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Lessons from Kilimanjaro (Week 4) - No One Summits Alone
The longest day of the climb started at 5:00 a.m. By God’s grace (and the power of modern medicine), I woke up feeling much better than the night before. I still didn’t know if I’d attempt the summit, but I knew my only way down… was up.
The plan sounded simple on paper: climb the rock wall above camp, follow the ridge for hours, descend into a ravine, climb back out, grab a quick lunch, and push to base camp. From there, we’d rest briefly before a midnight summit attempt.
When I stepped out of my tent, the wall loomed above us looking dark, steep, and unforgiving. Derrick, one of our guides, looked at me and said something that felt less like advice and more like a promise, “You stay with me.”
Lessons From Kilimanjaro: When the Only Way Down Is Up (Week 3)
The storm had passed by morning, but the mountain hadn't made any promises.
The sky above camp was wide and blue, almost offensively calm. If you hadn't been there the night before, you would assume everything was fine, but my body knew better.
The violent shaking was gone, but I wasn't restored. My appetite had disappeared, my head felt heavy, and my legs felt hollow — not weak exactly, just empty.
Lessons from Kilimanjaro - What a Storm and a Lost Bag Taught Me About Vulnerability (Week 2)
Last week I wrote about rhythm — how the mountain forces you to slow down.
This week is about the storm.
Lessons From Kilimanjaro - Why I Climbed Africa’s Highest Mountain (Week 1)
I didn't climb Mount Kilimanjaro because I needed an adventure.
I climbed because I lead an organization that depends on generosity.
When a group of nonprofit leaders invited me to join a fundraising expedition up Africa's highest peak, I saw it first through a strategic lens. If shared challenge inspires generosity, maybe this could help more people move from crisis toward stability. Maybe it could open doors. Maybe it could strengthen City Relief's work across New York and New Jersey.