Kilimanjaro, Day 2: July 11, 2011

This morning we had an early wake-up call to head down to breakfast with the team. It was great to be able to sit down and visit with some of my fellow climbers. Everyone was excited and I think a little nervous to be there. For me the trip was continuing to sink in.. I was really here, in Africa, prepping to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Following breakfast, we all gathered in a meeting room where Ben, Eric, Lori, Monique, and Sierra led a meeting that consisted of logistics for the trip.. What to expect, self care to do on the mountain, what to do should you start to have symptoms of altitude sickness. I could sense the energy of the group rising as we were getting so much information. The meeting lasted quite a while in the morning and many of the group had additional questions. I thought many of the questions were warranted, but a part of me wanted to get going! I wanted to start the climb and see what climbing a mountain was all about!

Following the a.m. meeting, we grabbed some lunch at the hotel and met back that afternoon for what would be several hours of gear check. We had to unpack our boundary bags, lay all of our gear and food out while Eric and Ben went through the gear check list to make sure we each had everything we needed. If we didn't, somehow we were going to get it because once you are on the mountain, there was no getting something you needed there. I remember unpacking my boundary bag.. The 50# bag my friend and I spent an evening packing and unpacking to get everything to fit the night before I left and thinking "I have to pack and unpack this thing everyday, ugh!". I had visions of my laying across the bag to get it flat enough so my friend could latch the sides to close it. I thought "this is going to be an adventure in and of itself!". My climbing partner Patti and I helped each other go through gear as well and the bonding between the group continued late into the afternoon. The gear check was a process that for 30 people took a good portion of the day. I remember going through all of the food I brought (which was a lot since I like to eat) and asking Eric if I needed to bring it all. His response was yes.. The food part comes in to play a little later.

Also during the day we were being individually interviewed by a videographer and interviewer sent by a company named Sanofi. They were a company out of Europe who is focused on changing perceptions of those with neurological diseases. They knew Lori and when notified about the trip, wanted to send Jeff (our professional photographer) and a film crew to document the journey. The interviews were longer than expected and also ran late in to the afternoon. I remember in my interview they kept commenting on my blue eyes, which I thought was kind of them.. I now wonder if my eyes showed the pain and feelings of being ashamed to have the disease in my interview. I remember them asking me a lot of questions about when I was diagnosed, how I felt about it, what this trip meant to me. At one point I had to stop talking because I was so choked up. This was the moment, caught on camera, where I had to actually talk about all of the things that I had wanted to avoid at any cost for so long. Soni, the interviewer, was so kind during the process. She would give me moments to compose myself before continuing on. I don't remember exactly what I said to some of the questions, but I do remember saying that without the diagnosis I would not have the opportunity to climb Kili with this group of amazing people and for that I was grateful. I meant it. I had a whirlwind of emotions going on and little did I know at the time how cathartic this trip would be for me.

After a long afternoon of gear checks and interviews, we left the hotel for dinner as a group. I was exhausted from the long day and wanted to be rested for the next, as the climb was finally going to begin! I enjoyed dinner, sitting by Jeff, Sarah, Patti and Eric, and getting to know each other. The bonding of a group that would become my family continued and I was present in every moment of it. There was a performance that entertained us while we were waiting for our dinner (which took much longer than anticipated).. And during that time, I recorded a message for all of my friends and family at home. Lori and Jeff were having troubles getting the messages to upload with the equipment we had, but it was fun to think that everyone following along at home would hear the message.

Once we arrived back at the hotel, I organized all of my final gear between what and where it all went.. How much food and which clothing layers to pack in my day pack vs. boundary bag and then it was time to head to bed.. The Leap of Faith Kilimanjaro Climb was about to begin..

The Journey Begins.. July 10, 2011

I can't believe it has been 5 weeks since my return from Africa. It seems like so long ago, yet just yesterday when I was there. Since returning a lot has changed and happened. Our Leap of Faith team has decided to write a book telling our stories individually and bringing it all together in a final chapter.. That is the idea for now but I'm sure as the chapters get written and creative juices start flowing some of the design will change. I have started to write my chapter, but find there is actually more to tell than I had thought. Therefore I am working now on condensing it into what people might want to read! It is all a process, but an exciting one!

