Donna Lohnes has been to Mount Kilimanjaro and back and lived to tell Innisfail Rotarians about it at their recent regular meeting.
Airdrie mountaineer Lohnes got started thinking about her trek to Kilimanjaro during a conversation with her best friend Donna Finlay.
ìDonna told me about her bucket list for her 60th birthday, and how her father had attempted Africa's Kilimanjaro 45 years earlier,î said 57-year-old Lohnes, who presented local Rotarians with her story on Jan. 23. ìShe also wanted to trek Kilimanjaro. Apparently, so did I and four other soon-to-be friends: Sandra, Sabena, Saneka, Abbi, and Sunita.î
The pair of Albertans trained by hiking, treadmilling, backpacking, and walking, all with weights to increase their fitness levels. Doctor visits produced shots for malaria, hepatitis, and malaria.
ìWe probably spent close to $10,000 on the equipment, airfare, and accommodations,î added Lohnes. ìOur trek was planned to begin early in October and the first day of ascending Kilimanjaro was October 12 of last year.î
A typical climb of Kilimanjaro takes eight days with rests scheduled in between ascents and base camps.
ìKilimanjaro is considered an easy climb by mountain standards at 19,341 feet. That does not require oxygen with the major threat being altitude sickness,î said Lohnes. ìThere is a shot for altitude sickness, but I could not take it so I had to take my chances.î
During the climb, each day had its own challenges, noted Lohnes. The mountaineers ran into rain on the second day and camped at Simba. She said Day 4 brought a dust storm that blanketed their tents, pillows, and faces with fine black dust at Camp Mawenzi Tarn.
ìAt this point, we lost three of our team members to altitude sickness,î said Lohnes. ìSome symptoms of altitude are headaches, loss of appetite, breathlessness, and flatulence.
ìFortunately we burped instead, and laughed when we commented ëthat was real ladylike' to each other,î she added. ìAt one point I exhibited altitude sickness and experienced euphoria but recovered after a short rest.
ìDay 6 and 7 ran into each other,î said Lohnes. ìThis was at Kibo Huts just before we ascended Kilimanjaro. There are three peaks, Gillman's Point, Stella Point, and Uhuru Peak. An ascent is always done at night, partially because of the temperature and the arrival is most artistic. Upon arrival you see the sun rise over Gillman's Point and are in awe.î
She noted that it was a breathtaking moment when they topped the last peak, stunningly beautiful and peaceful. Above the clouds, their view was uninhibited and nearly endless.
ìIt was a moment I will never forget,î said Lohnes. ìMy next trek is in Chile and Argentina for a wine tour. We will see South America's highest peak, but not climb it.î
