85 Days to Departure

By Isabelle Privé

As I write, a group of  Kiliens is training on Mont-Royal. Unable to be there, I'm using the time to share my feelings 85 days before departure.

In 85 days, we'll be on the plane to Tanzania for the experience we've been dreaming about for over 17 months.

During these months of dreaming about Kilimanjaro, we've read about it, we've discussed it with people who've been there, we've watched videos about it. In spite of all that, I still feel as if I'm setting out into the unknown although I also feel as if the period of preparation is ending.

Of course, there's still plenty to do before reaching the start of the adventure. For me, that will be when I'm actually sitting on the plane. We have Mounts Jefferson and Washington to climb at the end of June. There are still purchases to be made. We have to maintain our fitness right up till the last minute. But the path that was so uncertain at the beginning is now becoming a reality.

Let me explain myself. When I answered the call to participate in the Kilimanjaro project, I was literally jumping into the unknown. I didn't have the money to finance the trip, I had practically no experience in mountain trekking, I wasn't in bad shape but was far from being fit enough for such an undertaking. All I had was a small voice telling me that I had to go, that it was the right time and that I'd find a way to succeed.

My inner voice continued to talk to me and to guide me through the adventure. When we decided to add voluntary work to the project, I had to make a conscious decision to commit to it. I wasn't a born voluntary worker. Like everyone else, I didn't have time. But the voice said "Go for it". That's what I did and I discovered something truly magical with the joy and pride you feel when you give your time for someone else.

When we decided to create a blog, I was reminded how much I love writing and how I could make the most of such an opportunity to get back into it. Another risk -  but I'm so happy each time I publish an article on the blog.

I can't even begin to tell you about all I've accomplished in improving my fitness. Only 3 years ago, I smoked like a chimney, was 20 lbs overweight and did nothing for my heart. It's a leap of faith each time I go for a training session and push my muscles further than I ever thought possible.

Each time I decided to listen to my inner voice, I discovered fantastic strengths, people and experiences. I'm no longer the same person I was before signing up for Kilimanjaro 2012. The project has changed me for ever. So, when I said that I felt I was coming to the end of the preparations, I meant that I felt that I had gone the limit with each opportunity that the project gave me. I feel that I've lived the joys and difficulties of each step to the full.




I'm ready! I'm longing to set out for the unknown on the mountain. I'm ready to live the adventure with my friends from Team Kili-2012.

That's how I feel with 85 days to go!




Translated by Pamela Gauvin

Second Organik Conference - Life After Kili

By Isabelle Privé

For the second time, Team Kili-2012 has enjoyed a conference by a member of the Organik team.

Organik is a company dedicated to promoting health in the workplace. It has brought together a group of specialists in health, sport, nutrition, relaxation, meditation, yoga and others. It decided to support our group with help and advice and, this time, with a conference by Julie Marchand, a sports trainer and physical fitness specialist.

Julie shared her personal experience, her enthusiasm and her passion, not only for sport but for life itself. She brought up a subject that's rarely talked about during the preparation for an expedition like Kilimanjaro - life after Kilimanjaro - what will happen to us afterwards.

People who have experienced an expedition like ours often say "It'll change your life" or "You're not the same when you come back". What exactly do they mean? What's it like in real life?

"When you're there, you become your real self. You're no longer the mother, the spouse, the friend, the child, the neighbour, the employee of....... It's one of the rare times in life when you're quite simply yourself. And that's what changes your life forever."

During all the turmoil of the preparations for the trip, having to cope with passport, training, dates, family and the race against time, you don't realise that you're setting out on an adventure that will change your life.  You don't realise that you're jumping into the unknown and that, however well you're prepared, you can never be completely ready for the actual experience or for the way in which it will transform you.

We're all taken up with our daily lives and the society in which we live. We all have bills to pay, family, friends, work to accomplish. We must all get up each morning and do what's necessary to get on in life, stay fit, grow and be happy. I've realised, thanks to this meeting with Julie, that, when we climb on board the plane, we'll be leaving all that behind for the duration of the expedition.

