Why I Climb(ed)

On September 19, some two and a half months after summitting Kilimanjaro, I’ve finally changed the “Why I Climb” section of my blog to “Why I Climb(ed).” While I still long for smelling the cool mountain air, looking at the smiles of the Tanzanian guides and porters, and thinking about all the amazing people and stories that inspired me to climb, I’m happy to be back home in America.

Don’t get me wrong: endings like this one were bittersweet; one second, I was on top of the world (literally), watching the sun rise and feeling its warmth in my soul…and the next, I was back at my office desk, bathed in a fluorescent light. I went from climbing over ancient rocks and boulders and helping others to watching cable from my couch and typing emails.

But it’s exciting to think about all the new adventures upon which I’m lucky enough to embark. Next on my list are a few races to run, and a LIVESTRONG Challenge where I can ride my bike, too. My perspective is renewed, and I’m smarter for it. I’ve realized that while the climb is over, the experiences and lessons learned are not. As I remember writing my penultimate Texas 4000 blog post, which was a stream of consciousness coupled with reflection and emotion:

“I thought—happily—to myself, ‘it’s not over yet.’

Because there’s no going back to normal after this. Not after the things I’ve seen, the people I’ve met, and the places I’ve been. Not after the summer I’ve spent with 43 friends—and my Rockies brothers and sisters. Not after riding to Alaska. The ride has effectively changed me for the rest of my life and, in doing so, the ride never really ends.

It keeps going, until we find a cure. It keeps going, in my heart and my memories, through my blogs and photos. The distance keeps us together. And it keeps us going; this whole experience is part of me, forever.”

It’s a little normal—and okay, maybe a little lame—for me to be back at home and taking care of the regular, mundane aspects of my life. Yet for what I hope to do longterm, things are far from being boring. I value the opportunity I had to climb Kilimanjaro with Survivor Summit. I want to always cherish those memories and remember why (and for whom) I climbed. I aim to harness those moments of my life spent in Tanzania in order to be extraordinary, kind, and compassionate. As such, I will always be climbing for a cure and in turn, striving to be the best person I can be.

Chris and Nelson

This “Why I Climb” goes out to our fearless expedition leaders for our Kilimanjaro climb, Earth Treks’ Chris Warner and Nelson Laur.

Leading up to our climb, the Survivor Summit team would convene over conference calls to discuss logistics and equipment with Chris. He took the time to answer all our questions with as much detail as possible. He would always note that his job was to make sure we were safe, which would put my mind at ease. When we arrived in Tanzania, I expected to meet someone who was serious, detailed, regimented, and straight-laced.

I couldn’t have been more wrong.

So Chris met us at the airport, and he was ready to joke with us immediately, even when we made our way up the mountain. Yes, he made sure to take care of the important issues that needed to be addressed, but he also wanted to ask us what our favorite road trip movies were or who we thought the worst actress of all time was. Additionally, he wanted to make fun of me for being from New Jersey (takes one to know one, Chris!). His counterpart, Nelson, was no different. He, too, instantly let his awesome personality shine while he led us across the trails of the mountain.

Both of these amazing guys would tell us ridiculous mountaineering tales over breakfast and dinner, then switch into serious discussion about our plans for climbing the following day, and then start joking again without missing a beat. All in all, their demeanor kept us focused and positive, as well as constantly amused.

The hours of hiking would fly by whenever Chris or Nelson were near me. I loved listening to both of them tell us stories, and I also appreciated that I always learned something new from them, whether it was about life, Kilimanjaro, climbing and hiking in general, or movie trivia. These guys had plenty of knowledge and experience to share, and I was always happy to hear about it.

Another great thing about our Earth Treks guides is that they were incredibly smart, quick-thinkers who could pretty much MacGyver their way around any situation. There was always a Plan B, C, or D. I was seriously impressed, for example, when Nelson led Mindy up the Barranco Wall with a rope in case she needed it, and designed a fool-proof, well-executed plan to help her (and the rest of us!) summit.

Chris and Nelson are incredibly well-traveled guys who have pretty much been through it all. And while climbing might be their job, tackling the next mountain or setting a new record isn’t the most important thing to them. Instead, they are very kind men with genuine adoration for their families. When I asked Nelson about the first meal he planned to eat when he got back to the United States, he smiled and replied, “a home-cooked meal. My wife is the best cook.” Same with Chris, whose smile beamed with pride whenever he would talk about how intelligent his young daughter is.

I think that the most valuable lesson I learned from both of them wasn’t: “how to summit a mountain.” It was: “how to live your life with plenty of heart.” Even when the climb was done, Chris and Nelson made sure we didn’t miss the point of it all. They had us sit in a circle and remark on the lessons we learned from/what we admired most about each other. And Chris’ blog post reiterated that our climb was made with great purpose and a lot of love. He wrote, “it is amazing how climbing for others brings out the very best in people.”