I have had a lot of people ask about the climb and what it was like since I was unable to blog about it on my trip. I have decided to start blogging the trip, day by day, so those interested can read about the journey.. Lets start with

Day 1: JULY 10, 2011

Today I flew from Minneapolis to Chicago to Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro Airport. My flight from Minneapolis was delayed twice.. Oh how I love flying! I actually do not enjoy it but know that if I want to travel, especially across the ocean, it is the only way to get there! I was able to check my duffel and boundary bags through to Arusha, but had to go back through security once I got to Chicago as my MSP to Chicago flight was an add on at the last minute. I met some of my fellow climbers in Chicago: Lori, Neal, Suz, Gina, Tina, Krisy, Susie, April, Jeanne, and Tina to name a few. I had a brief moment of panic once I arrived in Chicago as other than Suz I had met no one and only verbally spoken to Lori once.. (A couple of days ago as I panicked "Am I trained enough? Am I prepared?" Lori was great to talk to and calmed my nerves almost immediately.) At the airport I recognized Suz and at that moment reality hit me. "This is really going to happen." I thought to myself. As we all sat at the airport getting to know each other I felt very comfortable and the brief feeling of anxiety had already left me.

Our flight from Chicago to Amsterdam was uneventful. I was able to watch a few movies and talk more with Lori and Jeanne on the flight. I cherish the conversations I had with everyone on the trip for different reasons and this conversation was no exception.

We arrived in Amsterdam to meet up with Jeff, our photographer and Patty, my climbing companion whom I had met before as well as others going on the climb. Jeff and I bonded almost immediately as he had technology gadgets so we sat and chatted about them as we tried to figure out how some of them worked. Jeff was going to be responsible for uploading daily footage from the climb to Sanofi, the company out of Europe that sponsored him to go on our trip. He had a lot of expectations to fulfill, and looking back I think he did an amazing job. It was also good to see Patty again. She has an adventurous spirit and I thought we were well matched as climbing partners.

On the flight from Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro Airport many of us slept, despite trying to stay awake to adjust to the time difference of 8 hours. Once we arrived in Arusha, we were picked up by Bushbuck Safaris. All of our gear was loaded into the large jeeps (everyone's bags made it!) and we were off for what felt like a 2 hour drive to the New Arusha Hotel in Arusha. It was night in Africa and we could see the outline of mountains as we drove, but none of us knew exactly what we were looking at. We were left to guess.. Is that Kili?

Upon arrival at the hotel, we were greeted by our guides Eric and Ben. Eric had been a guide for several years and would be our lead guide. Ben just returned from leading a team and summiting Everest and would be the second guide on this adventure. We were each checked in, given room keys, had a brief welcome session and sent upstairs to get some sleep as the next day would be a long one of gear checks, orientation, and interviews...

Thanks to a great place to work, my trip was able to be extended so I could go to Zanzibar for a few days with 2 of the other climbers. The beaches of Zanzibar were amazing! In the last 2 1/2 weeks I have had more experiences than I have had in the last 3 years! I am still in disbelief at how much has happened! Already the pictures have started to be posted and emails sent among new friends and family. Our team bonded in a way that most do not get get to experience. We became a family who watched out for each other, encouraged each other, educated each other and inspired each other. People ask if I am mad that I was unable to reach the summit.. Initially yes, but the experience has been so great that summiting was only a part of it. My MS didn't prevent me from summiting Kilimanjaro and that is what I was testing.. What this means is that I will come back to Africa to once again climb and summit Kili, and to also experience more of the culture and the people. Africa is an amazing place that can change your life if you are open to it. It can't really be explained. There is something about the spirit here that lifts you up and makes you believe anything is possible.. I wonder what my next adventure will be.. ;)

Hello from Arusha! We have just returned from the mountain and what an incredible experience it was. I reached a personal summit of 16,000ft before my body would take me no further. Physically I had trained enough, but I suffered from Acute Mountain Sickness from Day 2 on.. I could keep no food or liquids down and when you are supposed to be eating 4000 calories a day and drinking 4 liters of water a day, your body eventually says no more. I started the summit, but was escorted down to high camp. I was initially very mad, but realize that for how sick I was, I still did as well as many. This climb was more than about summiting Kili, I came, I climbed, I learned, and I've grown.

