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August 11, 2011
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: 4
Elevation: 2,800 metres
(see previous daily reports)
RONGAI ROUTE, Tanzania — Day Three of Kilimanjaro Climb 2011 ended on an emotional note as the members of Team Kilimanjaro hiked into their first campsite.
The climbers were enthusiastically greeted by expedition porters, who sang in harmony and clapped as the 37-member team came into view on the trail.
“What an incredible sight!” says climber Bunny Ferguson. “By the time we’re getting our backpacks on in the morning, these guys have already packed up all of the heavy stuff and are hitting the trail. They travel ahead of us and have the next camp almost completely set up by the time our team arrives.”
And after all that hard work, for all of them to greet us with a song, well, that’s truly amazing. All of us were so touched by their gesture. It was really inspiring.”
Dinner on Day 3 also proved a treat, as cooks wearing crisp, white uniforms and chef’s hats served dinner on real plates and cutlery — all to the team’s amazement!
Thursday, Day 4 of Kilimanjaro Climb 2011, brought the team a relatively “easy” day on the mountain, with an enjoyable trek on the Rongai Route, from the first campsite to the Kikelewa Caves.
While this leg of the journey didn’t see a lot of elevation gained, it helped to prepare everyone for the more strenuous days to come.
The team made camp Thursday in sight of Kibo peak, the volcanic cone that forms the main summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Low rolling clouds, however, limited their visibility, allowing only glimpses of the ice fields on the rim of Kilimanjaro’s summit — giving the team their first view of where they expect to be in only a few short days.
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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