James. Posted 28 January 2010 Posted 28 January 2010 Hello everyone On Wednesday my girlfriend and I are off to Tanzania to climb Kilimanjaro, the tallest free standing mountain in the world and the highest mountain in Africa at 5,895 metres. We're doing it for a great charity called CHICKS (http://www.chicks.org.uk/) who provide free respite breaks for abused and neglected children across the UK. There's more information about this on our Just Giving website, as well as a link to my blog which gives a few details about our training and our trip, I'll be updating it once more before we go. Anyway, I know it's yet another sponsorship request but I wanted to let the Foxestalk community know what we're about to undertake and that anything you donate will be very much appreciated. Here's the link (including a rather unflattering photo of my girlfriend and I on top of Mount Toubkal in Morocco). Just Giving Thank you.
lou Posted 28 January 2010 Posted 28 January 2010 Best of luck to you both! Im in complete awe of anyone who does this sort of thing, Im way too much of a coward (and probably too old and unfit now )
Ozwin Posted 28 January 2010 Posted 28 January 2010 I really want to climb Kilimanjaro in my lifetime. Do you need to go through a lot of training to do it?
Finnegan Posted 28 January 2010 Posted 28 January 2010 I really want to climb Kilimanjaro in my lifetime. Do you need to go through a lot of training to do it? In terms of mountaineering, not especially, the gradient of the mountain makes it a pretty easy climb in that regard. Obviously you have to be fit but it's not comparable to some of the world's more ferocious peaks. The problem with Kilimanjaro, especially given that it attracts a lot of less experienced climbers (due to the above) is the altitude sickness. If tried bombing up without any previous exposure to high altitude and without any time to get acclimatized you'd be pretty shafted. I mean it does claim a few lives every year, mostly due to people being unprepared.
General Smuts Posted 28 January 2010 Posted 28 January 2010 Good luck Clem mate! I expect a Woolers-esque open shirted chest feeling pic at the top.
Monk Posted 28 January 2010 Posted 28 January 2010 Good luck James, I'm sure you'll be fine and it's a great cause. Looking forward to hearing all about it over a country slice at Selhurst Park.
James. Posted 28 January 2010 Author Posted 28 January 2010 In terms of mountaineering, not especially, the gradient of the mountain makes it a pretty easy climb in that regard. Obviously you have to be fit but it's not comparable to some of the world's more ferocious peaks.The problem with Kilimanjaro, especially given that it attracts a lot of less experienced climbers (due to the above) is the altitude sickness. If tried bombing up without any previous exposure to high altitude and without any time to get acclimatized you'd be pretty shafted. I mean it does claim a few lives every year, mostly due to people being unprepared. Pretty much spot on. The thing is by doing plenty of fitness training you're much more likely to enjoy the trek as you won't be just grinding through each day waiting for it to end. For that reason I've done plenty of training in the gym plus a trek in Morocco and long walks in the countryside around London. Altitude sickness is THE big problem. Going slowly, drinking plenty, eating plenty and certain medications can help but ultimately there's a bit of luck involved too, some people are just comfortable with high altitude, others really aren't. We coped well in Morocco so fingers crossed for Kili. Like you say people do die and if you read blogs there's stories of people collapsing, vomiting, having heart attacks, hallucinating and lots of other exciting things. It's tough, for sure.
Daggers Posted 28 January 2010 Posted 28 January 2010 To be honest James, I thought this was another one of those 'paying for people's charity holiday' until I read: Every single penny you donate will go to the charity (the trip and admin costs are entirely covered by us) - you WILL make a difference. Good on you, well impressed. So it's probably worth repeating that Every single penny you donate will go to the charity (the trip and admin costs are entirely covered by us) - you WILL make a difference.
Bluefoxtim Posted 28 January 2010 Posted 28 January 2010 I decided to stay at home during my time at Uni and so I'm building up a nice pot in the bank How much will the trip cost? I want to do something when I graduate - travel, generally do something amazing
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 28 January 2010 Posted 28 January 2010 Hello everyoneOn Wednesday my girlfriend and I are off to Tanzania to climb Kilimanjaro, the tallest free standing mountain in the world and the highest mountain in Africa at 5,895 metres. We're doing it for a great charity called CHICKS (http://www.chicks.org.uk/) who provide free respite breaks for abused and neglected children across the UK. There's more information about this on our Just Giving website, as well as a link to my blog which gives a few details about our training and our trip, I'll be updating it once more before we go. Anyway, I know it's yet another sponsorship request but I wanted to let the Foxestalk community know what we're about to undertake and that anything you donate will be very much appreciated. Here's the link (including a rather unflattering photo of my girlfriend and I on top of Mount Toubkal in Morocco). Just Giving Thank you. Hope you and ya girlfriend have a great time and reach the top with out being on life support. Edit: I will try to figure out how to donate if i can figure it out it wont be much as i'm trying to save for my own adventures in Africa.
