Uhuru Peak on Mount Kilimanjaro is a climb to 19,341 feet or 5,895 meters above sea level. Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa, the highest freestanding mountain in the world, and the fourth highest mountain in the world. It is a volcanic mountain with three volcanoes - Mawenzi, Shira and Kibo. Mawenzi and Shira are extinct but Kibo is dormant, yet the last eruption was 200 years ago and the last major eruption was 360,000 years ago. There are different climate zones on the mountain. Each one is linked to a different ecological system. There is almost every kind of an ecological system on Kilimanjaro.
Everyone who climbs Kilimanjaro has worries. The worries are usually to do with making it to the summit. My worry lies with altitude sickness. Because I have never gone to tall heights like 19,341 feet, I don’t know how well I will do with the altitude. My worry was higher when we started to talk about Kilimanjaro, but I was assured when I was told that we were taking the longest route, which will give us a longer time to adjust to the altitude. My other worry, besides the altitude sickness, is my self-confidence. Hiking is more of a mental sport than a physical sport, because you can continue to walk if in your mind you believe in yourself and believe that you can climb to the top. For me it will be difficult convincing myself that I can do it in my mind. The last big worry of mine is fundraising. I have put so much work into the artwork, writing, and training to help raise money for my Hekima ‘sister’s to go to school, it would be a terrible shame if I didn’t get many donations. If I don’t achieve my target, it will also decrease my self confidence and decrease my chances of summiting.
Please support me in this mission. When I get up into the cold and darkness to start the final ascent, when I am slipping on the steep gravel path during the 12 hours long climb, knowing that you are cheering me on will help me keep going. Your donation will help drive me to the summit and my Hekima 'sisters' to school.