What will happen over there? I've no idea. How will we experience it all? I've no idea. How will the trip change us? No idea! All I know is that I've found a deeper reason for living this crazy experience to the full together with this wonderful group of people - Team Kili-2012.

Thank you, Julie, for sharing your experience and your wisdom. Thank you, Organik, for organising the conference.

Another step on the way to the summit!!

Translated by Pamela Gauvin

Kilimanjaro - Some Facts

By Isabelle Privé

Over the past year, we've been telling you about our project. Now here are some facts about Kilimanjaro itself.
(Reference:  Wikipedia )

Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa, situated in the north-east of Tanzania. Called "Shining Mountain" in Swahili, it's composed of one dormant volcano cone: Kibo, whose peak, Uhuru is 5 895m (19 341ft), and two extinct volcano cones: Mawenzi, to the east, 5 149m (16 893ft) and Shira, to the west, 3 962m (13 000ft).

The climate varies with the mountain's different faces and levels. At its foot, the average annual temperature is 23.4° C., whereas it's 5° C. at 4 000 m. and minus 7.1° C. at the top of Kibo. Between 4 000 and 5 000 m. the variation between day and night temperatures can be as much as 40° C.

Kilimanjaro has a tropical savanna climate, characterised by a dry season (when we'll be there) from mid May to mid October with moderate temperatures. A short rainy season (called short rains) follows from mid October to the end of November, a hot dry period from the beginning of December till the end of February and, finally, a long rainy season from March to mid May.



Translated by Pamela Gauvin

Five Months To Go - and - Well done Team Kili!

By Isabelle Privé

Team Kili's countdown continues with the arrival of Spring. We're all busy with preparations - training, vaccinations and final purchases of material. Our departure is approaching fast and the level of excitement is steadily rising.

We've watched our Team-Everest friends set out and return, read their commentaries and seen their photos. The story of their journey (which was far from easy) is helping us stick to training and preparations for our own adventure.

A lot is going on at 5 months from departure. The journey still seems a long way away; on the other hand, time is going so quickly that it sometimes feels more like the day before take-off. There's still so much to do! More fund-raising, hikes, runs and training sessions. It's crazy how quickly the last 15 months have flown by!

More than ever, we must make the most of each moment because everything's going so fast. We want to be able to remember every detail of our preparations for this adventure. It's so true that the journey is as important as the destination. Enjoy the moment before it's gone forever!

Well Done Team-Kili!

A resounding "Well done" to the gang for having delivered the most beautiful chocolate animals for Easter. The SCD social club decided to encourage us by asking us to supply Easter chocolates for their members this year. Once again, Janie and Sylvain's kitchen was turned into a chocolate factory for the confection of 350 hand-painted and gift-wrapped chocolate animals for Easter. As usual, team-spirit and fun dominated the scene and everyone contributed. We were rewarded by delighted feed-back on our works of art by the members of the social club.

We wish to thank them for their encouragement.

A special thank you to Janie and Sylvain for their hospitality.   BRAVO to everyone for a job well done!

Translated by Pamela Gauvin

Everest 2012 - living their adventure

By Isabelle Privé


Last Sunday, three members of our team went to wish a safe journey to the members of Everest 2012.

To put you in context, we met Jean and Guylaine a few months ago after reading an article about them in the Mouvement Desjardins journal which described how a team was planning an adventure to reach the Everest Base Camp in aid of the  Maison Michel Sarrazin foundation.

Jean and Guylaine had climbed Kilimanjaro in 2012 and had shared their experience and their adventure with us.

Since then, there's been great chemistry between the two teams!

Their adventure started on March 4 when they flew to Nepal. After a flight of almost 48 hours, they began the 3 week ascent on March 8, moving from village to village before reaching their goal, the Everest Base Camp.

