Being an adventure junkie I decided to give myself an adrenal rush by climbing the tallest mountain in Africa, yes I am talking about Mount Kilimanjaro. It is not a virgin peak and there were many of the ace climbers who have tried to put their foot on its top; however, it is not as easy as I am describing here. It was one of the most challenging things I have done and after climbing Kilimanjaro, I have realized it is one of the toughest things I have done. If you want to have the same experience that I have, you must give it a try. You will surely love it. However, I really wish I knew the below mentioned 7 things before climbing Kilimanjaro.
So if you are ready to go, make sure to follow the below-mentioned things in order to avoid the things that caused me the tough challenges on my way.
Let us begin:
1. Don’t go too fast: Before I started my expedition, I had collected ample knowledge on AMS and its symptoms. I had also versed myself well on how to avoid it. However, the thing that I wasn’t aware of was: Going too fast can be troublesome. So, if you want to save yourself from AMS, go slow.
2. Save yourself from dehydration: In order to avoid altitude sickness at high altitudes, you must drink enough water and keep your body hydrated. It will help you a lot. No matter how fit you are or how many expeditions you have already done, a knowledgeable mountaineer will always keep ample water and keep the body hydrated. Moreover, dehydration can also cause fatigue and you will be sick without water.
3. Get yourself proper gear: You can’t be climbing Kilimanjaro without the proper gear. Be prepared and get the ample gear and if possible keep some extras with you for an emergency.
4. Keep yourself happy: No matter how hard it is getting for you, keep yourself happy throughout the way. It is going to release endorphins and make your experience of climbing Kilimanjaro better. Breathe a lot, sing and laugh it will improve your lung capacity as well.
5. Make sure you have allies: This is important because at times when you pee or are on a difficult stretch having an associate is safe. They will also motivate you.
6. Prepare yourself physically: As already mentioned, climbing Kilimanjaro is not a cakewalk. So having good endurance and physical level will keep you going.
7. Prepare yourself mentally: It can be really hard at times to keep yourself motivated, however, if you have prepared your mind well, you will face lesser problems.
Trust me you will feel liberated once you reach the top and you will get that true sense of accomplishment. I am a firm believer that you can do this life-changing feat however, I wish if someone would have guided me about the 7 things I have shared with you my expedition would have been more enjoyable.
Ana Miller is a creative writer. Her topics of interest and expertise range from psychology to all sorts of disciplines such as science and news.