I often use the story of climbing a mountain as an analogy for the challenges that we face in life. There are some really useful parallels – things that get in the way, uphill struggle, altitude, coping when not at our best … there are so many similarities.
It’s one of the reasons why we took eight of our sponsored students to climb Mount Kenya. We wanted them to have an unforgettable experience, one that they might otherwise never have. Rather like a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award or Outward Bounds expedition, we expected it to be a physical and mental challenge. It would certainly not be a ‘walk in the park’ to continue the analogy.
We would climb to 4985m, with long days and significant altitude, sleeping in tents where the temperatures will drop to below freezing at times. It would all be a new experience for the students, and I was intrigued to see how they would cope and support one another over the week. What would they learn about themselves, their own capabilities and their ability to work together and lead others?
The trek
And it certainly proved to be quite a challenge. While all eight of the young Kenyans were RRBF sponsored students, many did not know each other. And while they had met Deb and I, they didn’t know the other three supporters from the UK (Dev, Ryder & Huxley). So there was an initial period of getting to know one another that you get with any group that you want to work together. We hadn’t planned any team bonding exercises, preferring to let the group develop. Walking is a great way to get to know people – there’s a lot of time to talk, and people change position regularly. And we were fortunate that Dev, Ryder & Huxley fitted in brilliantly, with 16-year-olds Ryder & Huxley, quickly becoming ‘siblings’ to the students.
The route itself was varied and really quite beautiful. It started in forest, through a tropical zone, bamboo forest, redwood zone, and finally into moorland and an alpine zone. We saw lots of evidence of animals close by, including elephant, buffalo and hyena dung, but not the actual animals. There were though many fascinating trees, bushes, and flowers, my favourite being the Ostrich Plume plant.
And this scenery provided a contrast to the physical and mental challenge. The distances covered were not huge, but we had long days and were consistently gaining height. Breathing becomes laboured and everything has to be done more slowly. The students mentioned that while they have PE classes at school, they don’t have the luxury of hobbies or leisure activities after school, so hadn’t done much physical exercise lately. Though Eli, being from the Eldoret region, had the physique of someone who runs marathons.
So one precaution we took was to ask everyone to complete a health assessment each morning and evening. This covered headache, stomach, fatigue, dizziness, and sleep. The aim was to monitor changes over the week, once we got beyond 2500m. We’d have two days above 4000m, where we’d be gaining over 600m in height each day meaning that Acute Mountain Sickness would be expected for some of the group. The extent of this would determine whether they could continue.
As it happened, I was more affected than anyone. I had experienced headache and sickness when we’d done a similar trek of Kilimanjaro in 2016 and so it was again. Fortunately, the sickness was short lived and though tired, I had no dizziness.
Our schedule
Day 1 – transfer from Nairobi to Naro Moru – staying at Mountain Rock Bantu Lodge (height = 1950m); short acclimatisation walk
Day 2 – from the park gate, walk to Giant Bamboo Camp (height = 2600m)
Day 3 – continue trek up to Highland Castle Camp (height = 3700m
Day 4 – climb up to 4600m then descend to stay at Shipton’s Camp (height = 4236m)
Day 5 – early start 3am, final ascent to Point Lenana (height = 4985m), then descend to Minto’s Camp for breakfast (height = 4290m) and on to Lake Michaelson Camp (height = 4000m)
Day 6 – walk down to camp overnight at Lake Ellis (height = 3470m)
Day 7 – final decent to Chogoria Gate (height = 2950m), return to Bantu Lodge for shower & celebration lunch, return to Nairobi.
Our summit day had begun at 2am when we woke from a very disrupted night’s sleep. We spent that night in a mountain hut at Shipton’s Camp, two dormitories of maybe twenty bunk beds. The students all commented that this was their best night’s sleep on the trip. They were used to sleeping in these conditions at school and slept soundly. For the rest of us, we found it a different experience. The rooms were tightly packed, and people were regularly moving around, going to the bathroom in the corner, or getting kit ready to leave. One group went off at 11pm, others from 1am. So it’s hard to say just how much sleep any of us got.
But 2am soon came round and we dressed in all the warm clothing we had. We ate a quick breakfast of tea and popcorn + biscuits. I managed a banana and felt ok to set out.
