From the exquisite penmanship of our fearless climber Cristin Iosif
Usually at the start of a new year we write about the new year’s resolutions, but first, I need to wrap-up the ones from last year. So here I am, reporting on my social contract made last year – “The 4 Peaks Challenge”.
For me 2023 was focused on health and making my way to an active lifestyle. That’s how the idea of the “4 Peaks Challenge” came to be — To climb 4 major mountain peaks in 1 year including the tallest mountain in Africa and one of the 7 summits, Kilimanjaro (5,895 m).
Even if I missed some of the peaks along the way I’m happy to report that on 23rd of Jan I managed to conquer the highest point in Africa and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world – the mighty Kilimanjaro, Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). This was a culmination of not just my health efforts but it felt like reaching this point is what kept me going through 2023’s ups and downs.
Getting Started
On our second day in Africa, anticipation was building in the hotel as we prepared ourselves for the journey ahead. Meeting our local guides, gathering our gear, we embarked on the Lemosho Route, an 8-day trek starting at 2,700 meters altitude. Little did we know, this adventure would be marked by unforgettable moments, challenges, and an unstoppable momentum leading us to the summit. Over the course of 8 days and 90 kilometers, we took 177,188 steps to reach Uhuru Peak.
Leaving the hotel, we drove three hours to reach the Lemosho Glades at 2,349 meters, where our adventure began. Meeting our experienced guides, including one who had climbed the route over 300 times, eased whatever concerns we might have had. As we ascended Mt. Kilimanjaro, the group started bonding over personal stories and eagerness to conquer the challenge ahead.
On the first day, the hike felt surprisingly manageable, thanks in part to our guides’ constant reminder of “Pole Pole,” meaning “slowly, slowly” in Swahili. This mantra really helped steady our course as the journey progressed. What initially seemed like a moderate effort soon intensified amidst rainy days, cold nights, and diminished oxygen levels at high altitude. Under the Pole Pole anthem we were making our way through the rainforest and I could see my own journey as an entrepreneur unfolding side by side. Whether it’s climbing mighty Kilimanjaro or building up Salt and Pepper to new heights, one thing remains true, you build your efforts for a marathon not a sprint. No matter the challenges, with steady steps and a continuous momentum the group always makes it to the top, facing risks and challenges along the way. That’s why “Pole Pole” always rang strong in our ears, bringing us back into the present helping us build up our climb one step at a time.
Life above the clouds
On the second day we covered 11 km and ascended 1,000 meters from MTI Mkubwa Camp (2,650 meters) to Shira I Camp (3,610 meters) amidst rainy conditions. Leaving the rainforest behind, ascending beyond 3,000 meters we finally got a glimpse of Uhuru Peak between rainbows slicing rain clouds. It was a reminder why we all chose this journey and the reward at the end of this adventure.
In the next days, the hike unraveled into a unique and breathtaking experience as we ascended above the clouds and continued acclimatising to the high altitude at over 4,000 meters. Noticing the clouds slowly drifting besides or beneath our feet, created a surreal and peaceful atmosphere, a truly unforgettable sight.
The days went on into a mix of awe-inspiring scenery, physical challenges, and an opportunity to adapt to the lack of oxygen in the air. The terrain also started becoming more challenging, with steep uphill sections, uneven paths and all this under heavy rain and battling new levels of discomfort testing our mind and our bodies. An area which stood out was the Barranco Wall, a 257 meters steep ridge roughly halfway up Mount Kilimanjaro. The Barranco Wall looked formidable and was an exciting experience to climb it early in the morning as all the groups from the camp started moving at the same time towards their next destination.
The Summit: Nonstop to the Top!
When deciding that I want to hike Kilimanjaro, I’ve heard multiple times that I’m not signing up only for a physical challenge, but I’m also taking on a mental challenge that will test my determination and resilience to conquer the top. And I truly felt this massive challenge on the summit climb –by far the hardest and most exhausting thing I have ever did in my life!