James. Posted 29 January 2010 Author Posted 29 January 2010 Thanks for all the messages. Good on you, well impressed. To be honest asking people to pay for us to go on an amazing trip of a lifetime really didn't sit well with either of us which is why we decided to self fund! It's an expensive trip but it's our choice so we take the hit on the chin and ensure we raise as much for a worthy cause as possible. How much will the trip cost? The trip including flights, transfers, guides, porters, hotel (1 night either side of the trek), entrance fees, basically everything apart from spending money is about £2,500. As per above you can use fund raising to cover some/all of these costs but that wasn't how we wanted to do it. On top of that you need to buy appropriate clothing and equipment (down jacket, sleeping bag, rucksacks, fleeces, etc, etc) - and that doesn't come cheap either. From everything I've read and seen it is all completely worth it and I can't wait to get out there.
Bluefoxtim Posted 31 January 2010 Posted 31 January 2010 Thanks for all the messages.To be honest asking people to pay for us to go on an amazing trip of a lifetime really didn't sit well with either of us which is why we decided to self fund! It's an expensive trip but it's our choice so we take the hit on the chin and ensure we raise as much for a worthy cause as possible. The trip including flights, transfers, guides, porters, hotel (1 night either side of the trek), entrance fees, basically everything apart from spending money is about £2,500. As per above you can use fund raising to cover some/all of these costs but that wasn't how we wanted to do it. On top of that you need to buy appropriate clothing and equipment (down jacket, sleeping bag, rucksacks, fleeces, etc, etc) - and that doesn't come cheap either. From everything I've read and seen it is all completely worth it and I can't wait to get out there. For the best part of 2 weeks, that isn't too bad actually, and it's £2,500 for the pair of you? Can I come?
James. Posted 31 January 2010 Author Posted 31 January 2010 For the best part of 2 weeks, that isn't too bad actually, and it's £2,500 for the pair of you? Can I come? No mate, it's £2,500 each. You can come if you sponsor me.
ramboacdc Posted 2 February 2010 Posted 2 February 2010 good luck with it all! what does it mean that its the biggest free standing mountain in the world? that theres no other mountains around it like there is everest?
Katy Posted 2 February 2010 Posted 2 February 2010 Best of luck to you and your girlfriend James, what a fantastic thing to do.
Ozwin Posted 3 February 2010 Posted 3 February 2010 The thing that worries me is that people die. I mean you can't be prepared for that.
James. Posted 3 February 2010 Author Posted 3 February 2010 The thing that worries me is that people die. I mean you can't be prepared for that. You might walk out your house tomorrow and get mowed down by a bus, but you can't prepare for that either. At least if I die it'll be in Africa, on a fucking huge mountain, looking down on the clouds, having an adventure. Anyway, today's the day. Flight at 7pm this evening, trek starts on Friday. Thanks to everybody for your messages and donations, we both really appreciate it. Back on Sunday 14th. Until then...
Ozwin Posted 4 February 2010 Posted 4 February 2010 You might walk out your house tomorrow and get mowed down by a bus, but you can't prepare for that either. At least if I die it'll be in Africa, on a fucking huge mountain, looking down on the clouds, having an adventure.Anyway, today's the day. Flight at 7pm this evening, trek starts on Friday. Thanks to everybody for your messages and donations, we both really appreciate it. Back on Sunday 14th. Until then... I like that way of thinking. Good luck to you, I hope you have an awesome time, I bet it'll be pretty life changing.
BoneDog Posted 5 February 2010 Posted 5 February 2010 I wonder how they're gettin on. I reckon that right about now they'll be having a romantic meal consisting of beans and bread outside a tent halfway up a massive mountain with achy feet and legs! Ben Fogle kind of stuff. Whatever's going on I'm sure it's an adventure and it's something most of us only ever dream about doing. Respect
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