Hiking
Mount Kilimanjaro Reflection
June 2014 training to hike Mount
Kilimanjaro begins. For the past 4 weeks I have been using this regime to
train. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, my mom and I spend approximately one hour
and a half to two hours at the gym. We follow a set schedule in the morning
starting with 20 minutes on the treadmill. The treadmill is set at level 9
gradient and 6 speed. Then, 20 minutes on the stair stepper set at level 9 and
10 minutes on the rowing machine which consists of my cardiovascular exercise.
Next, we move on to the weight training circuit where I use a various amount of
machines that work my legs, arms, and core. From there I move to the mats on
the floor and I focus solely on my core by doing 20 reps of various abdominal
exercises – totaling 120 abdominal moves.
On all Saturday’s during the month
of June my family and I would go to Groenkloof Nature Reserve in Pretoria South
Africa and endure a 6-hour hike on various trails. Every Sunday during the
month of June my family and I would go to Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve in
Johannesburg South Africa to endure another 6-hour hike.
Incorporated with these two hikes, I
would use the altitude-training mask to help me train for the altitude that I
am expecting to encounter on Mount Kilimanjaro. There is a system of valves
that you manually adjust to allow you to replicate the altitude levels from
5,000 ft. to 18,000 ft. This training mask was stretched out and used in the
duration of June. Also, I was training with an Osprey daypack that I will be
using on Mount Kilimanjaro. It was filled with 4 liters of water, rain gear,
and food. The purpose of wearing the daypack was to break in and familiarize
myself with the equipment. Also, to strengthen my back. Hiking poles were used in
conjunction with my new boots. The purpose was to break in my waterproof boots
and familiarize myself with the feel and motion of using hiking poles. Hiking
poles reduce knee stress and distributes the weight evenly. In addition, iodine
tablets were used to filter our water. At all times keeping in mind the
importance of the appropriate amount of 8 hours of sleep.
My learning moments included the need to
buy waterproof, cooling, wicking away hiking clothes and equipment. This
process was a journey and also very educational, because not only do you need
special materials but you also need to learn to dress in layers. These articles
of clothing protect me from the sun, the wind, and the cold. They regulate my
body temperature, so I don’t get too hot or too cold.
I found the training in the beginning of
June to be quite demanding and challenging. But with my commitment to do it
every weekend, I was able to build up endurance and find my comfort zone with
my own personal pace and adapting to my new environment and gear. My weakness
in the beginning was that I was not physically fit. On the other hand, my
strength was my perseverance to continue to trek on.
I realized that my breathing needed to be
in rhythm with my pace and continue to keep a mental note not to push either my
breathing or pace out of balance. I needed to stop, take time, and drink water.
Learning to drink 3 to 4 liters of water in a 6 hour hike was very demanding. I
realized my own actions and attitude needed to stay positive and to dig deep when
the going got tough.
My limitations in the beginning of June
that I faced was having to get out of bed early and on the trail by 7 a.m.
This challenge alone to me was enormous.
The biggest challenge that I have ever taken on. So, at this time I have
nothing to compare it to. I learned that I enjoyed hiking more when animals
were present for me to observe such as in Groenkloof – the zebras, giraffes,
and ostriches. On the other hand, in Klipriviersberg there were a lot fewer
wildlife to enjoy; so, I found myself mainly focusing on the big picture of the
hike and my surroundings versus the physical challenge I was partaking in.
Changes that could have been made during
my June training would have been to have more hiking areas to fit into our
schedule. Also, a change that I though would have been nice is to make our
morning time 8 a.m. and not 7 a.m. That way I would have had another hour of
sleep. I do realize this was a conflict of idea as the schedule on Mount
Kilimanjaro will be much for demanding in all aspects.
My future goals for my training for Mount
Kilimanjaro will be to carry on this exact schedule during the entire month of
July in hopes that I will get stronger and increasingly physically fit. I
definitely can see the hike that awaits me on Mount Kilimanjaro becoming more realistic
simply because the training that I have already completed, the expertise I have
gained, and my desire to make it to the summit.
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