Being prepared is key to climbing Kilimanjaro. Since you’ll be using your feet while going up and eventually climbing down, it’s worth mentioning the development of sturdy and robust feet. Before you start the climb, ensure to undertake some two months worth of training in hiking steep slopes and climbing tall peaks. Running, lifting, and squatting exercises will pay handsomely in the long run.
Acclimatization
Since your body is used to ground zero altitudes, hiking great heights comes with its challenges, and your body resists changes in those altitudes, thereby triggering Acute Mountain Sickness, AMS. It is therefore essential to prepare for altitude by understanding the symptoms that trigger AMS. But while acclimatization is important, please remember three other vital aspects:
1. Moving slowly
Avoid fast climbs and try to move slowly at all times. Even on the lower reaches of the mountain. Carefully listen to what the guides tell you and follow their instructions to the letter. They’ve done it many times before and they know best.
2. Sleep low, climb high
Sleeping low and rising high allows your body to experience altitude for short periods before falling asleep.
3. Drink a lot of fluids
Dehydration is a major cause of Acute Mountain Sickness. So the more fluids you drink, the better for your body. You need to drink about 3 litres of water each day. You can add sweet flavourings to the water to make it taste better and always remember to add purification pills.
What to eat
Eating adequately cooked meals is key to your hike, as you’ll need the energy while in transit. Food is abundantly available as there are cooks hired specially for that. Breakfast consists of coffee or tea, porridge, eggs, and sausages and bread. Lunch is usually a cooked stew, bread or rice, chapatti and veggies or sandwiches. Supper is similar to lunch.
You can avoid developing nausea by munching on occasional energy bars while on transit and drinking lots of water. One of the main causes of AMS is nausea and loss of appetite. If you develop AMS symptoms, remember to eat something to ensure you have sufficient energy by eating biscuits and other snacks.
Respect guides and porters
The guides, porters, and cooks accompanying you during your hike are your greatest assets while in transit. Most are well trained and consider their job a noble profession that demands respect. So avoid getting into friction with them. Most speak Swahili, but the guides have a good command of English. When your hike is over, you will irresistibly get drawn to them when you remember the hazards you went through and how expertly they pulled you out of tricky situations. So learn to respect them early on the trip.
Each climbing group is allocated one guide and three porters. Porters haul all the gear, cooking supplies, tents, and water. Each carries about 20 kg on their back.
Expect hardship and toil
To claim that hiking Mount Kilimanjaro is easy is an understatement. Getting to the top has a lot do with hardship, toil, and determination. Many times you will feel like giving up due to exhaustion. Other times you’ll feel sick. At this low time, it’s essential that you remain determined to reach the top – of course, one step at a time. This is also the best opportunity to gauge your health. If you notice symptoms of AMS, notify your guide immediately. The guide will be closely monitoring your progress and will rush in promptly once he sees your slow pace.
Published: 2018-09-14 23:16:06
0