The bags are mostly packed and set by the door to be picked up and carried out at 7:30 am sharp tomorrow morning. The only thing that remains are the last minute items that need to be tossed in as I walk out the door. My kindle has been loaded with pdf documents and books for the journey, taking care of the need for paper documents everywhere (thank you Greg ;) ). Passport, check; visa pictures, check; gloves, check; protein mix.. No check as I seem to have missed that on one of the several lists I had made... Maybe the bag of snickers and reeses I packed will be sufficient.. At this point I must accept that what I have will be just right to get me through the climb.

After helping at the Lifetime Triathlon today, the timing team sat down for a much needed lunch (start time this morning was 3:00 am!) and one of the gentlemen was quizzing me.. Much like above. "Do you have a scarf?" "yes" I responded, "How about your hat and gloves?" "Yes, but I'm not sure which bag they are in!". I took comfort in knowing that everything he listed off I have packed.. somewhere in the seas that are my boundary and duffel bag and pack.

We will begin the climb on Wednesday, July 13th, with summit day planned for Monday, July 18th. What a great way to start the week!

Thank you to everyone who has sent me messages wishing me a safe journey in Africa. I am sorry I have not had time to respond to each of you individually, but know that your messages are read and appreciated :) I look forward to seeing you all upon my return!

The books that once filled my pack for weight during the training hikes have now been replaced with gear, food, snacks, and miscellaneous items for the flight. A friend helped me pack the Boundary Bag for the last 3 hours tonight.. organizing, sorting, packing, unpacking, repacking! It is quite a tedious process and one that will continue on into the night as there is still more to pack. It will be a great feeling once it is all completed, set by the door, and ready to be carried out Sunday morning.

I think my excitement will begin once in flight.. Right now the packing and prepping process for going out of the country is a bit overwhelming.. And I'm working this week as well so trying to organize patient care for 2 1/2 weeks of vacation is a process in and of itself! I'm grateful all is winding down though as well for working with a great group of individuals who have supported me during the last few months of training and prepping for the trip.

For those interested, please feel free to click on the Alpine Ascents and Empowerment Through Adventure site links for updates during the climb!!

Last weekend was spent up north hiking. It is beautiful up there and the perfect quick weekend getaway to relax and enjoy the outdoors! We hiked one of the many trails up there as well as one of the Lutsen ski hills. It was fun to go off the beaten path and explore!

On Tuesday, I met a couple and their 2 sons from Sweden while I was climbing the Stillwater steps. They asked if I was training for something and in turn I found out they were tracing their ancestors who had immigrated to Stillwater, MN. I thought that was an interesting story and made me wonder about my ancestors and what stories they would tell me had I known them or had they documented them. I think everyone has a story to tell and I was glad that the couple chose to share theirs with me.

I made a trip to REI last night for more of the gear list. Always those last few items that take the longest to get ready! I received my sleeping bag liner in the mail today. It is supposed to warm my sleeping bag by another 14 degrees.. I'm not sure how a thin piece of cloth will do that, but I'll give it a try!

Where has the week gone! Last weekend consisted of the Stillwater steps and this weekend consisted of hiking up north, some with and some without my pack. It was beautiful and a great way to start tapering for the next couple of weeks.

To track the climb, you can click on the Alpine Ascents link and Lori Schneider's link. You can also read more on twitter (to be set up soon) and facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lori-Schneider-Empowerment-Through-Adventure.

