From The White Cliffs ofDover to The Snows of Kilimanjaro
Hi, I'm Gavin Oakley of Wallett's Court Hotel near Dover and I recently embarked on the challenge of a lifetime and attempted to climb the highest freestanding mountain in The World - Kilimanjaro in Tanzania (5896m).
The following is an account of how it all went.
Well that was an adventure…
I am delighted to report that I have returned from an attempt to scale the highest free-standing peak in the world alive! Just!!
Kilimanjaro is a big old hill and to climb it is a truly awe inspiring experience. I could honestly say that was the most challenging week of my life. Not only was it physically arduous it was a huge mental challenge, especially in the last few hours just below the summit.
Thankfully I was accompanied by a wonderfully supportive group of individuals who became close friends in the few days that we spent together ‘on the hill’. They made the adventure so much fun and the endless hours of climbing passed all the more quickly with the great spirit that pervaded within the trekking party.
The team comprised of 25 adventurers all supporting the Great Ormond Street Hospital who between them will raise over £50,000 towards a project that will see significant improvements in the levels of care and facilities that are on offer to the children and their families whilst in the care of the hospital.
Since my return, I have received many messages of congratulations which has been very touching. Also the question on many peoples lips has been ‘Did you do it then?’
The not so simple answer is that on the ascent we all faced our own demons. Whether it be overcoming a mortal fear of heights on the Baranco Wall (scrambling over rocks and crags on a 1,000 foot high sheer rock face), going through a physical nightmare of sheer exhaustion to reach the final camp at 4,600 metres above sea level after a 10 hour climb or simply having to hover over one of the infamous ‘long drop’ loos whilst trying not to pee/poo on your boots or fall into the pit of eternal stench!!!
My personal demon was the impending doom that was brought on by the effects of Altitude Sickness, a condition that can randomly pick off anyone entering into what is technically known to mountaineers as ‘The Death Zone’ an altitude of around 5,000 metres above sea level. For those who have never experienced it, think of your worst ever hangover – multiply that by ten add one mountain… et voila!
So here we were, after 4 days trekking, climbing steep rock faces and traversing huge expanses of wild open terrain on Africa’s highest mountain myself and the team of 25 adventurers from Great Ormond Street Hospital reached a height of 4600m above sea level to a place called Barafu Camp. After a 10 hour climb, a couple of hours rest and a bowl or two of porridge the team then set off in darkness at midnight on 19th September to make the final ascent in sub-zero conditions.
In the following couple of hours a number of the team of 25 fell back after the extreme altitude and cold took it’s toll. Each climber who returned to camp was accompanied by a Tanzanian assistant guide or porter to ensure their safe return.
Then at around 4am when the team were over 5300 metres above sea level a little over 500 metres from the summit when things took a turn for the worse. The weather conditions deteriorated as the wind whipped up and the wind chill took temperatures way down below zero. With now only a dozen team members left, one of the two mountain leaders collapsed at my feet. Howard Foster, an experienced mountaineer had been hit with sudden ‘Acute Mountain Sickness’ and Hypothermia. The team doctor was at the scene and ordered that Howard be taken down immediately as he was in a life-threatening state.
Team leader, Jonathan Bryan had a difficult decision to make. With only two Tanzanian guides left with the group, if both guides were to have carried Howard down it would have meant that the entire team would have to go back down before reaching the summit.
At this point he assessed the situation, turned to me (one of the stronger members of the team still standing) and asked if I could help take Howard down.
Jonathan knew that I had also been affected by the extreme altitude, and the chances were that I too would succumb to the hellish altitude. So, along with a Tanzanian guide called Godfrey we then embarked on an extremely hazardous descent in biting winds through the darkness carrying a barely conscious Howard Foster back to the relative safety of the camp at Barafu some 800 metres below.
The descent took over two hours, during which we also came across two other mountaineers lost in the darkness who also needed some assistance. On finally reaching the camp, Howard received treatment for Hypothermia and made a quick recovery and thanks to the actions of his fellow adventurers and Tanzanian Guide ‘Godfrey’ he was able to continue the rest of the two day descent with the rest of the team who had made the summit.
Although I was disappointed not to reach the summit myself, I took some solace in the knowledge that I had been instrumental in the rescue of a fellow adventurer and neither he nor I had become climber number 19 and 20 to have lost their lives on Kilimanjaro this year. Yes, that’s right in 2007 eighteen people have already lost their lives on this unforgiving mountain. A chilling reminder that this lifetime challenge was no walk in the park…
On my return home it has been a case of acclimatising to normal life again. Back to my beautiful wife and kids, back to work, back to ‘real life’. At this point I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for supporting this challenge, it has certainly changed my perspective on life and I hope perhaps this may inspire others to follow my example and make a difference. I also hope the generosity of your donation has a positive impact on the lives of the children and their families at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Onwards and forever upwards.
Gavin
You can still sponsor me online.
Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity (GOSHCC) will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.
So please sponsor me now!
