Pole Pole: Hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro

We stopped to take a picture on the way - glad we did too, since all we could see on the hike was clouds!

The "slogan" of sorts for those who choose to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro is "Pole pole." It is emblazoned across hats, t-shirts, and pretty much every item in the little shop at the base of the mountain. "Pole" is a Swahili expression of support and sympathy. So, when we're hiking up the trail and run into a guide on the way down, they always greet us with a smile and an encouraging "Pole."

For those of us who chose to hike Mt. Kilimanjaro on Saturday, we drove four hours to a hotel at the base of the mountain on Friday night. After a good dinner and a quick game of mafia, we slept deeply to prepare for the hike the next day. Since we only had one day free on this last weekend in Tanzania, we were only able to climb part of the way to the summit. Our route was 16 kilometers round trip up to the Mandara Hut and back down. The Mandara Hut is the first altitude adjustment stop for climbers who are journeying all the way to the top. Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro is actually not too strenuous in comparison to other mountains, and only takes several days because of the need to take time adjusting to the change in altitude. The estimated time for our leg of the journey was 3-4 hours up. As you read on, make an estimate for how long it actually took us!

1. Had to take that tacky tourist photo! 2. Brennan and Ryan getting some additional hydration from the rain.

When we arrived at the gate to Mt. Kilimanjaro National Park, it was clear that it would be a rainy day. The clouds hung low over the mountain, dousing us in a cool misty drizzle that actually reminded me a lot of home in the PNW. Thankfully we had all packed our rain gear and our good attitudes, so no one was phased by the rain! After signing in in the official log book, we started our hike.

At the trailhead with our guides Emmanuel and Michael.

I hiked the first two thirds of the way up at the front of the pack with Elizabeth, Patric, Clara, Isaac, and Elijah. We shared stories and riddles on the way, giving us something to distract from the slowly increasing incline. When I had pictured hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro, I had pictured a rocky trail with views out over Tanzania. Instead, we were hiking through a lush rainforest! The mist coming down made the green even more brilliant and every leaf shine. The forest was thick with large moss-covered trees, almost all of which had tiny white or purple flowers growing off of them. Every once in awhile we would cross a bridge over little streams that cut their way through the undergrowth. We even saw the Elephant Trunk flower which only grows on Mt. Kilimanjaro (the 3rd picture below)!

Towards the last third of the ascent I slowed down a bit and found myself hiking with Joel, Elizabeth's husband. We had a lovely conversation that ebbed and flowed based on the steepness of the trail and shared stories of our favorite wilderness adventures. The Leer family has a goal of visiting every national park in the lower 48 states, and they've already ticked off almost half from their list! I'm definitely inspired to make that a goal if and when I have a family.

Made it to Mandara!

We arrived at the top with great excitement and quickly tore into the lunch boxes that we had hauled up the trail. Reaching the top of an uphill hike is always a gratifying feeling, but reaching it as a group compounded that feeling of satisfaction! After lunch and a group photo opportunity, we began the descent back down the mountain. The hike down was just as beautiful as the hike up, and yielded some equally great conversations. Joel gave Clara and Grace P. career advice, Silas told me about the production he is directing in the spring (as an 11 year old, what?!), and Alexa and I talked about the terrifying freedom of having the whole world spread out ahead of us as young adults. One of my favorite things about hiking is the conversations that come up that allow you to learn things about your hiking buddy that you would have likely never discussed in regular life off the trail!

Oles can, Oles will hike all day and rep our school.

After doing this small piece of Kilimanjaro, I am filled with excitement for when I will come back to Tanzania and actually summit. We're planning a 20 year Global reunion where we will all come and make the climb together! I certainly hope it works out that way. Oh, I nearly forgot! Our final times? Two and a half hours up, less than two hours down!

See you next time, Kili!

-GMH