Updates from the Mountain

Wednesday, Sept 23, 2009
From the Marangu Hotel, Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Africa

After the exhilaration of reaching the highest point in Africa, the team members descended to Horombo Hut last night in the dark, passing the main glaciers that edge down the slopes of Kibo: Heim, Rebmann, Decken, and Arrow.

After breakfast, the team hiked a further 22 km to finish their descent, arriving in the evening at Marangu Gate, where they traveled back to the Marangu Hotel by jeep.

Feeling the enormity of their team triumph—ascending more than 13,000 feet to summit Mount Kilimanjaro for Alzheimer’s—each of the Ascent team members, their voices trembling, shared their personal feelings over the satellite phone this morning.

“It was the toughest, but most rewarding thing Deb and I have ever done,” shared Jim Yeates who made the journey with his wife. “Getting everyone up—eight out of eight—that was the best part.”

“I kept pushing myself and powered through to Uhuru Peak,” said Michael James Pennie whose father Jim was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2003. “I sat on the summit for 30 minutes and thought about the significance of all this. It was very emotional.”

Each year at the send-off party in Vancouver, the Ascent team is presented with a friendship walking stick, handcrafted for each team by local artist Chris Knowles, to accompany them on their mountainous journey that reflects living with dementia.

After their journey, the team selects one member and presents them with the walking stick, and this team chose Shirley Bonner who was diagnosed two years ago with MCI (mild cognitive impairment).

“Shirley was an incredible inspiration to each of us every step of the way,” said Deb Yeates who made the trek with her husband Jim to support their good friends Shirley and Peter Bonner. “Being there with Shirley when she reached the top was awesome and very touching.”

“Frederick our wonderful guide presented me with the friendship walking stick at our celebration ceremony,” said Shirley “and then all the porters and guides sang us an African hymn, we were all in tears. I’m feeling proud of me,” laughed Shirley.

Ascent for Alzheimer’s is a unique event that requires an enormous team effort. The level of commitment from the seven trekkers, their doctor Susan Hollenberg, and the team of porters and guides who make sure they make it to the top, make this amazing event possible.

In addition to a crew of porters who carry food and equipment, each team member has their own personal porter who accompanies them throughout the journey. Often, it is the unwavering support of the guides that gets them to the top.

“I’m still on top of the world,” laughed Don Depratto, a geriatric outreach nurse from Ontario. My porter helped me make it all the way to Uhuru Peak. Without him, I think I would have given up.”

“I woke up an hour early on summit night and started my ascent in the darkness with my personal porter,” said Christina Pilgrim whose grandmother, Rita Rudiger, passed away last Thanksgiving after a ten-year battle with Alzheimer's disease.

“I was in a kind of trance, placing one foot in front of the other, but I couldn’t have done it without all those people living with the disease who were pushing me to the top. Suddenly, in the darkness, I heard my guide behind me say,  ‘You made it Christina, we’re here.’ We hugged and I cried.”

For many, this experience has brought out strengths they didn’t know they had. “The journey for these people starts long before the mountain—the training, the fundraising, the support of their family, friends and colleagues—then finally facing the mountain,” said Sandra Girard, the event organizer from the Alzheimer Society.

“When I look back from first emailing the Alzheimer Society that I was interested in joining the team to now, it has been an enriching experience that has changed my life,” shared Don whose mother-in-law passed away from Alzheimer’s in 2001.

At their celebration at the hotel each of the team was presented with their summit certificate. Finally, there were many toasts to each other and their victory for Alzheimer’s disease.

“This has been a wonderful, meaningful journey that I’ve made with a very special group of people,” said Michael. “People need to know about this disease, and they need to know about this journey.”

Many of the team members will travel or set out on safari before returning to Canada over the next few weeks.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009
From Horombo Hut, Mount Kilimanjaro

“It was spectacular reaching the summit, and everyone is exhilarated,” said Dr. Susan on the phone from Horombu Hut. Today, the Ascent for Alzheimer’s Team 2 reached the top of Mount Kilimanjaro at 19,340 feet, the highest point in Africa, in the early morning light.

“It’s 6 pm here, they are all sleeping in their tents now,” shared Susan.

When we talked to the team today, they had trekked for a grueling fourteen hours to reach their goal.

“There were lots of hugs and photos at the top. Many team members had their own private moments at the summit, leaving a photo or a stone in honour of a family member,” said Susan.