Also, here is the outline for the climb:

Hiking 39 miles (63 km) in 7 days, with 16,077 ft. (4,891m) elevation gain to the 19,344ft (5896m) summit on Kilimanjaro! Here is our schedule while in Africa:

July 10-11 Fly to Arusha, Kilimanjaro International Airport, Tanzania
July 12 Gear checks, briefing, meeting our team of 28 brave souls!
July 13 Climb Kili Gate-Machame Hut 6mi/10km 9,900ft/3000m
July 14 Climb Machame Hut-Shira Hut 5mi/8km 12,500ft/3800m
July 15 Climb Shira Hut-Barranco Hut 6mi/10km 12,900ft/3900m
July 16 Climb Barranco Hut-Karanga Valley 3mi/5km 13,300ft/4055m
July 17 Climb Karanga Valley-Kosovo Camp 3mi/5km 15,600ft/4760 m
July 18 SUMMIT DAY Kosovo-Uhuru Peak 4mi/7km 19,344ft/5896m
July 19 Descend-Mweka 8mi/13km Shower time! Celebration dinner!
July 20 Safari-Tarangire National Park
July 21 Safari-Visit Masai village & Ngorongoro Crater
July 22 Safari-Ngorongoro Crater & Serengeti National Park
July 23 Sunrise Balloon rise over the Serengeti plains, Homeward bound!
July 24 Home-Sleep for a week, revel in the accomplishment, smile forever!!

We are also going global! There is a company out of Paris, but their PR firm is in London that is paying for a professional photographer to document our stories and our journey with hopes to use our story internationally to inspire others.. Sounds pretty cool.. Stay tuned.. I think we are just getting started ;)

I was told that if you can climb the Stillwater Steps 20 times with your pack on you are ready for the climb.. On Saturday I climbed them 20 times and on Sunday I climbed them 10 times and by Sunday night my calf muscles were so sore I could barely walk! But, the good news is I can do it :)

The trip is drawing near and with last minute purchases and preparation, training is actually getting more difficult to stay consistent with. So much to do to prepare for the trip! I will start my Typhoid vaccine tomorrow, which must be completed 3 days before I start the malaria vaccine which must be started 1 week prior to leaving.. So many things to keep straight its no wonder I'm starting to forget some things! I have lists everywhere and gear laid out. My dining room is now a packing and sorting room. So much fun! The excitement is building!

Tonight was a great night for a hike.. an hour and a half with almost 30lbs in my pack! I haven't trained since Thursday (when I used my niece as my weight for lifting, thanks M :) ) and was concerned about losing some of what I had gained when in fact the opposite happened. I found a pace that worked for me and went with it, while being able to increase my training time and pack weight! The workout felt great!

I ordered my flag tonight. For those of you who don't know about it, everyone who donates will have their names written on the flag that I will proudly take to the top with me and have a picture taken. Little did you know, but you are all coming with me!

Today was vaccination day at the doctors office.. yellow fever, tetanus, and a polio booster shot to be followed by typhoid and malaria pills starting next week. Welcome to international travel!! Thank goodness the gentleman who gave me my shots was good at it as the tetanus shot did not hurt nearly as much as it did the last time! Also on my list of items to get at the doctors office were several prescriptions for antibiotics, inhalers (my list, not Alpine Ascents list), and altitude sickness medication... Check, check, and check!

The gear list is starting to come to a close and everyone is getting more excited as the trip nears. My brothers wedding is this weekend so with a brief lapse in training for a few days, plans are to return to it full force upon next week. Only 4 weeks to go!

With only 40 days to go, the excitement builds and preparations intensify! Another trip was made to REI yesterday for the purchase of more gear.. I think one of these days I will have everything organized and ready to go! The emails between climbers continue as everyone debates which vaccinations to get as well as how to pack, etc. It is nice to know I am not the only one with all these questions.

On a more serious note, one of our guides from Alpine Ascents by the name of Suzanne lost her life while guiding an expedition at Denali last week. From the little I know about her, she "lived life" and was doing what she loved when the group she was connected to fell during the climb. Denali is a VERY technical climb, the most difficult that Lori made of the seven summits and is not at all like the terrain we will be hiking on (so no panicking please). Please keep Suzanne and her family in your prayers. We will no doubt remember her during our climb and know she is with us in spirit cheering us on every step of the way.

