It was the famous American poet and writer Ralph Waldo Emerson that originally said, “Life is a journey, not a destination.” Many different versions of this quote have been coined over the years, but they speak to the same basic idea: If you focus too much on the destination, you will end up missing out on the journey. I couldn’t agree more, and in this age of seeking achievement and glory, being present in the moment – especially while working toward a goal – can be increasingly difficult. However, I couldn’t encourage you to try and harness this mentality more than when you are climbing a mountain – specifically Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya.
(Before you read any further, I want to make sure that you don’t misunderstand my point. A successful summit of these mountains is very doable and most people who attempt the journey do make it to the top. This is not meant to intimidate you or make you believe that attempting the climb is impossible … quite the opposite! I want you to remember the whole trip, not just the summit.)
When I first climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2009, it was not my first experience in Africa, nor my first experience at high altitude. If you have never been on Mt. Kilimanjaro or Mt. Kenya, you actually have never experienced anything like it! One reason is because these mountains have completely unique ecosystems and plant species that are endemic to them alone. For instance, the Lobelia deckenii can only be found above 10,500’ on these mountains. Guides and porters sometimes jokingly refer to the immature plants as “Nywele za Mzungu,” which is Swahili for “white man’s hair.” However, the famous giant groundsels that you encounter above 3350 meters (11,000’) can make you forget that you are in Africa, but rather make you feel as though you are walking through a world invented by Dr. Seuss.
Besides the unique plants and wildlife that you will encounter, there are relationships that you will form with fellow climbers, guides and porters. These are the invaluable things that can only be gained and understood by those who share the experience. When I first climbed, my climbing partner and I were paired with a couple from London who we had never met before. After 8 days of knowing each other on the mountain, we were invited to be in their wedding the following year in Austria. To this day, they are dear friends that we would have never made if not for having this special and unique time together. Likewise, you rarely will find friendlier, more selfless and intelligent people than your guides and porters. Invest in getting to know them; learn from them; hear their stories. Few people will enrich your life in such a short period of time than these men and women.
I could go on and on about how I was changed by the 8 days I spent on Mt. Kilimanjaro, but you won’t hear me speak too much about my time on the summit. The reason is that out of the 11,520 minutes that I spent on the mountain (8 days x 24 hrs x 60 min), we were only on the summit for a total of 20 minutes. Don’t get me wrong: reaching the summit was amazing and the sense of accomplishment is unforgettable, but what a shame it would have been for that fraction of the trip to be the difference between failure and success!
Reaching the summit is a worthy goal (one for which I encourage any traveler to strive) but if you don’t make it to the top, your trip should not be considered a failure. An estimated 25,000 people attempt to climb each year, which means that simply stepping on the mountain puts you in a fairly elite group among the other 7 billion people on earth.
Again, this is meant to encourage you to manage your expectations about the whole trip and not just about reaching the summit. When you travel with a reputable guiding outfit such as Travel Wild Tours, everything is done to try to make sure that every client successfully makes it to the top. Your guides are highly trained in all aspects of climbing, including mountaineering skills, native flora and fauna, wilderness first aid and simply relating to a wide range of people from an equally wide-ranging set of cultures. But don’t forget to place equal value in the journey as you do in the destination. The majority of your time is going to be spent on the journey going up and coming down.
I was in college the first time I stepped foot out of the USA. As I was preparing to leave early that morning, my roommate lifted his head from his pillow and said to me, “Hey man, keep your eyes wide open…” Little did he know that those simple words would forever change the way I lived in the world. I try to keep my mind and my heart wide open to experiences as well. I encourage you to do the same. Don’t be blind to all of the valuable time you spend in the ascent and descent. Allow the destination to become the journey itself!