ROTARY AND A MOUNTAIN CLIMB
by Al Blake
Except when occasionally the club’s business is the topic of meetings of the Valley of the Moon Rotary Club, the meetings feature interesting presentations by guest speakers. The topics presented can be charities the club is or could be engaged in, or they can discuss some facet of Rotary, but often the topics tell about entertaining and interesting events or experiences rather than Rotary activities. Such was the case at a recent meeting when the club heard an adventure presentation about climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Introduced by Dennis DeSousa, the speaker was Dean Moser, a member of the Ignacio Rotary Club, Dennis’s former club.
Dean made the trek with his adult daughter and seven other intrepid climbers, including Edmond Hillary’s son and photogenic granddaughter. To help them along, they were assisted by four guides, three cooks, and (only) 65 porters. At 19,340 feet, Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa. It took nine days to trudge to the top and skip down; the hikers averaged 5 to 6 miles per day of hard climbing up and down grades that ranged from 10% to 40% (author’s note – whew!). The climb, however, is considered nontechnical, as climbing gear like ropes and pitons are not necessary.
The climbers were sternly warned to stay hydrated by drinking between 4 and 5 liters of water a day and not to climb to the higher altitudes too quickly. They provided their own sleeping bags, clothing and personal stuff; everything else was provided for them. Each day the porters would break camp after the climbers had left, rush to set up and serve lunch, and rush again to set up the next night’s camp before the hikers got there. The porters each carried about 65 pounds -- the food, equipment, tents, port-a-potties and the hiker’s personal baggage; the climbers carried only their daily supply of water and clothing -- about 20 pounds. All garbage and other debris had to be carried out
The final assault of the peak started at midnight and took the whole day to climb to the top for a 45-minute stay and return on the same day. Considering the wind factor, the temperature fell to about 30 degrees below zero. A part of the climb was very steep and tough, but it was well worth the effort to get to the top, even if there was no spectacular as they were above the clouds. The hikers descended in 2 ½ hours on the same trail but had to continue to the next camp to make space for the following climbing group. Maybe they need a traffic light.
It’s too bad that club member Mac McHenry missed this meeting, as he would have enjoyed comparing notes on his Kilimanjaro climb.
Raffle Report: The tickets for the European river cruise or optional $10,000 are still available. Help the club with its many worthy charities and at the same time try to win that two-week European trip. Fill in and mail the ticket application of log on to valleyofthemoonrotary.org, scroll down and click on the ship, or see any Valley of the Moon Rotary member.
To learn about Rotary or attend a meeting, call Fred Polkinghorn, 538-3738 or email at frednlavern@yahoo.com, or call Gordon Freedman, 537-0202 or email at irenegor@pacbell.net.
The crabs are marching around, joyously clicking their claws in anticipation of Rotary’s big February event – stay tuned.
The raffle ticket sales continue to climb, and about 75% have been sold. To contribute to Rotary’s many charitable endeavors and at the same time have a chance for a European river cruise, or optionally $10,000, log on to valleyofthemoonrotary.org, scroll down and click on the ship, or fill in the ticket application and mail with a check for $50 for each ticket made out to “VOM Rotary Foundation.”