Along with Nathalie and Pierre, I shared some of the excitement of their departure from Dorval on Sunday. It was something to see - the 17 members of the Everest 2012 team with their pack sacks (no more than 15 kilos allowed!), plus their equipment, eyes sparkling and happy to be leaving at last.

Guylaine told us that they'd left Quebec earlier after an emotional get-together with friends and family organized by their Levis office. A wonderful example of Desjardins support that doesn't surprise me in the slightest.

Which inspires me to picture our own departure from Dorval in 6 months with all our luggage and equally shining eyes.

Well-done to their team who fulfilled their fund-raising goal with flying colours. In fact, instead of raising $75 000 for the Maison Michel Sarrazin foundation, they made $110 000!

We wish you the adventure of a life-time. Jean and Guylaine, we are so much looking forward to seeing you again. People like you, with big hearts and full of passion, are wonderful rôle models and your example is the proof that we must always follow our dreams!

 You can follow their journey by clicking on this lien

Translated by Pamela Gauvin

Special People - Guylaine Keable and Jean Pagé

By André Lachapelle

It's now several months since we started our journey to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. The training, the fund-raising, the meetings, our 5 to 7s .... all these activities are an integral part of the journey and the experience of a life-time. I don't remember who exactly, but a wise man once said: "The journey is as important as the destination".  Now I understand why.

Everything we're experiencing at the moment - buying our equipment, going to Accueil Bonneau and so on - builds character. We're still 12 000 Km and around 280 days from Kilimanjaro, but we're already feeling the effects. The relationship between team members is different from that with other colleagues. A special bond of friendship, that I don't have with others, is developing in the team.

I was expecting all that. I was expecting emotional and personal changes in myself. I was expecting to feel uncomfortable with fund-raising.

But one thing I hadn't expected -  meeting special people along the way. We met two of them last night: Guylaine Keable and Jean Pagé. They are also members of the Desjardins family and live in beautiful Quebec City. What's so special about that?  Well, they climbed Kilimanjaro in 2010 and, as if that wasn't enough, they're now getting ready to climb to the Everest base camp. They deserve our profound respect and admiration - special people!
  
It's so remarkable that, although Guylaine and Jean were total strangers before, it only took an e-mail telling them about our project for them to offer us their friendship. It's as if we're now part of a family. There are ordinary people and there are those who have climbed or are going to climb Kilimanjaro. The connection is instantaneous, it feels comfortable, it's so easy. And talk of help - mutual help. I've already mentioned that Guylaine and Jean are from Quebec City. But they had to come to Montreal on business so we arranged to meet - in the evening - late in the evening! I've never known a meeting to be set up so easily. "OK, if  I come to Montreal - I'll have a look at my agenda - perhaps at lunch-time - we could meet for lunch - maybe there'd be more time after my meeting......."
How about Wednesday evening at 7.30? No problem. It's settled! The only way I can explain what's happening is that it's the mountain itself and the adventure that are bringing us together in friendship.

How can I describe their presence last night? Informal, among friends (remember - this was our first meeting), open, relaxed. But what a flood of information.....

Thank you Guylaine. Thank you Jean. We were completely engrossed by your thrilling story, your advice and your pictures. You've given us so much energy - so much, in fact, that I'd be ready to set off tomorrow. But cool it - slow down a bit - you have to take the time....

Good luck for Everest. I'll be one of your most ardent followers throughout your journey.
I invite everyone to follow Guylaine and Jean's adventure on the following link:
http://monteverest2012.com/

And maybe you'd like to encourage them with a gift.


Translated by Pamela Gauvin

Less Than a Year

by Isabelle Privé

As Andre pointed out in the previous message, we are now less than a year from the start of our expedition. Next year, at this time, we'll be living our adventure to the full and maybe even near the top.
When you think about it, one year may seem long .. or very short! Let's take a look at what we have to do before the big departure.

