Back to basics

SO I have returned from climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. I survived and more importantly I made it to the tippety top of Uhuru Peak 5,895 metres – along with my father, not bad for a 63 year old (him not me). 

Like many women, applying make up is a daily ritual of mine. I never leave home without a full face.  So I was intrigued to discover how I would fare going bare faced for 7 days.  With tight weight restrictions on our bags (15kg) the make up bag was left behind and I slipped in Connock London wonderbalm (http://www.beautique.com/product/Connock_London/Kukui_Oil_Wonder_Balm.aspx)

Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream and Halo deodorant wipes.  (Incidentally my beloved 8 hour cream was useless, it didn’t cope well with the cold at all).  Still I got over that disappointment when I saw one of our porters whizz past us with 20kg of weight carried on his head, wearing a flip flop on one foot and an ill fitting boot on the other…..this 7 day trip was definitely going to be about perspectives and getting them in order. 

At night time the temperature plummeted, I wore all of my thermal clothing, plus a hat that tied up round my chin, thermal gloves and didn’t think of my warm bedroom at home once.  It’s either altitude or the situation of having to get on with it but very rarely did I torture myself with thoughts of home comforts.  Once a day one of the porters would provide hot water in a bowl for us to wash with, I took great care of my feet – making sure they were clean and dry before bed every night and thanks to my amazing walking boots I suffered no blisters at all.  In fact my feet had never been more comfy.  In the morning I would freshen up and use the Halo Deodrant Wipes which were a complete dream for two reasons, one: they worked (and that’s no mean feat considering how physical my days were) and two: they were quick and easy to use with no freezing cold spray from an aerosol.  I shall always keep a pack of these in my travel gear.  In no time at all I became quite comfortable being make up free, only occasionally rehydrating my lips with the Wonder Balm. 

Summit night was the toughest night for me mentally, physically fit enough I didn’t struggle with the daily walking or the steep ascent up.  Getting my mind focused on getting to the top was the biggest challenge. There is a lot of up and it’s never ending! We left Kibo Hut (the camp at the base of the mountain) and began our ascent at midnight and at 05.30am we reached Gilman’s Point, we had another hour and a half to go of walking around a snow covered crater to Uhuru Peak, which we reached at 06.50am on Thursday 24 February.  My cousin who was also with us described getting to the top as running three marathons back to back with a really bad chest infection and a raging hangover!  I suffered freezing hands and fingers which hurt so much I cried from the pain – even now the tips of my fingers are dry and a little cracked.

Wrapped up like Michelin men we posed happily for photographs.

I couldn’t yet tell you if it has changed me fundamentally.  I suspect it is an experience that will slowly filter through my psyche in time.  It’s definitely true to say that the mountain I once viewed with an overwhelming sense of terror has now become a beacon of all things achievable, we met people who had so little yet gave us so much, I learned that modern day frivolities over take us all at times and taking it back to basics was a positive experience, and for those who know me that would include coping with a bare face!!