I always have a good story to tell my wife when I come back from a training hike.
Last week was no different.
As I was crossing the Susquehanna River on the Wrightsville-Columbia Bridge I noticed a man with a camera taking photos of me. I thought it was a little strange, but I’ve been promoting my hike up Mt. Kilimanjaro to the local press so I thought someone stopped to write up something for the paper
When I got close enough to him, I pulled out my headphone to say hello and heard a bird screeching overhead.
“Did you see that Peregrine Falcon?” he asked.
And there circling overhead was a small angry bird.
“They’re nesting right around here,” the photographer added. “You must have walked really close to their nest.
Apparently he was there to photograph the birds and I unwittingly walked into the shot.
I had no idea there were nesting Peregrine Falcons on the Susquehanna, let alone the Wrightsville Bridge.
So I moved on hoping set this tiny bird at ease.
I made it about 20 feet down the bridge when I heard another screech. This time it was much louder. I could see a second falcon – a much larger falcon, flying toward me.
It flew about 6 feet off the deck of the bridge and with each pass it was getting closer.
It would fly directly toward me and veer off at the last minute letting out an unsettling screech.
Somehow, I had ticked off this family of falcons and it was time to get off the bridge.
As I hurried off the bridge, I noticed that the man kept his camera trained on me and the birds.
I had visions of internet stardom racing through my mind, I was about to be the guy getting attacked by a Peregrine Falcon on YouTube.
I’m happy to report that my 15 minutes of fame will have to come another day. But a quick YouTube search did find some footage of one of my attackers snacking on a bird near the bridge.
When I woke up this morning I felt like an old man, my back ached… my legs were sore.
No, it’s not because I had a birthday Sunday.
It’s because I finished the longest hike on my self-imposed training schedule.
I stopped at 19 miles but I was ready to call it quits at 17. As you’ll see in my video clip, I misjudged the amount of water I needed to complete this hike and the final couple miles were a struggle.
I made it from my adopted hometown of Red lion, Pa to Lancaster County. Actually, I made it about 7 miles into Lancaster County.
Here is how my route planning normally goes - I walk out my front door, choose a direction and hike until I’m tired. I’ve been at it for the past 6 weeks and I’m seeing some progress. When I started I was only able to go about 8 miles but now I’m pushing 20 miles.
It may seem strange but it makes sense to me, if I’m going to be hiking a long distance – I should train by hiking long distances.
I’ve also found that it’s a great way to clear the mind and relax.
I’ll be leaving next Sunday at 6am - if anyone wants to tag along, shoot me an email and we’ll hit the road.
It doesn’t sound very intimidating but I keep reminding myself that will take me up 19,000 feet in a matter of 3-4 days.
When I’m having my moments of doubt - that can be intimidating.
The actual name is the Marangu Route and from the stories I’ve heard from others who have successfully completed the hike – it’s one of the easier paths to the top.
This isn’t mountain hiking like you see on TV; there are no ropes or ice axes carving away at the side of the mountain. If I end up hanging from a rope, something has gone drastically wrong.
I’m told this is more of an endurance test. It’s a long walk that takes you to the highest point in Africa.
I’ll start in shorts and a t-shirt, surrounded by lush vegetation and end in snow gear crossing a permanent snow pack.
I’ve been researching this hike for quite a while but there is one unknown I can’t train for – altitude sickness.
That can be a deal breaker when attempting to climb Kilimanjaro. As soon as someone begins to show symptoms they must come down immediately.
So far my training has consisted of running 4-5 miles per night and taking a long hike on Sundays. My longest trek has been 19 miles.
I’m trying to compensate by building up my endurance since I can’t simulate that type of altitude while living in the rolling hills of South-Central Pennsylvania.
I was sitting in my cube listening to a co-worker was tell stories about his travels in Africa.
“You know, when you go to Africa – you should climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.” he said in passing.
Sure, I thought.
I can do that.
That conversation was back in February and it started my research about the mountain and the guides who take newbies like me to the top.
I was going to be ready when the time came.
Since coming to IMA World Health to be their Communications Officer, I knew a trip to Africa was coming. A few weeks ago, I was asked to go to Tanzania and the DR Congo on August 19th.
I’ve always considered myself to be athletic, but not overly athletic. I’ll take some risks, but I wouldn’t consider myself a risk-taker.
In my eyes, the most exceptional thing about me is my loving family. I have a very supportive wife of 12 years and two wonderful sons, Ethan (7) and Jake (4).
Every day I tell people about the great work IMA World Health is doing around the world. We’re a relatively small group of people who work out of an office nestled in between farm fields in New Windsor, MD.
I’m surrounded by humble people who do the work that change – and save- lives around the world.
As a communications person, I tell their stories but I have yet to feel like I’m a contributor.
I feel like this hike is my chance.
I’m going to hike this mountain to raise awareness of the impact of Non Communicable Diseases in Africa, specifically our Burkitt’s Lymphoma (BL) program in Tanzania.
BL is a childhood cancer that is prevalent in Tanzania, in fact, many are effected in the area surrounding Mt. Kilimanjaro.
BL can cause extremely painful and disfiguring swelling of the jaw, eyes, face and abdomen. It attacks quickly and can be fatal within weeks if not treated promptly and appropriately.
Fortunately BL is treatable with chemotherapy, and the success rates are very high if the appropriate treatment regimen is followed.
I’ll continue to post updates as I train for my trek.
I’ll have more information on BL, the growing Non Communicable Disease problem in the developing world, my training and hopefully some posts from the side of Kilimanjaro.
So follow along and I’ll tell you my story… and hopefully it’ll end with me standing on the highest point in Africa.
If you want to donate to support our BL program you can make a secure donation here.
Thanks to Amanda Dolasinski, Bil Bowden and the editors at the York Dispatch for taking the time to print a story on my hike.