After crossing the Saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo peaks yesterday, the team rested for the remainder of the day, in preparation for their final ascent. Awakened at 11:30 pm, they began their final ascent. In the cold, dark night, with only their headlamps lighting the way, they moved upward on the steep, rocky path through stone skree, and patches of snow, toward the summit.

“It’s high, it’s really high up there,” explained Susan, “and the air is very thin so each step takes great exertion.”

The team’s tremendous accomplishment, the completion of a five-day trek, high above the world in the dizzying heights—taken one step at a time—symbolizes and supports the journey that faces families living with dementia.

After a brief stay at the summit, the team made a six-hour (7140 foot) descent to Horombo Hut where they are camping tonight. Tomorrow they will begin their descent to Marangu, and the next time we hear from them, they’ll be back at the Marangu Hotel having their celebration dinner.

“This is an amazing group of people, we’re exhausted but elated,” said Susan.

Visit http://www.ascentbc.ca/ to read other blogs from the team.

Saturday, September 19, 2009
From Mawenzi Tarn, Mount Kilimanjaro

“Manwenzi is absolutely spectacular,” explains Dr. Susan on the satellite phone from Mawenzi Tarn where the Ascent team is setting up camp. “It’s shrouded in fog, and looming above us.”

An alpine lake rimmed in bright green, Mawenzi Tarn at 14,200 feet is the only permanent lake on Mount Kilimanjaro’s slopes. The Ascent camp is set up on its shore with the jagged peak of Mawenzi towering above.

“We just had dinner: soup and appetizers, spaghetti and canned fruit for dessert.” Dr. Susan explained that this team has kept their appetites even at this altitude, which is a very positive sign. 

“We have had very little altitude sickness which is quite remarkable at this point,” said Susan. 

Nearing the summit of Kilimanjaro, the lungs can only absorb half the amount of oxygen compared to sea-level. As they proceed higher on their journey, supporting each other as a cohesive group, literally every step of the way becomes paramount.

“This is a truly fantastic group, I’m so impressed by them,” said Susan. “Everyone is hiking very strong, some of them have never camped before and they’re laughing and bonding and we’re having so much fun as a group. They are inspiring me”

Today was a long day—the team hiked 2400 feet of rocky terrain. As they are having dinner the temperature has dropped to below zero. 

“We’re feeling very good, but very cold,” said Peter Bonner, who is hiking with his wife Shirley who was diagnosed with MCI (mild cognitive impairment) two years ago. “We’re a very good, tight crew. Our guide Seamus is a great storyteller, and Christina Pilgrim is entertaining us with humour.”

The team will stay here for two nights—resting and doing day hikes— to acclimatize before summit night.

On Monday, the team will move onward toward Kibo Hut at 15,400 feet. Passing Manwenzi, they will enter the Saddle, a desolate stretch of alpine desert that stretches toward their goal of Kibo peak in the distance. As they proceed higher, they will pass through semi-desert progressing into total desert and finally into an alpine region with permanent ice glaciers. The higher slopes are covered with scree, loose stones resembling gravel, making it more difficult to negotiate.

The team will arrive at Kibo Hut mid-afternoon, and will rest until midnight. In the darkness of night they will be awoken and crawl out of their tents into the freezing night. In the darkness, one step at a time, they will begin their ascent of Uhuru Peak, a journey for Alzheimer’s.

“The team is determined and feeling strong as we look toward summit night,” said Dr. Susan signing off from Manwenzi Tarn.

We will next hear from the team after they have summitted.

Visit http://www.ascentbc.ca/ to read other blogs from the team.

Thursday, September 17, 2009
From First Cave, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Africa


The 2009 Ascent for Alzheimer’s Team 2 traveled by jeep from Marangu hotel over the dusty road to Nalemoru Gate, to begin their ascent of Kilimanjaro at 6000 feet.

“We are so glad to finally be on the trail,” said Dr. Susan. “For a few of the team members, this is already the highest they’ve ever been in their lives.”

Travelling through maize fields, rocky pine forest, and moorland dotted with heather, Day One on Kilimanjaro’s Rongai Route was a clear and sunny day. Rongai provides nearly constant views of Mawenzi and Kibo, two of Mount Kilimanjaro’s three peaks. Uhuru Peak, where the Ascent team will summit, sits at the top of Kibo.

At this altitude, daytime temperatures range from 5 degrees Celsius to 18 degrees Celsius with frost normally encountered at night.

