Rachel Chowdhury
Rachel's Kilimanjaro NI Hospice Trek
Fundraising for Northern Ireland Hospice
Story
Hi all!
I have been putting off writing this as I can't seem to find the words to explain why, I, who has never climbed a mountain, would take on this crazy challenge!
In all honesty, I am doubting myself every day! I am wondering if I am strong enough, if I am fit enough, If I am mentally capable, can I cope with leaving my Elijah for that length of time? Can I cope with the sub zero temperatures, the spiders, the bugs, the altitude sickness, the incline, the lack of any type of facility, the diet, climbing with a group of strangers? It's pretty scary!
Then I realised… That's nothing... absolutely nothing in comparison to the worry and anxiety that must be felt by the clients of the NI Hospice and the Children's Hospice.
It's nothing in comparison to the amazing staff who work there. They do a job that the majority of us could not do. I am amazed by the passion, strength and determination that they show every day, keeping their own emotions in check in order to give the best care, love and emotional support to those who need them.
I have had family, friends and colleagues who have availed of the NI Hospices service...…. I think most people reading this will know of someone who has turned to them in a time of need or sadness, let's band together and show our support, let's show that we are proud to have them here in our dark hours.
Having lived in England for many years and returning to NI, I can honestly say that I am proud of our little country, I think that we are some of the most compassionate and hospitable people that anyone could ever hope to come across! It is important to me that I will be supporting the NI Hospice and representing our little corner of the world!
I will update this as I go along and keep you all up to date with my progress and training, I promise. I will add more to my story as I progress through the journey, open up about my own experiences, share others experiences, hold fundraising events and share the generosity that has been shown for such a great cause!
But for now a few notes to my loved ones -
Elijah - Sorry that you can't come up the big Mountain with Mummy, I know that you want to but you'll just have to kick somebody else in the face at 3am every night (3am, I swear... like clockwork!) I'll be back before you know it and I'm sure that the sugar fuelled time I am away (courtesy of your grandparents) will ease you missing me!
Mum - I promise to eat 4000 kcal every day when I'm there and wrap up warm! I don't really think I have a choice!
Dad -See above - Enjoy 3am face kicking and reassuring Mum. I'll bring you back something nice!
Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa and fourth highest of the Seven Summits, is considered the tallest freestanding mountain in the world, rising 15,100 feet (4,600 meters) from base to summit. Kilimanjaro is also the most prominent mountain in Africa.
- Elevation: 19,340 feet
- Prominence: 19,308 feet
- Location: Tanzania, East Africa
- Coordinates: -3.075844 S / 37.353312 E
Mt Kilimanjaro is so big that it creates it's own weather system, making the weather on the mountain impossible to predict
High Elevation can Cause Acute Mountain Sickness
The challenge is the mountain’s high elevation. As high mountains go, the routes on Mount Kilimanjaro have rapid ascent profiles. Acclimatization opportunities are relatively poor, and therefore the incidence of acute mountain sickness (AMS) is rather high. Some studies show that up to 75 percent of trekkers on summit night suffer from mild and moderate forms of AMS. Deaths on Kilimanjaro are often due to improper acclimatization and the onset of severe altitude sickness rather than falls.
Nearly every climber who has summitted Uhuru Peak, the highest summit on Kibo’s crater rim, has recorded his or her thoughts about the accomplishment in a book stored in a wooden box at the top.
Almost every kind of ecological system is found on the mountain: cultivated land, rain forest, heath, moorland, alpine desert and an arctic summit.
Approximately 25,000 people attempt to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro annually. Approximately two-thirds are successful. Altitude-related problems is the most common reason climbers turn back.
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