PREPARING TO CLIMB

At this point, the Climb To End Poverty is just about 40 days away and things are progressing.  The two common questions I get asked are:

• How do you train in Indiana to climb a 16,000 foot mountain in Africa?
• Will you be using mountain climbing gear?

So my training plan is this: 1) try to walk 50-60 minutes a day 2) lose 12 pounds and get down to 190 for the first time in a long long, long time.  As for getting ready for the altitude, there is really very little I can do but rely on my guide to pace me up the mountain as we will take 4 days to ascend and spend these days acclimating.  The last two weeks I have been in South Carolina and Miami and the heat there reminded me of some of the heat we might face the first two days of the climb.  The last two days get a little colder as we get higher, I've still got to get my sub-0 (centigrade) sleeping bag and gear.

Gorges Valley

As for the type of  "mountain climbing" I will be doing, it is probably more accurate to say I will be "mountain trekking".  It does not involved ropes and pitons and is not technical, but it involves some hand climbing but it is more about climbing on lose rock and scree.  Here is what one website has to say about climbing Mt. Kenya (Point Lenana is the peak I will be climbing):

"Mt. Kenya's highest peaks, Batian and Nelion can only be reached by mountaineers with technical skills. However, Point Lenana, the third -highest peak, can be reached by trekkers and this is the usual goal for most people. As you might imagine, there are superb views over the surrounding country from Point Lenana and other high points around the main peaks, though the summit is often clothed in mist from late morning until late afternoon.

It's not suprising that trekking on this mountain is high on many traveller's priority list. However, because Mt. Kenya is so easy to reach and because Point Lenana is not technically difficult, this can create its own set of problems. Many people do the ascent much too quickly and end up suffering from headaches, nausea and other effects of altitude sickness."

Besides the challenge of reaching the peak, the beauty of Mt. Kenya is something I am really excited to take in on this adventure.  The National Forest around and up the mountain is covered with flora, fauna, waterfalls and gorges and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.