Lori stated that there are moments in the climb that will be very challenging due to altitude and fatigue. Therefore, she recommended bringing things that will help us during those difficult times. My flag with everyone's name on it will be one of my items and I would like to take some letters or short notes along as well. If any of you would be interested in sending a note along that would be opened by me during the climb, please feel free to send them my way!

I wonder when hiking up and down a ski hill for over an hour with a 25lb pack gets easy...

A friend of mine suggested I post the gear list I need so that everyone has an idea of what exactly a person takes on such a climb. So, here it is!

Climbing Equipment
Adjustable 3 section Ski/Trekking poles. 1 pair.
Headlamp. A good quality climbers headlamp. Bring extra batteries (extra bulbs not necessary for LED headlamps)

Footwear
Running or tennis shoes. 1 pair to wear around camp and also for safari.
Light Hiking Boots or trekking shoes. 1 pair of sturdy boots in which you can wear a light synthetic sock under a heavy sock comfortably, either wool or synthetic. Shoes should be very Water Proof and very Warm.
Gaiters. 1 pair used to keep rocks out of shoes and boots dry.
Wool or Synthetic Socks. 3 pair heavyweight socks (wool is warmer) to be worn over the liner socks. When layering socks, check fit over feet and inside boots. Remember to keep one fresh, dry pair of socks available at all times. It is very important to buy new socks regularly as they lose their cushioning over time.
Liner Socks. 3 pair of smooth thin wool, nylon or Capilene to be worn next to the skin. This reduces the incidence of blisters and hot-spots and makes the outer sock last longer before needing to be changed. They should fit well with your heavyweight socks.

Technical Clothing
Lightweight Long Underwear. 2 pair. Tops & bottoms, Capilene, other synthetic or wool. No Cotton. Lightweight is preferable as it is more versatile (worn single in warmer conditions and double layer for colder). Zip-T-neck tops allow more ventilation options. One set of white for intense sunny days and one pair of dark for faster drying gives the most versatility.
Synthetic/Soft Shell jacket. Mid- to Heavyweight. A full-zip version is easier to put on and has better ventilation than a pullover.
Soft Shell Pants. (Optional) These non-insulated pants can be worn in place of trekking pants while on the climb. They provide a higher level of warmth and also repel light rain.
Insulated Synthetic Pants. Be sure pants can be removed while wearing boots.
Down or Synthetic jacket. Medium to heavy weight with hood.
Hard Shell jacket w/ hood. We recommend a waterproof breathable shell material with full front zipper, underarm zips, and no insulation. This outer layer protects against wind and rain.
Hard Shell Pants. Waterproof, breathable. Full length side zippers preferred because it allows easy removal of pants, 7/8th zippers allowed but is more difficult to remove pants, no short lower leg zippers allowed.

Handwear
Lightweight synthetic gloves. 2 pair, quick drying material. Should fit comfortably inside heavy mitts.
Hard Shell Mitts w/ insulated removable. 1 pair each. A good pair of ski mittens/gloves work well.

Headwear
Balaclava. Look for a simple lightweight model.
Warm Lightweight synthetic/wool hat. Hat should cover ears.
Baseball cap/sun hat. One with a good visor to shade the nose and eyes. Synthetic is nice as it dries quickly.
Bandana. Used to shade your neck.
Glacier glasses. 100% UV, IR, high quality optical lenses designed for mountain use, must have side covers, leashes, and a nose guard is particularly helpful. No more than 8% light transmission. If you wear contact lenses we recommend packing a spare pair of glasses—it is a good idea to have these with “photo-gray” or equivalent light-sensitive material so they can double as emergency sunglasses. If you wear glasses we recommend prescription glacier glasses (gray or amber). Talk to your eye care professional to find out where prescription glacier glasses are available. Regular sunglasses are not dark enough and do not provide any side protection from the sun.