It was Chris and Nelson who truly helped bring out the best in all of us, and I will always consider them to be members of our Survivor Summit team. Thanks for everything, guys—I couldn’t have made it without both of you. Today, I climb for you.

Mindy

This is a very special “Why I Climb” for me. I’m dedicating it to my Survivor Summit teammate, the indomitable Mindy Boyum.

Mindy is a fellow Austinite who works at LIVESTRONG as a Major Gifts Officer. I work at the University of Texas at Austin in Development, so when we met up to go for a hike a few weeks before the climb, we had a lot in common and I hoped we would click immediately. We picked a meeting spot along the Greenbelt, and Mindy gave me her cell phone number so we could touch base. She also told me quite matter-of-factly that I would be able to identify her because she’d be the one wearing a prosthesis.

That’s right: Mindy is a cancer survivor, and an above-the-knee leg amputee. She lost the lower part of her leg after battling osteorsarcoma as a teenager. Her attitude is amazing; she never lets anything keep her spirit down, and she works incredibly hard to complete tasks. During our pre-Kilimanjaro hike in Austin, I walked by the side of her and held my hands out for her to grab as she navigated any tricky rocks. She constantly said “thank you” and cracked jokes as we both ambled along in the heat. She never complained, and never got frustrated with having to take slower, more precise steps to maintain steady footing on the rocks.

During that initial meeting, I had the opportunity to learn a little bit about her life, and I heard about her first attempt to climb Kilimanjaro a few years earlier. She told me she had almost made it to the top, but had to turn around at Stella Point because her legs were completely spent. While I’m sure it must have been a difficult and disappointing decision for Mindy to turn back from the summit, I never heard her talk negatively about the experience—she had learned lessons from the first attempt and as a result, she seemed even more determined to make it to the summit this time around. After our hike, I remember thinking that if anyone deserved to make it to the summit of Kilimanjaro as a testament to survivorship, it was Mindy.

A few weeks later, we were in Tanzania, and Mindy was my tentmate. Kilimanjaro was waiting for her the second time, and she was ready for the challenge. Honestly, I didn’t get a chance to climb with Mindy as often as I would have liked. Instead of hiking with her daily on the trail, I spent a lot of time walking ahead so I could get to our tent and make sure her bags were where they needed to be, near our tent. Sometimes, I would set up her stuff for her. Basically, my goal was for everything to be ready when she made it to camp each night; I didn’t want her to have to be concerned about anything except getting to that summit—and I was assuring her that my teammates and I would make sure she got there.

One of my favorite rituals during our climb of Kilimanjaro was at the end of the day when Mindy would get in to camp. She’d crawl into the tent and we’d catch up and laugh about silly little happenings along the trail. Sometimes, Mindy would have a 12 or 13 hour hike, and I would just be in awe of her. She always kept a positive, go-with-the-flow attitude. Her strength was incredible.

I think it is safe to say that Mindy was the soul of our team. We always wanted to know how she was doing and where she was on the mountain. If she was having a long day, we’d stay up to greet her and keep her company. Her presence inspired us to be kinder, stronger, and happier. Most importantly, she taught us that with a good attitude, anything is possible in the face of a challenge.

She truly embodied the mission of Survivor Summit.

Today and every day, I am honored to climb for Mindy.

Mike

This “Why I Climb” is dedicated to Mike King.

Mike is one of the founders of Survivor Summit, an organization which aims to lead cancer survivors and their supporters on life-altering journeys. The mission of this great organization is to inspire survivors, fighters, and communities to challenge the mental and physical boundaries associated with cancer.

Our climb of Kilimanjaro was the inaugural event for Survivor Summit, and the funds we raised benefited LIVESTRONG’s cancer programs and services. Mike and his brothers formulated the idea for the climb after Mike had summitted Kilimanjaro through a leadership program available at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.

So, a funny story about Mike is that he was wholly unprepared for his first trip to Africa’s highest peak because he didn’t bring the right gear at all. His sleeping bag was soaked at one point, and as a result, he had a few uncomfortably cold nights on the way to summit. But he still made it to the 19,341 foot peak, which speaks to the strength of his character and his determination.

This time around, Mike was so prepared; he had all the correct equipment and was able to lead the rest of us during conference calls when we were unsure about what to expect. If we needed to call him to ask him a question, he’d get back to us immediately. Additionally, he helped prepare all of our logistics and rescue insurance, and made sure that everything was attended to before we landed in Tanzania.

