First steps up Kilimanjaro

August 10, 2011

Team hikes scenic Rongai Route towards “rooftop of Africa”

A team of 37 doctors, professionals and business leaders who support the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation are now climbing Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 metres) to raise a half-million dollars for orthopedics excellence in Alberta. Here, sharing their progress with the community in his daily dispatch, is the foundation’s Michael Chevalier in Edmonton.

Day: 3
Elevation: 2,600 metres

NALE MORU, Tanzania — Team Kilimanjaro members are achieving some upward mobility today as they ascend the famous mountain on the adventure of a lifetime.

Wednesday began in Arusha. From there, the team travelled for five hours by bus on to the village of Nale Moru, en route to the Rongai Gate, the trailhead for the Rongai Route up the mountain.

Climbers enjoy several options when it comes to the trails that lead to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro; the Rongai Route, however, is considered one of the most popular as well as the most scenic.

“We’ve got 37 very excited people here,” says team member Cathy MacDonald as everyone assembled for their first day of hiking.

“After 18 months of planning, two days of air travel and two days of getting our bearings in Arusha, we’re all thrilled to be taking our first steps up the mountain.”

After meeting with the trek staff and sorting out a plethora of camp equipment — an experience described as “organized chaos” by climber Bill Davidson — the team embarked on their first full day of hiking.

Four hours of steady climbing took them through farmland and pine forest to reach the first campsite. Once the team arrived, they were rewarded with spectacular views of the African plains stretching all the way to neighbouring Kenya.

Dinner and a well-deserved evening of rest and relaxation crowned the day.

THE BACKSTORY: FOR ORTHOPEDICS EXCELLENCE

For the Royal Alex’s intrepid team of mountaineers, the adventure to scale Mount Kilimanjaro — the rooftop of Africa — is now underway.

At 5,895 metres (19,340 feet), Mount Kilimanjaro stands as one of the true wonders of the natural world. It has inspired poets and writers through the ages and captivated some of history's most daring explorers.

A group of 37 doctors, professionals and business leaders who support the Royal Alexandra Hospital are enjoying their journey of a lifetime as they ascend the fabled slopes.

Each volunteer climber is paying for their own travel expenses to and from Africa and all costs associated with the climb.

As well, each climber is committed to raise funds for the Royal Alexandra Hospital and its new Orthopedic Surgery Centre, a new building dedicated solely to hip and knee replacements and an exciting new hub of innovative orthopedics research.

With support from corporate sponsors, local businesses and the fundraising efforts of the climbers, the goal is to raise more than $500,000 in support of orthopedics excellence in Alberta.

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