It was 3am and pitch-black outside, and our line of head torches made its way slowly up the steep slope until around 6am when the sun began to come up. We could now see our way ahead and as we rounded one edge we were met by a strong cold wind. It certainly tested our resilience. Remember our students rarely face temperatures below +15%. The wind chill was well below freezing.
But we all made it to Point Lenana. This was a truly joyous moment for us all. Several of the students later expressed the doubts they had had about reaching the summit. It brought home our mantra, ‘anything is possible … if you put your mind to it’.
It was around 7am. The skies cleared and the view was spectacular.
Yet it would be around 11am before we would have food. We would drop around 600m in height as we walked down to Minto’s camp where breakfast was being prepared. By the time we got there everyone was tired, hungry, and very weary.
Recovery
We continued on, refreshed by food and for some a short nap. Others played some games and the mood of the group picked up. It lifted even more as we continued our descent, down the steep slope to Lake Michaelson. The view that greeted us was simply stunning.
With mountain on all sides, our campsite was next to the lake, a calm oasis beneath the rocks. We finally had time to chill out – for some playing cards or writing journals; Dev chose to go swimming; and the students tried their hand at fishing with a small rod that I’d taken, hoping for just this moment. They didn’t catch supper but had great fun trying.
It was the most beautiful setting we could have wished for.
The one downside was to be had the next morning as the only way out of the camp was back uphill – but even that allowed us to enjoy the view once again.
That left us with just one more full day of walking as we continued our way out of the Mount Kenya National Park. It took us down to Lake Ellis, and we arrived in bright sunshine. However this proved to be short-lived. While having our lunch, the temperature dropped as the mist came in. The view disappeared as we were shrouded in cloud. It stayed that way throughout the afternoon, and we woke the next morning to frozen water bottles. This was something our students had never experienced. Temperatures simply never get this low anywhere else in Kenya.
Feedback
That afternoon gave us an ideal opportunity to ask the students for their views on future plans for the Foundation. Interestingly they all expressed a view that secondary school is the most important time and asked that we continue to focus on that, rather than extend support for university or college. Mbole in particular told us that secondary school had shaped his life. If he hadn’t been able to go on to university, his life would have been ok, because he had completed secondary school. It was good to have their views. We will continue to be guided by them.
They also told us of some of their ‘side hustles’. These are the business ideas that they have to carry out in order to earn extra money. They accepted that they often don’t have the funds for university or college, and as the government student loans are sometimes late or inadequate, then they need to earn from a side hustle. Even then, they have times when they go without food for several days or have to take time out of their course until they can afford their fees and living costs. They are remarkably stoic, accepting the flaws in the education system and despite this still suggesting that we focus on secondary schooling.
A student’s life
Our time together gave us lots of time to learn about their lives at school and college. Interestingly they were all warned not to have relationships until they have finished university. I’m sure this is to encourage them to concentrate on their studies, but I do wonder how realistic it is.
And the girls told us that women can only be given contraception once they have had a child. This seems rather ‘after the horse has bolted’ but comes about because of the belief that contraception after a woman’s fertility. Therefore they must prove their fertility before being offered contraception. It’s a very different world.
Our team and kit
The thirteen of us trekking were supported by a team of twenty-seven. This included the guides, first aider, two cooks, camp manager, and porters. The porters carried our kit, the tents and food for a week, as well as all their own gear. It was a fantastic effort to cater for us.
And cooking on one gas cooker and an open fire, the cooks provided soup and a hot meal twice a day, with sandwiches and snacks prepared for lunch. It was mountain of food. The porters even collected nettles along the way one day to make nettle soup.
It meant that we carried our own water, change of clothing, rainwear and snacks. And we had hired some kit for the students – walking boots, sleeping bags and poles. All the other clothing and kit for the students had been donated by supporters back in the UK. We took out four huge bags of kit including ruck sacks, day bags, boots, jackets, fleeces, gilets, hats, and gloves. It was fantastic kit, generously given which meant that we saved almost £1,000 on hire costs.
And at the end of the trek, this was all donated to the guides and porters. We’d explained this to the students as their way of contributing a ‘tip’ to the support crew. They couldn’t contribute financially so this was the next best thing. And the guides and porters got some really good quality kit into the bargain. It really was a win: win.