But I think being a leader is more than making sure that the odds-and-ends are all secured. Instead, I believe that a good leader is someone who shows genuine care and concern for others, and wants to see everyone succeed, even if it means taking a little longer than expected. Mike was an exceptional leader in this respect, as he often checked in on everyone during the climb, and would slow his pace down to reflect that of his teammates.

One of the things I will always fondly remember about Mike happened on Summit Day. Our plan was to break up into three groups, with:

Team Mindy (Mindy, Lachlan, Daniel, and Chad, with Earth Treks’ Nelson Laur leading), leaving first for Uhuru peak at 10:30 p.m.

Team K2 (Kim, Katie, Scott S., Scott A., Brian, Amy, and Danny, with Earth Treks’ Chris Warner leading) departing for summit at 11:30 p.m.

And Team Simba (Mike, Mona, Caroline, Missy, Chasse, and I) taking off after midnight.

The group I was with ended up passing the other groups within the first three hours or so of the climb (probably because we were motivated to climb quickly since it was so cold!). We made it to Stella Point by 6:30 a.m., and walked to the summit by 7:00 a.m. to watch the sun rise. Temperatures were -35 degree Fahrenheit. We took photos and held our honor flag high. We were instructed to make it down to Barafu camp after about 30 minutes. Missy and Caroline were beginning to develop headaches, so they took off quickly for the camp below. It looked like the rest of us would follow suit.

As I got ready to head for Barafu with Mona and Chasse, I planted my heels into the scree to ski down with my trekking poles. I then turned to see Mike looking elated to see the other group at Stella Point. He said that he was physically fine and that he wanted to hand off our honor flag to Team K2 and see how they were doing. Basically, he was going to stick around on the top of the mountain and summit twice that morning.

I don’t think I’ll ever forget that moment. I descended 4,000 feet to Barafu, all the while remembering the incredible leadership Mike had just displayed. I think he would have stayed for the rest of the day to see Team Mindy summit, too, if it had been physically possible. Mike was amazing that morning, as he made sure that our honor flag and our team all made it intact. Our entire team made it to 19,341 feet. The very first Survivor Summit event went off perfectly thanks to Mike.

“Leader.” That word describes Mike King perfectly, and it’s why I climb for him today, tomorrow, and always.

Scott S.

After a short hiatus, I’m back to posting on my blog and dedicating my climb to my incredible Survivor Summit teammates. This “Why I Climb” goes out to Scott Schofield.

As you may have read in my blog earlier, I was involved in a non-profit organization called Texas 4000 for Cancer, in which I rode a bicycle 4,500 miles from Texas to Alaska to spread hope, knowledge, and charity in the fight against cancer.

Well, during the climb of Kilimanjaro with Survivor Summit, Scott and I got a chance to bond over our love of bicycles. We would talk about frame sizes, various cycling components, and what the process of handcrafting a bicycle might entail.

Scott knows a lot about riding. And while I might have endurance on my side from Texas 4000, I got the impression that Scott is pretty darn fast on the bike. In fact, he was quick on the climb, too; I think if he wanted, he could have left a lot of us in the dust.

Except, that’s not Scott’s personality. 

No, Scott is an exceptionally faithful and considerate guy, and he stuck by his wife Katie’s side throughout the trip. He had a persistent smile on his face from the base to the summit, and always looked like he was having a good time during our trek. I felt very fortunate to have such a great teammate around, who spread his positive energy amongst the rest of us as we gathered for breakfast and dinner every day in the food tent.

From watching Scott, I learned how infectious a good attitude can be amongst a group. So today, I climb for him.

Lachlan

I’m going to write this next “Why I Climb” for my Survivor Summit teammate, Lachlan Tindal.

Lachy was the only international member of our Survivor Summit team, representing the entire continent of Australia. But represent he did. He was a strong climber, a hilarious joker, and quite the runner. He blew past me with some super fancy footwork while we were on slick, muddy sets of downhills on our last day on the mountain. Off he disappeared, into the mist in his navy blue short shorts.

All kidding aside, Lachlan was an amazing team-player whom anyone could count on when needed.

I was fortunate to spend the first few days hiking in the same group as Lachlan, but our expedition guides, Nelson and Chris, quickly saw the value in having someone so strong migrate over to support Team Mindy (named for amazing cancer survivor, amputee, and teammate Mindy Boyum!).

While I think Lachlan would have been able to summit about 20 hours ahead of the rest of us, he was absolutely content to hang out at a more relaxed pace. You see, Lachlan is humble. He is always happy, never drags anyone down, and works incredibly hard, too—and here’s the best part: he doesn’t need any recognition for it. From what I saw, Lachlan wanted to do his part to help Team Mindy summit. He learned a lot about himself during the whole process, and he even had some energy to spare, too.