Personal Equipment
Trekking Backpack. A day pack big enough to carry water bottles, camera, lunch and extra clothing. 3,000 cu.in. max.
Water Bottles: 2 to 3 Wide mouth bottles with minimum 1 Litre capacity per bottle. No water bag or bladder systems, they freeze or are hard to fill.
Pee Bottle (1 Liter). For cold nights in the tent. Large mouth, clearly marked bottle.
Pee Funnel (for women). For cold nights in the tent. It is a good idea to practice, practice, practice.
Sunscreen. SPF 30 or better, 2 small tubes. Make sure that the sun screen is not older than 6 months. Sunscreen older than six months loses half of its SPF rating.
Lipscreen. SPF 40 or better, at least 2 sticks. Not older than 6 months.
Sports Drink Mix. Powdered electrolyte drink mix. 1-2 Servings per day for 7 days.
Water Purification tablets. 2 bottles.
Sleeping bag. Expedition quality to at least 100. Down is lighter and less bulky, but more expensive than synthetics.
Closed Cell foam pad. One full length closed-cell foam.
Self Inflating pad. One 3/4 or full length w/repair kit. No Ultralights.

Traveling
115 Liter Boundary Bag. This waterproof bag is needed to keep your clothing dry during transport.
Duffle Bag. A small duffle can be nice for storing things at the hotel during the expedition and extra clothing while traveling.
Plastic bags. To line stuff sacks to keep gear dry and line pack. Trash Compactor bags are best.
Small pair of binoculars. For safari.
Trail snack food items. Bring your favorite energy bars, GU packets for summit day, drink mixes etc.
Travel clothes. You will need clothing for three days of safari. Loose fitting cotton trousers or shorts and short sleeve shirts work well during the day. Bring a light jacket for town & safari. Evening time can be cooler. We recommend TWO pairs of trekking pants. Safari lodges are quite nice, so long pants and a nice shirt are recommended for dining. Bathing suit for hotel pools.
Toiletry bag. Include toilet paper, soap, wet wipes, toothbrush, towel, hand sanitizer, foot powder, dust mask, ear plugs etc.

First Aid
Small personal first-aid kit. (Simple and Light) Aspirin (Extra Strength Excedrin is best), Antibiotic ointment, Moleskin, molefoam, waterproof first-aid tape, athletic tape, Band-Aids, personal prescriptions, etc. The guides will have extensive first-aid kits, so leave anything extra behind. Please let your guide know about any medical issues before the climb.
Drugs/Medications/Prescriptions. Climbers should bring Pepto Bismol. Ciprofloxin (Cipro) 500mg tablets for traveler’s diarrhea and for urinary tract infections. Azithromycin (Z-pak) 250mg tablets for non-gastrointestinal infections. Acetazolamide (Diamox) 125 or 250 mg tablets for altitude sickness. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) 200mg tablets for altitude headaches, sprains, aches, etc. Excedrin for headaches. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) 325mg tablets for stomach sensitivity.

I am still in the process of getting everything and it has been interesting trying to find all of the items. I have another list of recommended brands for everything on this list so I have been selecting from that. My dining room is starting to look like a hiking store!

Only 7 weeks until Kilimanjaro!!

67 days to go until I leave or Kilimanjaro!! I guess I should start my training.. ;) The last week has consisted of weights, running, and trekking up and down the ski hills with my pack. The view from the top of the Highland Park ski hills actually has a pretty sweet view of the skyline, so that makes getting to the top worth it!

I had an interview yesterday with a woman from the MN chapter of the MS Society who wants to write an article about the climb, pre-trip and post-trip. It was kind of cool to be interviewed for a story.. I also heard from Lori that there might be a documentary done on our trip, so add a cameraman and journalist to our numbers for the climb!

My gear started arriving this week and if I had a tent, I could camp in my living room! It is interesting to learn about all of the different brands and gear options that are out there. I bought most of this gear from a site called Moosejaw. Their boxes come with a huge stamp that says "sealed with a kiss" and the company is actually pretty funny in their approach to marketing. Check it out if you need some camping or hiking gear!

