T Minus 14 and Counting: You’re Doing WHAT?!?

In precisely two weeks, I’ll be sitting on an airplane bound for Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa. Mount Kilimanjaro, or “Kili” as many call it, is the highest point in Africa at 19,341 feet — the “Rooftop of Africa.” It is one of the Seven Summits. Those who know me even a little know that my “sport” is cycling. I like road cycling. I’ve done some pretty epic events, such as Big Ride Pacific Coast in 2008, where I and 29 other cyclists set out from Seattle to San Francisco on our bicycles. We covered 1,000 miles and about 70,000′ of hills on the way in 15 days. Yeah, that hurt. Until now, it was the most incredible adventure of my life. I still keep in contact with most of the wonderful individuals I met on that ride, and I will forever have fond memories of the trip.

What I am NOT known for is my climbing prowess (more correctly, complete lack thereof). Oh, and I have acrophobia. Yeah, you heard me–fear of heights. And yes, I’m going to climb that goddamned mountain in about two weeks (quoting Jack Kerouac). Why on earth is this happening? Lend me your ear for a second, because that’s the question EVERYONE who learns of this adventure wants to know.

On a rainy morning this last April I saw this titillating email in my inbox:

“We’re raising awareness for the importance of women, self-care, and self- acceptance. Together, it’s time to get to know you, and get to like you. Join us in the journey to love the life you live in our groundbreaking LIVE to LIKE YOU movement! Heather Thomson [has] start[ed] a movement to raise awareness for the importance of self-care, emotional well-being and self-acceptance for women. With the pinnacle of the movement being a climb to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro with a group of hand picked women, the ultimate message is one where every woman, each with her own personal mountains to climb, can join.On September 17, 2016 Heather Thomson and her team of like-minded women will climb Mount Kilimanjaro to demonstrate that women have one person in control of their journey to health and well-being: YOU. On this life-changing journey, women will test their limits and discover their strengths while making themselves a priority in their own lives. Not everyone will be able to go with Heather and her team up Mt. Kilimanjaro. But you can still take part in the movement by pledging to make one small change in your life that puts yourself first on the path to well-being.”

And then I saw the kicker: “APPLY TO CLIMB [click here for application]”

My first thought was this: Is this Heather Thomson woman CRAZY? You don’t just go out and climb Kilimanjaro! That requires technical mountaineering skills! Gosh!!!!! I was confused by such an open invitation, so I Googled Kilimanjaro. I learned, to my surprise, that although it is difficult, it is considered by mountaineering-types to be a “walk up,” meaning there is no technical climbing. Just a lot of hiking in nasty, oxygen-deprived high altitude over five different ecological zones: rainforest, heath, moorland, alpine desert, and Arctic.

I was intrigued to say the least. Could I possibly go on such an incredible adventure? I’ve never been to Africa. I haven’t done that much hiking–just simple day hiking in the Pacific Northwest–nothing super long or challenging. And did I mention I have a fear of heights? But I’ve done a pantload of endurance cycling, so that should qualify for something.

Believing that there was no real risk of being “picked” to go with Heather Thomson, I immediately opened the application and filled in my information: vital statistics, why I wanted to go, what I thought I would get out of it, etc. (I believe one of the things I listed in what I would get out of the trip was “vomiting.”) There was also a field that said, “Upload video here.” What video?? I concluded they probably wanted something of me in action, so I uploaded a cycling video I created with my Cycliq rear bicycle camera. You can see my “audition” video by clicking the YouTube icon at the top of my home page and clicking on the video entitled, “Badger Rides Hidden Cove Loop — Audition Video for KiliClimb2016 Adventure.”

After hitting the “submit” button, in true Badger nature, I began to obsess about the trip. Oh man I’ll just die if they don’t pick me! Oh crap I hope they don’t actually pick me! Ad nauseum.

Then on the morning of May 1, 2016, I awoke to this email from Remembrance “Memmy” Staber, the climb coordinator:

“You are in!! This is final confirmation!! I would like to set up a call with you for this week? What works for you? Thx and welcome aboard!!”

