Thursday, November 1, 2012

Technical Issues and Recurring Questions

As I have begun to tell people about the plan to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, I have already noticed several recurring conversations and questions. Here they are, in a nutshell.

The trek up Mount Kilimanjaro is not a technical climb. This means that we plan to ascend to the top of the mountain without ropes, special climbing gear for protection, or crampons. In other words, we can hike, or scramble, to the summit.

Having said that, everything I’ve read about climbing Mount Kilimanjaro cautions that the trek up the mountain isn’t merely an uphill stroll; physical preparation is required. Although the trek itself may be possible to complete without rigorous training, physical training can reduce the effects of high altitude, which is probably the most dangerous element of climbing to the top of Africa.

I’ve already learned a handful of climbing-related vocabulary words in the process of preparing for this climb. Among these are “Diamox” and “Acetazolamide,” which are trade and generic names, respectively, for a medicine used to decrease the detrimental effects of altitude on the body. I had also been unfamiliar with “gaiters” and “balaclava,” both of which are articles of clothing that may prove useful while climbing.

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