The team reached First Cave at 8,500 feet, where they will spend their first night on Kilimanjaro. “We had a fantastic first day, and we’re all here at camp having cupcakes, popcorn, tea and hot chocolate,” said Susan.

With the success of Day One completed, the team is relieved and relaxed.

“I was nervous to get started with the trek,” said Christina Pilgrim, "but now that we’re on the mountain, it’s amazing.”

“When I came out of my hotel room the first morning and saw Kilimanjaro for the first time, I was awestruck by its size; it was very emotional for me.”

The team’s journey starts long before the mountain: their physical training and commitment to fundraising for more than a year, and now finally facing the mountain.

“I’m proud to support these people on their journey,” said Sandra Girard the Ascent for Alzheimer's organizer from the Alzheimer Society.” I’m the cheerleader from home who continues encouraging the team over the phone, and then relaying their messages and progress back to their loved ones here.”

Don Depratto, from Ontario said the team was bonding quickly. “It was a great day with a great bunch.”

Shirley Bonner, who prepared for Kili by hiking Mount Kenya with her husband Peter and Deb and Jim Yeates, had just been resting in her tent. “Our tent is cozy and I’m feeling good. We’re a happy group here.”

We’ll hear from the team next on Saturday, September 19th from Mawenzi Tarn at 14,200 feet.

Visit http://www.ascentbc.ca/ to read other blogs from the team.


Wednesday September 16, 2009
From Marangu Village, Tanzania, Africa

Today, the seven members of the 2009 Ascent for Alzheimer’s Team 2 and their team doctor, Susan Hollenberg, are preparing for their ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro.

“It’s a beautiful, clear night here,” said Susan on the satellite phone. “I’m standing outside with a spectacular view of the mountain, listening to the crickets.” 

The team all arrived in Tanzania and met up at the Marangu Hotel where they spent time getting to know each other and meeting the two members from Ontario, Don Depratto and Christina Pilgrim.

After settling in, they did a gear check with their guide Seamus Brice-Bennett, and later visited the nearby Marangu Village, the school and the coffee plantations.

“The children in the school giggle as they practice their English with us,” said Susan, “they were so excited by our visit.”

Located on the north side of Mount Kilimanjaro, Marangu village is on the Tanzania-Kenya border and sits amidst rainforest and coffee plantations.

“Everyone is in good shape and excited,” said Susan, “we’re just going to sit down to dinner here at the hotel.”

On day one, the team will start their summit of Kilimanjaro setting out by jeep to Nalemoru Gate at 6,000 feet and then start their hike towards First Cave, where they’ll spend their first night on the mountain.

They are summitting Kilimanjaro via the Rongai route on the northeastern side of the mountain, along the border between Tanzania and Kenya.

Dr. Susan will be going up Kilimanjaro for the second time, having finished the trek with Team One three days ago.

“I’m feeling strong and ready to do it all over again,” laughed Susan. “It’s going to be a great trek”.

The next call home from the team is scheduled for tomorrow after they settle in for the evening at First Cave.

Visit http://www.ascentbc.ca/ to read posts from the team.

September 23, 2009 - back to Marangu Hotel

Morning tea never tasted so sweet as after the summit climb.

Just a couple of km to go.

Marangu Gate - and a well earned rest. Showers aren't far off now!

The post-climb farewell party is always bitter-sweet. It is wonderful to celebrate our accomplishments, but these new friends are hard to leave.

One of the guides sings during the celebration party.

Many of the team members will set out on safari before returning home.

September 22, 2009 - Summit Day


The Saddle stretches out in front of the team as they leave Mawenzi and head toward Kibo.

The summit "day" begins at 11:30 pm, which means there are many rests in the dark.

The sun begins to lighten the sky as the team heads upwards. The plains of Africa stretch far below.
A well deserved rest at Horombo Hut with Kibo behind them.

September 19, 2009 - Mawenzi Tarn


Mawenzie rises above the tents

The porters and guides keep everyone on track

The views during the hike are spectacular

Even the view from the "bathroom" at Mawenzi is  awesome.

September 17, 2009 - First Camp


Packing the trucks for the dusty ride to the trailhead

The trailhead is a mass of organized confusion.

The first day ascent is a gentle hike from the drop point.

Mawenzi peak is almost constantly visible.

September 16, 2009 - Marangu Hotel / Village


Marangu Hotel

 Marangu Village

Little children realx in Marangu village.

Gear Check at the Marangu Hotel