plane to Nairobi.
Here are excerpts from David’s diary:
Day One
A mixed bunch of 27 people assemble at Heathrow including Mark (the team leader from organising travel company, Charity Challenge) and Alex (team doctor). Depart for Nairobi.
Day Two
Arrive early morning and transfer by small plane to Kilimanjaro International Airport. Treated to a magnificent view of Mount Kilimanjaro, flying past at almost the same height as the summit. Makes us realise just how high it is!
Briefing session to learn more about the next eight days and meet the team.
Day Three: 1,980 – 2,800m
A good night’s sleep and huge breakfast. Bags weighed (porters can’t carry more than 15kg) so have to do a hasty re-pack.
Two-hour drive by Land Rover to Kilimanjaro National Park. Register our climb. At 1.00pm we finally start walking. Soon into tropical rain forest and spot two black and white Colobus monkeys – really in Africa now.
Some steep and muddy parts – a bit like our training treks in Surrey! Everyone starts chatting to new friends. All in great spirits.
Day Four: 2,800 – 3,500m
Take it very slowly; already notice the effects of altitude on our breathing. Steep and rocky paths so have to concentrate hard. Frequent stops and can admire the scenery then.
It rains a lot but, as the sun sets, we get our first glimpse of our target – seems so high and so far away.
Day Five: 3,500 – 3,800m
A slow and steady uphill climb across Shira Plateau. Amazed at how slowly we have to walk if we are to have any breath left. Cloudy and raining – a hard, tiring day. I’ve had a headache for most of it but not enough to interfere with walking.
Day Six: 3,800 – 3,950m
Glorious blue skies – we deserve it after yesterday’s rain. Better weather puts us all in better spirits. My headache’s gone. A hard climb over scree but spectacular views up to Kibo and across to the imposing Barranco Wall.
Day Seven: 3,950 – 3,900m
The Barranco Wall is a scramble up narrow paths and over ledges – hard work but good fun. Really feels like we are climbing, not just walking. Our guides are really supportive and encouraging, reminding us to go ‘poli, poli’ (slowly, slowly) and to drink enough water. Rewarded by magnificent views.
Day Eight: 3,900 – 4,600m
Amazing view of Kibo as I unzip my tent. This time tomorrow…
A four hour trek today with more spectacular views to inspire us. None of us gets much sleep.
Day Nine: Summit Day!
Woken at 11.00pm, most of us having slept in our climbing clothes – thermal leggings, hiking trousers and waterproofs, two pairs of socks, thermal top, two t-shirts, fleece, down jacket, neck fleece, beanie, balaclava and two pairs of gloves! Sartorial statement topped off with head torch!
Set off at 12.20am following many other groups up the path. Very cold and very steep. Progress is slow as we realise just how hard this is going to be. Difficult to get breathing right. Frequent stops for snacks and water. I have a headache behind my eyes – assured this is normal.
We are all suffering, emotionally and physically. At 7.00am I ‘hit the wall’. I feel claustrophobic and have to stop. The sun comes up and we can see how far we still have to go. Some of the others give me the encouragement I need to get to my feet and go on.
We pass people being carried down on stretchers but, instead of deterring me, it makes me more determined not to quit. Our progress is slow, one small step at a time.
About 400m from the summit, we meet Clive and the others on their way back down. Against the guide’s advice, Clive turns round to accompany me – we are determined to get a photo together with our LJMC t-shirts!
At 8.40am I reach Uhuru Point, at 5,895m the highest point in Africa. It is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, both physically and mentally. I am emotionally exhausted. We take lots of photos before the guides urge us to start down again as quickly as possible. At 4.30pm we reach Millennium Camp (3,750m), sixteen hours after starting our summit climb.
Day Ten
After breakfast we gather to thank the incredible support team (nearly 100-strong). There’s a real party atmosphere with singing and dancing.
We all have mixed emotions as we start our walk back to Mweka Gate – relief at the prospect of a bath but sadness that our adventure is nearly over. We reach Londorosi Gate and ‘sign ourselves off’ the mountain.
We gather for our final dinner together, proud of ourselves for our physical, mental and charitable achievements – between us we have raised more than £150,000 for our respective charities.
Day Eleven: Time to go home
This whole trip has been absolutely mind-blowing. The mountain, the walking and even more so the wonderful group of nutcases with whom I’ve just spent ten days. Many new friendships made.
Hakuna matata!
Last updated: 17 March, 2010
The highest LJMC T-shirt in the world!
Everyone at the LJMC sends David and Clive congratulations on their amazing achievement, not least of all for raising so much for the work of the centre. Thank you so much for choosing the LJMC as the charity to benefit from your incredible adventure.
If you are inspired by David and Clive’s trip of a lifetime, you can find out more from Charity Challenge. This company organises challenging opportunities in more than 25 countries with more than 100 trips each year and three levels of difficulty.
Whether you want to get fit, visit a new country, experience a new culture, meet like-minded people or simply raise money for the LJMC, take a look at the opportunities that are available to you at www.charitychallenge.com