1. Signing the contract with ExPe; This step will be made this week or, at the latest, in mid-October! The signing of the contract (accompanied by the deposit) marks a significant milestone in our adventure. This is our formal commitment to the Kilimanjaro adventure!

2. Delivery of a health certificate, signed by a doctor, certifying that we can handle high altitudes. We have until December to return the form to Mathieu (EXPE). So that means we all need to see a doctor for a check-up.
3. There's a long vaccination list: tetanus, polio, measles, hepatitis A & B, typhoid, diphtheria, yellow fever, malaria, cholera. Hours of fun! I can't wait to eat all those bugs... mmmmm!
4. Passport. Make sure it's up to date, or, like me, get a new one (no, not everyone has a passport).
5. Equipment. Most of us have our hiking boots. It's a start. We also need: a warm coat, underwear, socks, sweaters ... all without cotton! Sleeping bag for -20 -30, backpack, water bottles, We don't have the list yet but you get the picture ...
6. Training, as a group - fifteen Sundays climbing the steps of Mount Royal are to come, a winter climb of Mont-Saint-Hilaire (to acclimate to the cold). The ascent of Mount Jefferson and part of Mount Washington next summer. Individually - well, for some it's jogging, gym for others. Up the stairs to the office, swimming, walking, cycling, different races ... in short, everything you can do to keep fit.
7. Financing: twenty financing activities - groceries, Casino night, gourmet dinner, chocolate production, Kili Fixes for afternoon craves.
8. Volunteering: we'll continue to give our time throughout the year to Accueil Bonneau, Hôpital Sainte-Justine Children's Miracle Network, Run for the Cure .... our mandate is at least one volunteer activity per month.
When you look at the list, one year, it doesn't seem long at all ... it looks very very short!


Translated by Pamela Gauvin

Just a Thought

 Good morning.
Just a thought like that ...

don't know if you noticed something ...

... take a good look on the blog ...

... you see?

I leave you a little more time ...

... I give you a hint. Watch the countdown.

IT IS LESS THAN A YEAR!

... Just a thought like that. Good weekend to all. ;-)

From André Lachapelle

Project Update - July

By Isabelle Privé

A team meeting was held last Thursday with 18 out of 23 members present.

Losses:

The further we get into our adventure, the more it takes on Olympic proportions, whether in the amount of time needed for fund-raising, for training and for voluntary work, or in the difficulty represented by the climb itself.

Sadly, the team has lost several of its original members. We'd like to thank Line, Bruno-Pierre, Gabrielle, Maude and Pascal for having had the guts to come so far. We wish them all the best.

As the team gets smaller, the bond between us gets stronger. We are more determined than ever to live up to our dream.

Money matters:

The dates and amounts of the deposits to be made are now known and, with this step, we wake up to the reality of our commitment to the project.  It will be even more so in October when we make our first payment to Expé.

Mathieu Fleury, Expé:

Our partner, Mathieu Fleury from Expé, was there to talk about the adventure and answer our questions. Vaccinations, passports, training and equipment were covered. We learnt that we won't be able to wash our hair, that there'll be no toilets between the camps and that there's not a load of bushes either!!!  Type of boots, type of backpack. Training sessions on Mont Royal. In other words, a first inkling of what it'll be like to travel with Expé. Thank you, Mathieu, for coming and for answering our questions so fully.

Voluntary work:

As voluntary involvement is at the heart of our project, we decided to plan at least one activity a month. We've started discussing with Sainte-Justine Hospital ways of spending some time with their sick children. We'll keep you up to date. 

Group activity:

We've planned a weekend at Sylvain and Janie's chalet in August to practise living as a team. We'll be camping, climbing Mont Tremblant and spending the evening round the fire. A good occasion for really getting to know one another!

Fund-raising:

We're sure to keep warm this Autumn with all the fund-raising activities planned. Packing groceries, organising a gastronomic supper, Casino evenings, Bowl-a-thon. We need everyone to pitch in if we're going to succeed.

