So what have I learned from my eight days on the great monutain? Many things. There’s a moment on every great journey when the outer path and the inner path converge. For me, that moment came somewhere on the slopes of Kilimanjaro—though I couldn’t tell you the exact step or switchback. Maybe it was in the biting cold of summit night, under a sky splattered with stars. Maybe it was catching my breath above the clouds, heart pounding and legs aching. Or maybe it was long before that—when I first dared to believe that I, at nearly 69, could stand atop Africa’s tallest peak.
Climbing Kilimanjaro wasn’t just a physical challenge. Yes, the altitude, the thin air, the endless uphill grinds were all real. But the mountain quickly revealed it had other lessons to teach—about humility, patience, fear, and resilience.
One of the first things I learned was to slow down. “Pole, pole,” the guides would say. Slowly, slowly. And that wasn’t just about conserving energy—it was about being present. On Kilimanjaro, there is no multitasking. There’s only the step in front of you, the breath you’re taking now. It reminded me how often in life we rush through things, chasing outcomes, overlooking the miracle of simply being here.
There were moments I doubted myself. Could I really keep going? Would the altitude take me out? Was I pushing too far? But in those doubts, I found a deep well of resolve. I remembered how far I’d come—not just on the trail, but in life. From fighting cancer to climbing this mountain, every scar and struggle had strengthened me. The summit wasn’t just a destination. It was a reckoning.
Kilimanjaro also stripped things down to their essence. No emails. No meetings. No noise. Just the wind, the rock, the rhythm of the climb. I felt more connected—to nature, to others on the trail, to myself—than I had in years. It was a sacred kind of solitude.
And when I reached Uhuru Peak, 19,341 feet above sea level, I didn’t feel triumphant in the usual sense. I felt free. Free of fear. Free of ego. Free of the weight I hadn’t even realized I was carrying.
The truth is, the summit was glorious—but the real gift was the journey. Kilimanjaro became a mirror. It showed me who I am when things get hard. It reminded me of what really matters. And it left me with this truth: the greatest peaks aren’t always physical, and the deepest climbs happen within.
#ChasingTheLeopard #KilimanjaroClimb #LifeLessons #PolePole #MountainsOfTheMind #StrattonOnTheSummit #FartherTogether
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