We got into the summit camp, Barafu at 4,673m altitude, around noon after a 3 and a half hours walk from camp Karanga. We got some lunch and tried to rest up for a couple of hours. Sleeping during the camp’s day noise and at that altitude is not an easy task but we needed to recharge and build up energy. Had dinner around 7pm and then again battling distractions to get some sleep
Overnight Ascension – Yes, you read that right, the summit ascension is done overnight. You wakeup at midnight and start the journey. The darkness certainly heightens the experience with a pinch of mystery and a dash of anticipation to reach the peak. For my Eastern European Orthodox friends, this experience reminded me of the Easter holiday from my childhood when like in Kilimanjaro we had to wake up at mid night and climb out of bed to go to church and walk around the church with the rest of the congregation. Unlike my childhood the Ester bunny would not make a magical appearance. At 11 PM night of the final ascent some of us were feeling the toll of the climb while others were preparing for what lay ahead.
Under the beat of ” Pole Pole” we started climbing in the middle of the night. We needed to take 5 minute breaks every 2 hours of the 8 hour climb to stabilise our temperature, with all the adrenaline of the last leg of the journey, the cold still managed to seep through and the mental challenge was way underway.
The climb was something like nothing I ever done before, a 1,135 meters elevation gain going straight up…and when I say straight up, I mean really straight up, like climbing a double black diamond ski slope for 8 hours straight. At times it was completely silent and I was drifting between exhaustion and meditation.
We were fortunate to have an incredibly active team of guides while going up, it’s easy when you do this trip 300 times, the strain bounces off of you, they kept us focused and energised which was not easy. Pole Pole was not being replaced witj : “One Team, One Goal, Nonstop to the Top!”. They somehow made it clear that even if the body or the mind might give up the spirit can still push on, and so we did.
We were trusting Mandela, our lead “singer” guide who kept encouraging us with shouts of “Keep going, we’re almost there,” and despite my constant thoughts of “Are we there yet?”, the dark sky began to fade while the sun was coming up. Finally, we reached Stella Point at 5,756 meters, marking a significant milestone on our journey to the summit. The grueling ascent was behind us, and we now had only about 100 meters of elevation left on a steady path to reach the Uhuru peak.
At 7: 41 AM against all my fears, frustrations and fatigue we reached Uhuru Peak! Hugh and singing were the norm, while congratulating eachother and slowly realising what we all managed to achieve, the end result of all that effort: ” We actually made it! We were at the peak! Unbelievable!!
Some (of the many) takeaways
Have your own walk Besides the physical challenge of the experience, climbing Kili was also an opportunity for me to disconnect from my digital powered life and connect to nature, to people but above all to re-connect with myself. Reminding myself once again that as in climbing Kili, in our personal lifes and in business, each of us has their own walk – and is a marathon not a sprint. Independent of how fast or ”Pole, Pole” we go, the important thing is where we decide to go, the people we take with us and making sure we enjoy the ride!
Anything is possible!We can do whatever we set our mind to, if we’re focused, we have the right people by our side and we put in the necessary work – “If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together!”.
Seeing the people that helped us get to the top carrying 30-40 kgs on their back and heads each day, helpings us with whatever was needed along the way, and smiling the entire time determined me to be more grateful and appreciative of the opportunities and challenges I have in my life.
All of us need support and I would not have been able to do this without the support of my family & girlfriend throughout 2023’s ups and downs; without Alexandru Ilovan & the S&P team that helped us prepare for this; I would not have been able to do this without the 9 people from our group who looked out after one another to make sure everyone is feeling well and can make it all the way to the top. And definitely I would not have been able to do it without the help of Mr. Johns, the guide who has been by my side and made sure I made it to the top, and the rest of the Almighty crew.
– PS: For the ones of you that told me you are looking to climb Kilimanjaro as well, another article with more practical insights and tips & tricks should follow soon.
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