Our fund-raising activity "Kili Corner Shop" is a victim of its own success! We're having trouble keeping up with the demand for our little bags of treats. So plan on spending several evenings producing them at Sylvain and Janie's.

Another jam-packed meeting and a very pleasant evening with the team!

Translated by Pamela Gauvin

It's nice to be noticed by our employer!

By Isabelle Privé

 

Unexpected recognition of our project appeared recently in the form of a comic strip on the office Intranet.

The chap climbing the stairs gets to the top only to be faced with the announcement that 25 SCD employees are going to climb Kilimanjaro in 2012.

We'll have to climb an awful lot of stairs to get us in shape for such a feat!

Our thanks to the authors of the weekly cartoon on the SCD Intranet. It's most encouraging to know that they believe in our project!

Translated by Pamela Gauvin

Team Kili-2012 leaves in September with Expé

By Isabelle Privé

Another step has been taken this week with the vote to choose our departure date and the company we're going with. The vote was democratic and won by the majority!

First, a drum roll.... .... ... ..

We hope to leave in the week of 2 September 2012 and we'll be travelling with EXPÉ.

(See the article 'One Step at a Time Towards "Day K"'  -  June 14 2011)

The exact date will be decided later, depending on available flights, etc.

Our journey will last 21 - 22 days and bring us (we hope) to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and into the African plains.

I don't know about you, but I get goose bumps just thinking about it!

Translated by Pamela Gauvin

Group Photo - What an Adventure!

By Isabelle Privé

Allow me to tell you how our group photo session turned into a surprisingly eventful evening full of fun and laughter.

About 2 weeks ago, we decided to meet at 7 pm to have photos taken of Team Kili-2012.

As most of us left work much earlier, the occasion turned into a 5 - 7 get-together at a lounge bar nearby.
As soon as we got there, we realised it was full and we'd have to find somewhere else.
OK - Sylvain, call Catherine to tell her we're going to the terrace bar across from the office - and ring Manon too - she's still at work.        

            - Hi, Manon - yes, we've got to change places....
On the way across the road, Sylvain's cell phone rings.
            - Hi, that's full too....           

All turn - destination: bar number 3.

- Hello, Manon... No, no room there either.... Meet us at bar number 3. ...
- Hi, Catherine.....

            Just having a drink has turned into quite an adventure! In excellent company, with a spare hour or so, the fun started - chat, chat, chat, a joke here, an anecdote there..
 - By the way, I've news about the shirts... The muffins are selling like hot cakes... Hey, I've bought my hiking sticks ..... Wow, Sylvain, is your shirt red.....or is it red..... Well, yes, I suppose.....

            Oops, it's 7, we'll have to get going!.... Laughing all the way to the park where we were meeting for the photos.  ........You really had to be there...

While Chantal is explaining that we have to look natural, be casual, pretend there's no camera, I'm clowning around with Geneviève, Nathalie and Rosanna. Martine climbs a tree with Louis. Manon does the splits (that's true!). Sylvain and André perch on a wall. We roar about Julie's twins (imagine, her eldest daughter is at karate with her father and there's no time to find a sitter..) We all hug Manon M. just for fun. We laugh and fool around for an hour and a half. Some of us even end up dancing on the terrace opposite the office (plenty of room by then).

I'll never forget that evening because it was the first time we were all together just to have fun. The group I want to climb Kilimanjaro with was born that evening. We're all different, but the chemistry was there and, all of a sudden, we all felt the magic.

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

The Recipe for Success

By André Lachapelle


Someone has an idea.

He shares his idea.

With people of like mind.

The idea takes shape, moves, grows and takes on a life of its own.

The idea becomes an institution.

But, before that, it has to go through a major transformation where failure is lurking at every step.

How can you tell, on the way to reaching your goal, if you're on the right path or not?

