Climbing MountainS
Several years back in college I watched my professors eyes well up in tears reading her journal. She was reading about her climb up Mount Kilimanjaro. Just the emotions that she went through reading this journal was awe inspiring, and I could only imagine what climbing Kili actually meant to her.
Kilimanjaro pictured above lies near the heart of Africa in a country called Tanzania. Kilimanjaro also borders Kenya although most routes up Kili are through Tanzania. It is called the roof of Africa and it is said that you can actually see the curvature of the earth from it's peak because the surrounding area is so flat. Kilimanjaro is called a walking mountain because you don't need anything but a good pair of hiking boots to climb it. 42% of people attempting to climb this mountain fail, not because of physical fitness, but due to something called mountain sickness. Because the air at that altitude is much thinner, it can cause havoc with your lungs and brain and even cause death if you climb too fast.
Why am I going on about Mount Kilimanjaro? Because I am going to climb it! I have no idea where the money is going to come from (the flight alone is roughly 1600 dollars and climbing the mountain is 3000 roughly with out the tip.) Plus you have to pay for a hotel room that you aren't going to use for a week! But all this being said, this is something I am going to do. So, I've joined a gym and have begun a walking regiment which will increase dramatically. The gym has treadmills equipped with incline adjusters which I am sure I am going to become intimately familiar with. It's a good way to get in shape! I may not be able to make it in a few years, but I am going to train as if I could and when the universe provides a way I will jump or rather climb on it! The worst thing that could come out of this would be to get fit trying!