Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro Brings Some New Observations on Life | April 2023
RIT Leader Phillippa Thiuri Shares Her Story
“I am resolute that we should intensely pursue our dreams.” That’s just one inspiring message Assistant Vice President for Academic Access and Success Phillippa Thiuri has to share after climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. We told you in an earlier newsletter Thiuri would make the climb in late December as part of a Rotary project to help raise money for a library and youth community center in Malindi, Kenya. Well, she did it.
Most of us have no idea of what it takes to make a climb like you did. How did you prep? What’s involved in the actual climb? How long did it take and how high did you go?
The prep took about one year – I started by walking every day for a least one hour, gradually building up to two and a half hours. I started off walking two miles in that time frame to covering six to seven miles. Months into the conditioning, I added my backpack – again increasing weight from five pounds to 15 pounds.
At about three months before my trip, I started increasing my endurance climbing… so I climbed steps for one hour every other day with my 15-pound backpack on.
The Kilimanjaro trip is seven days of climbing. Every day we woke up at 6:30 am, had breakfast and set off on the mountain at 8:00 am. We typically ended our days at 4:00 pm with short breaks in between (five to ten minutes) and covered between five to 13 miles per day.
We took the Machame Route. Our first day we climbed to 5,380 feet and by the third day we had climbed to the “Lava Tower” at 15,223 feet… so you can imagine the level of effort. It was intense and dangerous, exhilarating and contemplative at the same time. It is the hardest mental and physical exertion I have expended in my entire lifetime.
Tell us more about your decision to make the climb to raise funds for the library and youth community center in Kenya.
I am a member of the Rotary Club because I am committed to community impact. Last summer I met with the leadership team of the Malindi (Kenya) Rotary club regarding their projects. Their “Girl’s Initiative” really tugged at my heart. This initiative provides girls with the financial support to attend high school where the alternative for some girls who cannot afford go to school due to financial difficulty are married young by their families. My dream is to open a youth community center, in Malindi, with a library and where kids can engage in fun activities like sports, and access training, academic and personal coaching.
What did it look like up there when you completed the climb? What went through your mind at that moment?
On the 5th day of the trip we slept early and woke up at 11:30 pm. We started climbing (15,288 ft) at midnight on the 6th day and by 6:30 am that morning summited (19,841 ft.) We climbed in complete darkness and for good reason because seeing the route going up would have made me question my sanity. The sunrise at the top is amazing with the clouds below you… it is the most spellbinding sight.
That sounds amazing! What impact has this had on you? Was it life-changing?
On New Year’s Day 2007, on my honeymoon on safari in Masai Mara (Kenya), I saw Mt. Kilimanjaro by the light of the full moon and I was completely enthralled. That night, my new year’s wish was to climb the mountain.
I now realize that, the top of mountain is the desired destination but all the work to get there is the true impact of the experience. The physical conditioning, mental preparation, financial commitment, and people you meet along the way give a 360-degree experience that is incredibly rich and rewarding
I am still downloading/unpacking this experience and impact. I am resolute that we should intensely pursue our dreams. We should vigorously work towards what we want to experience in our lives because most of the time our dreams whisper – while our fears scream. We cannot save our desired experiences for “later” or “when I have the time” or “when I have money.” Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro has cured me of my tepidity and indecision regarding my dreams – this life isn’t a dress rehearsal and we are meant to live it on our own terms.