Look for the following ingredients in the recipe for success:

The first ingredient - others like the idea and make it their own.  First sign that you're on the right road.

The second ingredient -  the hangers-on - those who hesitate on the sidelines, expecting you to fail. Then, all of a sudden, when the project starts shaping up, they realize that success is possible, that they were wrong and -  they decide to come along after all.

Finally, the third ingredient -  The "Great American Pessimistic Grumbler".  Quite a bird!
 
He never assumes an active role in a project - he's the ultimate hanger-on, but with attitude. While the hanger-on ends up by joining the team, the "Great American Pessimistic Grumbler" sticks firmly to the sidelines and criticizes everything he can to anyone who'll listen.  He'll always find something to grumble about, with no help from anyone and he'll turn a small incident into a major battle-ground.

Don't worry! When you start seeing "Great American Pessimistic Grumblers" hovering over your project - take it positively!

It's the final ingredient that shows you're ready for take-off and a sure sign of future success.



Translated by Pamela Gauvin

Another loss

By André Lachapelle


We're sorry to announce that Alexandre Eghtedari has decided to leave us in favour of other projects.

Good luck Alexandre!

Translated by Pamela Gauvin

We Have Our Logo!

By Manon Marleau

This week, Team Kili-2012 voted, out of several, for their official Logo - and the die is cast!

With no further ado, here is Team Kili-2012's official Logo...

Translated by Pamela Gauvin

Our First Loss

By André Lachapelle

We've just had our first loss from the team.

We're sorry to say that Ismail Sabri has decided to leave us.

Good luck Ismail for the future and thank you for being part of our adventure.



Translated by Pamela Gauvin

The Team's Complete

By André Lachapelle


At the beginning, we established a limited recruitment period for Team Kili-2012, to ensure equity in fund-sharing. We thought it unfair for a late addition to the team to benefit from the fund-raising efforts made before by the other members.
Anybody wishing to join us after May 1st 2011 will be expected to assume full costs.

May 1st 2011 having passed, the team is now complete. Here is the message sent to all the members:

The recruitment period for the Kilimanjaro project ended on May 1st.

35 participants are ready for a unique experience!

It's a pleasure to announce their names:

Alexandre Eghtedari

Amélie Régimbal

André Lachapelle

Bruno-Pierre Lavoie

Carole Major

Catherine Fortin

Chantal Bonin

Daniel Leboeuf

Éric Bélanger

Éric Guay

Gabrielle Sangollo-Viens

Geneviève Rho

Isabelle Privé

Ismail Sabri

Janie Brunet

Julie Foster

Karine Duchesne

Laura Sharp

Line Roy

Louis Hamelin

Manon Fairfield

Manon Marleau

Marilyn Marier

Martine Lussier

Maude Garneau

Mélanie Lauzon

Nadine Lauzon

Nathalie Roussin

Nicolas Castonguay

Pascal Milette

Pierre Gauvin

Pierre Toshan

Richard Barbeau

Rosanna Chechile

Sylvain Thériault

 

WELCOME TO THIS WONDERFUL ADVENTURE!

During the coming months, the team will be inspired by our employer's values:

Team spirit, innovation, confidence, excellence and pleasure and by the motto
Dare to be Bold

For the project to be a success, we must act professionally at all times and in all our activities.
The most important conditions are the implication and enthusiasm of the members in carrying out well-coordinated activities.

The estimated cost of the project is $8000 per member.
To meet some of this cost, a Fund-raising Campaign lasting 16 months is planned.

Various activities will be organised and will be as diverse as possible. Some internal activities have already started but we now have to look at outside sources, such as friends, family, friends of the family and family of the friends - and  more!!!

Obviously, everyone's participation is essential  - that's the first aim of the team.

If you decide to withdraw, please let me know as soon as possible

Thanks for your cooperation.

We've  done it! Team Kilimanjaro 2012 is alive and well!

And now - full speed ahead with fund-raising!

Translated by Pamela Gauvin