Believe me when I say I am not the strongest athlete but I do intend on pushing my body and mind to the limits as I intend to climb Kilimanjaro. I have recently started training to climb Kilimanjaro but there is a whole list of other things to organise before I head for the summit, including documentation and vaccinations.
I have put together a few tips that should make planning your Kilimanjaro climb easier.
- Wear your boots in before you reach Tanzania, or even wear them while training in the UK. I thought this was a fairly obvious point but my friends assured me that I will need a lot more than a day wear-in to prepare myself for the climb ahead of me.
When talking to a friend about his Kilimanjaro adventure, he described his climb which resulted in him having to borrow fellow climber’s insoles as by day four and after walking up to ten hours per day his feet where feeling the burn.
This is definitely something I will avoid at all costs! After doing some extensive research I found using moulded insoles protects your feet and could potentially help prevent back pain which can occur after walking for long period of time. - My next top tip is to individually wrap items of clothing. It can take between five to eight days to climb Kilimanjaro and according to my research the weather can be sporadic.
In between the rain and climbing alongside streams it is likely that the contents of your back could become sodden, so wrapping your clothes in plastic bags is something that I will be sure to do when packing. - Following on from my second point I would advise travelling light. I must admit I am a creature of comfort but for the sake of reaching the top I will definitely leave my luxury items behind.
When training to climb Kilimanjaro I sometimes take a backpack with me to get an indication of how I will cope when hiking to the top. Of course packing light is important but I will also be sure to pack strategically so I am covered for any situation. - You should also be prepared to find ways to entertain yourself. After a long day of climbing sleep is on the forefront of most people’s minds.
However I hear that it is common to pack a deck of cards which may prove a great way to wind down at the end of the day and an even better way to make friends; I will definitely be brushing up on my poker skills before I go! - Finally, prepare for the descent. It would appear that one of the most challenging aspects of climbing Kilimanjaro is the descent. I hear that after climbing for days your body is likely to fight back resulting in an uncomfortable trek back down.
I will be sure to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and to also bring anti-inflammatory medication in case of any muscle tension.
I’m really excited to climb Kilimanjaro, friends have found it bizarre that someone as athletically challenged as myself would attempt to climb to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro but it is a once in a lifetime opportunity that I could not pass up.
About Kilimanjaro Challenge
We organize group and charity climbs on Kilimanjaro, private trips and corporate Challenges. We have 12 years experience in organising challenge events and take people all over the world on fantastic adventures.
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