Next Step Goals

Posing at the top of Africa

Strategy #21, February 2012

Summary: If a laundry list of duties keeps you in a rut, it's time to climb out and explore a bit.

On July 29, 2006, I stood on the rooftop of Africa. Towering 19,340 feet over flat, arid plains, Mt. Kilimanjaro is the highest point on the African continent. From this vantage point, I took in the greatest area of the Earth’s surface possible in one view. I stood there exhausted, urgently posing for photos with my climbing friend Tim and guide Muhamud. Piercing, 20-mph winds—winds made colder as they swept over a nearby glacier—buffeted my oxygen-deprived body. My head had space for only two thoughts: “Take in this sunrise. You’ll never see anything like it again.” and “How do I get out of this wind?”

I traveled to Tanzania alone to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, joining three other Americans whom I had not met prior to the trip. Only two of us made it to the summit, after throwing up and staggering around quite a bit. Actually, I did those things.

I had wanted to bring a group with me, perhaps friends or triathletes in my club back in Milwaukee. No one had the time or money to commit to it. So the winter prior to the trip, I made the challenging decision to go on my own. Once I bought the plane ticket and it was too late to turn back, I was thrilled!