Recovering in Ottawa

We are back home now and as a group, we have done some important things. First, we have raised over $43,000 for transformative recreation programming for kids here in Ottawa through Christie Lake Kids. I am so proud of our group. All 17 climbers made it to summit night and 14 later reached the rim – around the average success rate for Kilimanjaro. On the way two climbers were medically evacuated and at least two are dealing with the lingering effects of pulmonary edema.

I want people to realize how incredibly difficult this climb is. The summit night is dark and cold, groups of people pass you and then disappear. Some trekkers huddle for warmth while their guides try to convince them to resume their ascent. All night long there is the flickering evidence of climbers plodding in low oxygen towards the volcano ridge.

Most of our group at the summit base camp a few hours before the ascent

This is a bit of debriefing for me. Heather and I climbed with serious cases of bronchitis. Many of our group had to stop just to control their coughing all the way up. I lost my voice several days before the ascent and it probably won’t return for another week. The late night 7-10 hours ascent of Kilimanjaro is the hardest physical challenge I have undertaken. The other group members say the same. This may not be possible to convey to others who have not done this. People are constantly bombarded with so many things and events that it is difficult for them to appreciate the difficulty of a real-life challenge.

I am not surprised or disappointed. The purpose here is simply to record my thoughts and feelings a week after the climb. When you choose to take on a challenge like this you are separating yourself for a little while from the daily running of normal life. After a few days of recovery, we will happily return to the familiar flow. But, for a moment, it is instructive to stay in the cold, dark instance.

Summit dawn around 7:00 am after 7 hours of climbing

From this climb, I am taking away a few things. First, a renewed sense of humility. I would not have made it to the top without our guides. For three days, Ian, one of eight guides took my pack. Weakened by sickness and altitude I had to rely on him to get to the top. The guides, cooks, and porters were always helpful, cheering us on at every step. Kilimanjaro is a relationship between African and Canadian. No account of a climb is honest if it does not put the African team first – to them Asante sana!

The next thing. These climbs only hold meaning because of Christie Lake Kids. Heather likes to say that by taking on these extraordinary physical challenges we can get some sense of the daily struggles of the kids and families supported by CLK. Most importantly, CLK is not a charity handout for their kids. They aim to break the cycle of poverty here in Ottawa and that is much more than offering a free 10 days at camp.

The only way this is worth doing is because of the people at CLK who commit every day to bring positive, permanent change to the lives of children.

If you are reading this and have not donated, we would still love your support!

Finally, I value working with our little group of 17 climbers. Some of us have been waiting to make this climb for three years. All of the group suffered especially on the last night. No one ever questioned why we were doing this and we all can be very proud of what we were able to accomplish over the past year. What an honour it is to work with such a special group!

Lava Tower climb

Reflecting on a big climb is an experience that unfolds slowly. There is still so much to process here.