Climb of a Lifetime

AYAN MEHRA is in Grade 11 at the Singapore American School, and while he's now back toa regular term routine, his summer was little short of actionpacked. Along with attending asummer school at Yale University in the US, he joined his dad on an ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro. He tells the story here.

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In July, I had the experience of a lifetime hiking up Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest point in Africa and the tallest self-standing peak in the world (5,895 metres). Climbing the mountain was a bucket list thing for my dad; he’s turning 50 this year, so in the words of Dylan Thomas, he was “raging against the dying light” by attempting the climb before his big birthday!

This is my eight-day journal from the trip; join me in the adventure.

Day 1 Mountain rainforest Our journey started with a briefing from the local Kili expert guides on what to expect. Then, we set off. Green mossy jungle trees shaded the path while dew-covered brambles sprawled across the forest floor, leaving almost no soil visible.

We saw a dizzying array of birds along the climb, helped by John, a member of our climbing group who is an avid birder; he would constantly identify any birds seen with his trusted binoculars.

Along the hike, we learned two new phrases crucial for acclimatisation and hydration: “pole pole” (Swahili for “slowly, slowly” – the best way to walk to conserve energy) and “sippy sippy” (a reminder to drink water). In just three hours we reached the first campsite, Mti Mkubwa, which sat in a clearing on the forest floor. After a meal cooked over a campfire and a tutorial on using the portable toilet, we cosied into our tents, bracing for a chilly night.

Day 2 Rainforest to moorlands We woke up at 5.30am, heading up the rainforest once more. About an hour and a half into our beautiful climb, we reached the heath moorland zone, marked by shorter trees and a drier climate.