I have to admit that after my 8 mile run yesterday I thought that maybe I am more ready for the climb than I had anticipated..My hiking of the ski hills today with my pack would beg to differ! My legs were burning! Yet after an hour and a half of hiking I felt pretty good that I was able to complete the work out and walk afterwards. :)

I read last night that Kilimanjaro is one of the most underestimated of the Seven Summits and that often people are under trained for it. But I took comfort today when I ran into a man who had made the climb several years ago. When I told him the climb was in July he told me I have plenty of time to train and proceeded to tell me everything I needed to do on that ski hill to prepare.. distance, time, pack weight. I so much appreciated his willingness to share his experience and training expertise.

I told a patient today about the climb and why I was doing it. She is the first patient I have told and the reason I was doing it didn't seem matter to her, which I appreciated. She just wanted to hear about the trip. "What are you going to do to top this once you get back?!" she asked. I just smiled.. Who knows what the next adventure might be? "Right now I am just enjoying this adventure" I told her. I think she was more excited for me than I am at the moment. It doesn't seem real yet, rather just going through the motions of preparing for something that I have heard will change and impact me forever...

The countdown begins.. I just realized that three months from today I will be on a plane flying to Africa! I can't believe how fast the time has gone by. This is going to be fun :)

Today I finally sat down and put together my gear list. I have the basics but with the trip approaching, it is time to order the rest of my gear! I'm still not sure where to store all of the gear during the climb, but those questions will be answered upon arrival in Africa...

Other than the snow we had yesterday, the weather is starting to feel more like spring and with that comes the excitement of outdoor training. I trained in the snow over the winter and feel pretty secure in the fact that my boots, pack, and jacket are going to be sufficient. Now it is time to train in the warmer weather in preparation for the warmer climate that the the climb will begin in... And so on that note, it is time to head outside for a run!

My training was going pretty well until a week and a half ago when I got sick and have been unable to train since... So no training updates today! I plan to start again tomorrow and hope that I haven't lost much ground. I will let you know!

I once read that if you can run 6 miles in under an hour, you are ready to climb Kilimanjaro.. I don't think this is quite accurate, but I am excited that I was able to do that the other day and so feel like my training is starting to pay off. This plus seven days in a row last week and I feel like I am starting to get somewhere!

Many of the other climbers are posting on FB about their training adventures.. One group is even posting comical videos about it. I love the sense of humor this team has! Between 30 of us, hopefully someone is always keeping us laughing...all the way to the top!

I can't believe it is only 4 1/2 months until the climb! Time is flying by and I realize how much training is still to be done. Today will consist of another long hike with my pack followed by a week of cardio.. Exciting, I know! Soon the weather will be nice out and I will no longer be confined to the equipment at the gym. I am eagerly awaiting when I can go for a long run or bike ride outside, which will help make the training more enjoyable!

The past week has consisted of a lot of cross training.. My muscles are officially confused as once they adjust to one activity, I change to another. I thought maybe some cycling outside would be in the near future, but based on the snowstorm I am watching out the window, I think snowshoeing will be more appropriate!

People continue to be generous in their words and donations and I thank everyone for that. I have had several friends state they would like to train with me as many have never tried snowshoeing before, or want to go on some bike rides once the weather turns warm.. This is turning into a great way to catch up with friends, old and new while enjoying some fun activities that don't feel like exercise!

I met my climbing partner, Patti, yesterday. It was great to sit and chat about the climb, exchange training tips, and discuss ideas that one had thought of and the other had not. She is full of energy and I think that will be helpful in those moments of exhaustion at 18,000+ feet!

Our conversation was a great reminder that everyone on this trip has to put in the time and training to reach the ultimate goal of getting to the top, disease or not... That this journey should be fun and I think I have been a little to serious about it.. Time to enjoy the ride a little more! :)

Emails have started between climbers and it has been great to read what questions everyone else has and then the responses. I cannot wait to meet in person the group of climbers I will be trekking to the top of Kilimanjaro with.. I have a feeling it will be nothing short of amazing.

