One Step at a Time Towards "Day K"

By Catherine Fortin

 

Last Tuesday the team met Mathieu Fleury from the ExPé company which specialises in the organisation of custom-made adventures. Why? Well, it's all very well having a great project like climbing Kilimanjaro, organising fund-raising, training and doing volunteer work, but you can't climb a mountain like that on your own, however enthusiastic and motivated you are.

 

It's obvious that adequate preparation and planification are essential for success. That's why Mathieu was kind enough to come and meet us with a plan.

Which is the best way to approach the summit? There are several routes with different durations and camps and some are more crowded then others. How many days are recommended for the climb, to give our bodies long enough to get used to the altitude? This is really the key to a successful climb and it's to ExPé's credit that they only offer the longer period of 9 - 10 days with a 97% success rate.
How many other people will be with us? We'll need enough quality guides, porters and others to support us adequately on the climb.

These are just 3 of many questions that must be asked before choosing an agency and an itinerary.
      

Here's what ExPé is offering us for the year ahead:

• A medical certificate to be signed by a doctor.
• An evening visit to a sporting goods store with help in buying the most suitable clothes and accessories.
• Several mountain expeditions.
• Group training sessions on Mont-Royal.
• A final expedition next summer to Mount Jefferson and Mount Washington, before the departure for Tanzania.

The team won't have a dull moment between now and September 2012! With a project like that, we have no choice but to give 100% to our preparation and to developing a strong team spirit through fund-raising activities, voluntary work and training sessions. We already have a really good feeling among us and we have a lot of fun together. If the trend continues, we'll be worth watching - laughing all the way to the top!

Warning to our guides - hang on to your hats because Team Kili-2012 will be on fire next September!

Translated by Pamela Gauvin