Lachlan’s humility and selflessness really paid off: Survivor Summit had a 100 percent summit rate of Kilimanjaro. I continue to be in awe of what Team Mindy—and our whole group—accomplished, and I know it was because of some truly incredible people, like Lachlan.

Today, I climb for him.

Brian

This “Why I Climb” is dedicated to my Survivor Summit teammate, Brian King.

I blogged about the King family in an earlier post, before I had the opportunity to meet our founder Mike and his brother, Brian. When we all arrived in Tanzania, Mike was there, but Brian wasn’t; he had missed his flight! Mike told us Brian would be joining us the next day, and luckily, both he and his bags showed up 24 hours later at the KIA lodge.

Losing that extra day, though, meant that Brian had only a few hours to get everything packed and ready to go for the climb, and a little bit to sleep off the jet lag. No matter. Brian jumped in like a champ and hiked through everything with the rest of us. I never heard him complain once, and he was such a good sport about any curveballs thrown his way.

Even better, after our climb and during the safari, Brian was able to kick back and engage with everyone in such a relaxed, fun way. I think that’s what I enjoyed the most about Brian: he just rolled with the changes. I learned that things don’t always go according to plan. And yet, it doesn’t have to get in the way of exciting, productive, and meaningful experiences. Brian didn’t let any crazy details affect the importance of his climb of Kilimanjaro for his dad, Paul, who is currently in treatment for prostate cancer.

That’s pretty amazing to me, so today, I climb for Brian.

Scott A.

My next “Why I Climb” is dedicated to my Survivor Summit teammate, Scott Andringa.

Scott is a cancer survivor, and a successful lawyer who runs his own business. He also has a hobby that he’s great at: photography. He took so many incredible photos of us during the climb, and I’m really grateful I have something to look at that has a lot higher quality than images from my simple point-and-shoot camera.

During the trip, I was fortunate to see Scott’s kindness when interacting with my teammates and I; he just had the best things to say about all of us, and his appreciation of meeting and learning about everyone never waned. He even told me, “you’re like a daffodil that’s tough as nails” and that I am “one tough cookie,” both of which I will treasure for a long time.

I  also think one of the things that I appreciate the most about Scott is that he was never afraid to express his concerns, fears, and doubts about the climb, and he was always asking our guides good, solid questions so that he could be prepared to keep gaining elevation. Those behaviors made me realize that Scott is not only smart, but he also has quite the work ethic. Additionally, it made me understand that his hard-working attitude and his drive to help fight against cancer made him unstoppable from reaching the peak of Kilimanjaro. He did, and he truly earned it.

Kind and diligent—those words sum up Scott Andringa pretty perfectly.

Today, I climb for him.

(Raymond) Daniel

For my next “Why I Climb,” this one has to go out to Raymond Daniel Goni.

Raymond, Daniel, Raymond Daniel, RayDan, or DG is known by various monikers amongst different circles, but I just call him crazy! He became a part of our Survivor Summit team a little later in the game, and yet I honestly can’t imagine climbing Kilimanjaro without him. 

Daniel was an integral part of Team Mindy, which helped our amazing above-the-knee leg amputee and cancer survivor Mindy Boyum summit the mountain. And, he was pretty awesome at making us all laugh—whether he was wearing his ’80s-style board shorts, donning a laid-back, California-inspired t-shirt at 15,000 feet, telling jokes, making sure everyone in his climbing group had pins from his favorite band ALO, or posing for crazy pictures while we visited the Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge. One just couldn’t help having a great time being around him.

That’s what I learned from Daniel: to have a good attitude, and to just have fun with it—all of it. Something tells me he might have picked up some of those traits from his dad, “Coach” Goni, for whom he was climbing, as well as his friends, who all sound like a riot.

Daniel was such an incredible teammate and today, I climb for him.

Caroline

My next “Why I Climb” is dedicated to my Survivor Summit teammate, Caroline Scemama.

In all aspects, Caroline is a beautiful spirit. She regularly practices yoga, and is such a peaceful, warm, and wonderful presence to be near. During the entire trip, she took time to find her words, as well as meaning in each moment. As a result, she had a way of being very eloquent and introspective.

So it comes as no surprise to me that she would make this comment in regards to reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro: “We made it…and this ended up being such a small moment compared to the rest of the journey…proof that we need a destination but it’s the journey [that] matters…”

Yes. Seriously, it’s the journey that matters, and teaches us things that we can only dream of realizing. Caroline was a great teammate, and taught me that the quieter moments in life can be very nurturing and soothing to the soul.

She reminded me to be mindful during this once-in-a-lifetime adventure, and for that, I am forever grateful. Thank you, Caroline. Today, I climb for you.