This caused me to go into an immediate state of elation. I believe it was Sunday. I ran out to tell my husband, and he was shocked to hear that this was HAPPENING. I couldn’t contain my excitement. I’m going to Mount Kilimanjaro! I’m going to Mount Kilimanjaro! All day long I was walking on cloud 9–no one could get me down! I had a new challenge to take on, a new adventure! And it was so freaking cool!

{Funny aside: I called my Mom and said, “guess what I’m doing in September? Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro!” Her response? “Can you do that?” Thanks for the vote of confidence, Mom — I nearly choked I laughed so hard!!! But I totally understood what she meant: Doesn’t that require special mountaineering skills? I quickly reassured her that I would never subject myself to ANYTHING that required mountaineering skills, and I think she relaxed a bit. She still thinks I’m crazy, though, and she’s probably right.}

As Sunday progressed towards Monday morning, something within me started to change. I fondly refer to it as “panic.”

Then I woke up Monday morning. The realization hit me: “I’m going to Mount Kilimanjaro!” I nearly launched into a massive technicolor yawn as the gravity of what that meant hit me. What the hell have I gotten myself into? I can’t do this! I can’t climb! I’m sure I’ll get altitude sickness and die! I’ll probably fall off a cliff! ‘ll never get over that thing on the route called The Great Barranco Wall! I only have a little over four months to train! Everyone else on the team will surely be an athlete who will leave me in the dust! Oh, for crying out loud, WHAT HAVE I DONE?!!!! I was tempted on more than one occasion to email Memmy and tell her that I’d reconsidered and that they’d be better off with a more “seasoned” candidate.

But my Badger nature doesn’t allow me to quit anything easily. I gritted my teeth and started preparing in earnest, and I’ve been training my ass off since May. I started out slowly and have worked my way up to very difficult hikes, including a Mount St. Helens summit attempt in late July. I have also hiked 11 miles of the blast zone at Mount St. Helens, which took at least nine hours in 90+ degree heat. It was brutal. But I persevered and made every freaking inch. (Pause here for a round of applause to my hiking partner that day–he was a godsend. You know who you are, Goatleg.)

I also hired a badass personal trainer, Auden Lewis, to help me knock out proper strength training for climbing endeavors. I will tell you this: Auden knows how to dish out the abuse (I mean that in a good way), and it is the BEST thing I could have done. I love that guy and our sessions. I leave literally dripping with sweat but invigorated. I am so much stronger than when I started, and I feel that much more ready.

So there you go: that’s how this all happened. Now that we are in the final two weeks before we depart, I’m in full-on freak out mode. Not so much about the hike itself but about getting all the last minute stuff done and everything properly packed, and then making sure I get on my flight and arrive at Tanzania without any problems. I have a list a mile long that I’m slowly ticking things off of. Passport? Check. 0 degree sleeping bag? Check. Female Urinary Director? Check. (Google Freshette or GoGirl if you don’t know what I’m talking about.) I’m getting there, but I’m feeling overwhelmed. Today I started the Mountain Might supplement that our awesome guide, Jeff Evans, recommended. It’s supposed to help with altitude acclimation. You’ll also be happy to know that the Badger has been vaccinated for your protection and will start her anti-malarial two days before leaving. Apparently a side effect of the drug is “vivid dreams.” Man, I sure hope I don’t have any of my killer nightmares while I’m taking that stuff, because you will hear me screaming all the way from Africa. Melissa, do NOT post anymore clown pictures on Facebook, for the love of God!

I’ll try to post something every day between now and when the hike starts, as time and sanity permit. I’m not sure how I’m going to provide updates while on the mountain, but we’ll see. In the meantime, I would love to hear from you in the comments. Most of this challenge isn’t going to be physical; it’s going to be mental. Your encouragement will be key to help push me to the summit and stand at Uhuru Point with my climbing partners. Until next time,

Onward and UPWARD!

-Badger