Inside scoop on Regent’s Kilimanjaro Trip with Nadia!
By: Nadia and Jano, Year 13
Every year, a small group of students from Regents hike up mount Kilimanjaro with the aim of reaching the summit. Even though they didn’t reach it due to poor weather conditions, it was a massively rewarding journey and certainly an experience the climbers will treasure for a lifetime. To get a feel for what it was like on the mountain, I interviewed Nadia, one of the students who trekked up the mountain.
What did your days look like when training and hiking up the mountain?
Life on the mountain is very simplistic. So each day we were awake by 5am and we would just change into our hiking gear, check our stats, eat some breakfast and start walking. The duration of our hike each day varied depending on which camp we were going to and it was really difficult to keep ourselves distracted during the walk so we had to find ways to keep ourselves entertained. When we'd reached the next camp, we would change, clean ourselves and have the rest of the day to rest, relax, hydrate and eat some food to regain energy. After dinner, we would always have a mini debrief which always led to a very fun dance party in the mass tent.
What was the hardest part of climbing Kilimanjaro?
For me, the long hours of walking and anticipating the time to get to the next camp was a challenge. I had to find ways to distract myself and keep a positive mindset throughout. I got the opportunity to engage in conversation with many of the porters and leaders who shared their hiking experiences from all around the world. And it also so much fun getting to know students from other schools and making long lasting memories with them. On the fourth day, the climb on Barranco wall to Lava Tower was a very challenging but fun experience. The wall itself is very steep and it required some rock climbing where we had to use our whole bodies to push ourselves up but it was something different from the rest of the hike. On this day, the leaders also decided to challenge our limits more by increasing our walking pace and limiting our break times in order to prepare us for the summit night.
If given the chance, would you do it again and why?
I would definitely do it again because I think a major part of hiking is getting to know the mountain and exploring all aspects of it and going there once would never be enough to experience all of the mountain. And unfortunately, we were unlucky, and we didn't get the chance to summit due to the bad weather. Since this is a goal that I would like to accomplish, one day, I will go back and do it.
What are some tips for students considering taking the trip next year?
I think a tip would be to not underestimate the mountain and take everything seriously. For example, trainings. Walking 5-9 hours per day requires a lot of energy and you need to make sure you are well prepared for everything that may come your way. The mountain will take a lot of energy from you in this sense and you will be very tired but at the same, it also rejuvenates you. Trainings will help a lot and make sure it's a mix of both cardio and strength training, also practise using your hiking poles, hiking shoes very early on so you get used to it. But training not only benefits you in a physical manner but also mentally as it strengthens your mindset for struggle and long days of walking. I would also say travel light and only carry the necessities. Being on the mountain you will realise that you don't really need so much extra items other than the essentials such as waterproofs, base layers and a jacket, for example, so don't carry extra weight (especially not in your day bag as it makes you more tired).
What was the trek going down the mountain like?
I think in a way going downhill is more challenging than going uphill because a lot of pressure is placed on the knees and you tend to feel more friction in your feet which leads to blisters. On the day we went downhill, it was raining as well so the rainforest area was very slippery with mud and the weather was extremely humid and hot. But in the upper regions of the mountain, I found it more fun to go downhill because the rocks were more stable and the weather was cooler.
How did you go to the bathroom?
The porters carried a portable bathroom to each camp and it was placed in a very tiny tent so we didn't have to use the classic Kilimanjaro long drops. The portable bathrooms were very convenient as it was much more hygenic and clean than the long drops and it was more like the usual bathrooms.
What was the most useful thing you brought on the trip and why?
I took my journal with me in order to document my daily activities, how I felt, the people I met and I would really recommend it as it documents your memories for a lifetime. I would write in it every night before I sleep in the tents and it was really nice to reflect on the day, be present and cherish all the memories made.
What was the most memorable moment on the trip?
There were many memorable moments on the trip but one of my favourites was when we reached Barafu camp and we waited for the porters to put up the mass tent and we were all so proud because it was the first time we reached before all the porters. Everyone just went in the tent, we sat around a circle, we had a ukulele so everyone was singing songs, talking and having fun. And then because everyone was so tired, we all collectively fell asleep in the mass tent, it was a beautiful, warm and cosy moment because everyone truly felt like a family. I also loved how they provided us with a large cadbury chocolate bar daily. And meeting new people and getting to know their stories and learning from them was also so interesting for me.
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