In the past week, I have officially booked my airfare to Africa and started training with a 10lb pack! Five months is going to go by so fast and it seems there is so much to do with such little time :) Lori is doing a great job of sending us monthly updates of what needs to be done for the trip and where we should be at in our training, which has helped significantly.

People often ask me "What do you do to train for climbing a mountain?" I usually grin and reply with "I'm learning as I go.. A lot of hills and steps I guess!" This is all still very new to me, the training, the gear.. I must say very exciting though! Many of us climbers are starting to connect via email and I will be able to meet a couple in the next few weeks!

For the many of you who have been asking, I switched sites that you can donate to my climb through. The link at the right will take you directly to my own webpage and by clicking "donate here" the steps are very easy to follow.

I spent an hour snowshoeing hills in my new hiking boots and was surprised at how comfortable and warm they are! Now I just need to add weight in my pack.. maybe in the next couple of weeks. I also got my flight out of Chicago booked today, yah!!

One of the other climbers is an artist and she created a painting for our trip. Here is what she has to say about it: “This watercolor was created just for the Kili trip as the banner for my blog. It has 15 stars — symbolic of the climbers with MS & PD and confetti, representing the companion climbers, sponsors, and our supporters…all celebrating and climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. If you look hard, you will also find one heart. Mountains are such great metaphors. I can truly say that living with MS myself is like climbing a mountain, every single day.”

— SUSIE WEBER, ILLUSTRATOR

http://www.morethanamountain.net/order-stuff

Check out her site if you are interested in seeing or purchasing the painting. It is pretty amazing and will find a spot on my wall soon!

It is official.. Speed walking hills is much more difficult than running them. I wonder if anyone has ever tried to run to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro? I think training for a marathon is easier than training for the climb at this point!

I went into REI today to start purchasing some of the gear I need. I was relieved to find some of their winter gear is on sale right now.. Prime time to purchase! I found a few things, but am most excited about the backpack I was fit with. I wish I would have had that kind of pack in high school and college!

The man that was helping me was very knowledgable about climbing. When asked if he was a climber himself he stated that he has helped a lot of people find gear to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. I was a little disappointed... A lot of people climb Kilimanjaro... Maybe I should have gone bigger with my first climb and started with Everest.. Hmm.. ;)

I work with a patient who is elderly and has macular degeneration. She told me when she was informed she would lose her sight several years ago, she went through a period of anger and mourning.. Until she had a woman tell her to "pull up your boots by your bootstraps and get on with life!". That comment made me smile.. She has no idea how applicable those words can be to so many of us!

Training is going pretty good so far! It is early on, but I am finding consistency is key and difficult. On the days when I don't want to go into the gym, I remind myself that the only way to achieve my goal of getting to the top of Kilimajaro is with a lot of training and now I am accountable since I have told people I am doing it... :)

I also tried snowshoeing this past week. If you've never tried it before, I would recommend it. It seems pretty easy at the time, but afterwards you can definitely feel the burn!

Over Christmas I started telling friends about my climb to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro this summer and why I am doing it. The climb does not scare me, it is the telling of why that does because I have to tell something that I want nothing more than to just go away. However, what I have been given are nothing but positive responses of excitement for this opportunity and a few who think it is a bit crazy to want to climb to the top of any mountain!

This climb has a purpose, the first being to get to the top! The second is to raise money and awareness about MS. I still get emotional when I think about the day I was diagnosed. I would like this climb to encourage someone else, especially in their 20's and 30's, newly diagnosed to be inspired and know that they can still have dreams and goals.. As Lori says, "To go for the gusto"!

Any money raised that does not go towards the climb will be donated to the MS Society to fund research. Let's spread the word about this trip to raise money and awareness so that researchers can find new and better treatments, and better yet a cure. I would love to know that not another person would have to hear the words "You've been diagnosed..."

There is a saying "After A Storm Comes A Rainbow" and I think it applies in this case. Had I not been diagnosed, I would not have been given the opportunity to go on this climb. I am grateful for this and I have learned to never rule out anyone's potential, regardless of circumstance. It may be because of that circumstance that they learn their true potential. :)