Kilimanjaro Summit Trek  By Heather Bentley
After 6 days of trekking through amazingly varied landscapes and practising walking ‘pole, pole ‘ which means ‘slowly, slowly’ we were about to embark on our final ascent of Kilimanjaro to a height of 5,895 metres above sea level.
At 12.30 am we set off. We were bathed in bright moonlight from the huge full moon, the massive silouhette of the mountain rose ahead of us and tiny specks of light twinkled from the path from other trekkers already on their way up. By now we automatically walked ‘pole pole’ but tonight it was because you could not go any faster. The pace was very slow but steady and when the guides suggested we rested for a few minutes you immediately felt cold and your limbs began to stiffen. Some of us did not want to stop but rather go on slowly slowly making progress. However the guides were strict and we all moved together and all rested together. As some ofus found it hard and tried to rest longer they chivvied us on and would not let us sit down.

‘Don’t sleep Don’t sleep You die !’ I heard them say to someone squatting by a rock with his head in his hands.It was steep and hard and slow but when you stopped or had the energy to look back we were making definite progress and the disjointed train of lights behind us gotlonger. We trudged mainly in silence each of us wrapped in our own determined worlds, shrouded in our own thoughts, one step at a time, each step one step nearer the summit, one step nearer our goal.

For my water supply I had decided to use my camelback first as it had an insulated cover and then the platypus which I wrapped inside my rucksack and as I had managed, with a great deal of difficulty, to acquire an insulation cover for the pipe, I thought that should last me well into the ascent. I also remembered I had to blow back into the bag to clear the pipe after every drink to prevent the liquid freezing. I had not appreciated quite how hard that would be and how breathless I would become after each sip. However, despite the preparations, within minutes the duckbill mouth piece froze making sipping difficult and within half an hour both water reservoirs were frozen. My insulated pipe had lasted no longer than anyone elses with no insulation ! That meant rather than sipping as you went, at each stop you had to take off your rucksack, unscrew the pipe which was freezing and drink the semi frozen water directly from the bag. The icy water struck your warm stomach like a knife but I knew I would need to go on drinking if I was to make it to the top. We rested for a few minutes quite frequently and sometimes I nibbled a hard cold cereal bar or crunched on a semi frozen jelly baby.

The air on my face was cold but I was toasty warm so long as I was moving. In fact after a couple of hours I was too hot and removed my waterproof jacket and undid the side zips of my waterproof trousers but then they flapped around my feet as they were slightly too long for me and I kept standing on them. I stopped to take them off. It only took a few seconds and I quickly stuffed them in my rucksack but when I looked up the person I was following had got a fair way ahead. It was probably only 20 yards or so but they seemed miles away. I tried to quickened my pace slightly to catch up and immediately was gasping. I was probably walking slower than I had ever walked and yet I was gasping for air. There was nothing I could do just plod on ‘pole pole’ and hope they did not get further ahead. Eventually they stopped to rest, I was tempted to speed up but knew I couldn’t. It seemed like minutes before I reached them and as I got there and was ready to rest they were already wanting to move on as they were getting chilled. I felt better though without the constriction of the extra layer of my waterproof jacket and felt pleasantly warm rather than overheated.

We trudged on and on, up and up, so, so slowly but always onward. I felt strangely happy, and at peace. The moon was so bright it was almost like the watery sun on a winters day and you expected to feel it’s warmth rather that the steely cold. Walking became automatic, almost trance like. I was so tired, totally exhausted with limbs so heavy I could hardly lift them and yet I felt like I was drifting along. It was a strange experience as if I was drifting upward in another dimension watching my bodily self struggling. It was if those exhausted limbs were not part of me. Random thoughts flitted through my mind. I must try to concentrate. Was this a sign of altitude sickness? Was I becoming confused ? Was this dissociated state real or imaginary ?I looked around me. Upward the shadowy mountain still loomed, downward a long trail with small headtorches glinting along it’s route and around me the rest of our team all totally absorbed in their own worlds, all plodding on like old tired machines. They looked how I felt. Were we all feeling the same I wondered ? I wanted to ask but I felt I did not want to intrude. I was completely happy in my little world and did not want to share it. I assumed every one else was the same.As we rested we talked a little, sometimes we shared snacks, sometimes we changed our order but when we were moving we all retreated into our private worlds and slowly, slowly the summit got closer.

I could not remember ever being this tired. Once I was desperate for a drink and throwing off my rucksack said to Lee ‘I’m giving up’. I meant just for a short time for a drink but he immediately retorted ‘No, you’re bloody not ! ‘ At one point Kay was struggling and started dropping back, at first others encouraged her but within a few minutes she was feeling really ill and vomiting. It was a shock, jolting me back to reality. Kay had always been one of the fore runners on every trek and of all of us seemed to have been one of the best prepared. How could it be she was now ill ? Would she have to turn back ? How disappointing would that be especially as it was soon going to be dawn. Surely it could not bet that much further. We were getting cold and needed to move on. The rest of us set off again passing Kay who was with a porter and Matt. I felt a pang of guilt but deep inside we all knew we could only help each other so much and at the end of the day each of us could only get to the top on our own personal inner strength. However after a few minutes Kay was on her feet again and at the back of the group was still striving for the summit.

I had lost all concept of time and suddenly a faint orange glow began to form in the sky and it rapidly grew and stretched across the purple, grey sky. Dawn was breaking. My heart leapt at the thought of sunrise. I suddenly realised it had been a long, long night and now the sun was rising , it was a new day. A bright new day. The day on which we would reach the summit. I looked up and realised the top of the ridge was not far away. It really was attainable. We were almost to Stella Point. We almost fell to the top of the ridge at Stella Point. This was a significant landmark. We had reached the top of the steep face. We had done the most difficult bit, now we just had to walk around the crater rim and we would be there. We rested a while in the shelter of a large rock, drank some strong warm tea from our flasks and prepared for what I thought was a gentle walk around the rim of the crater. Sure it was still uphill but you could see the ridge ahead of us. It did not occur to me I could not see the rickety sign post of all the summit photos I had seen. It was tempting to set off quickly, after all the end was in sight but immediately we realised ‘pole pole’ was the only way. So we began again, one step after another and so, so slowly the ridge got closer. I was with Steve but we walked in silence and finally reached the ridge. As we stepped up onto it at the same time we realised it was a false horizon. Far far away in the distance the summit taunted us. We had really believed we were almost there. A string of expletives filled the air, we threw ourselves on the ground, I was crying. I couldn’t go on. I didn’t even want to go on. I wanted to stay here lying on the ground. For me this was the top. I thought Steve felt the same and later he admitted he just wanted to stay there and everyone leave him alone. Scott had joined us now. He too had thought this was the top. All three of us stared in silence. Then Scott was speaking to us, encouraging us. I don’t know what he said. I don’t know if I even heard him. I just heard his voice not his words………….. and then I was walking again. Walking very slowly and deliberately but walking. Walking to the summit. And Steve was too, and Scott, we were going to make it to the summit.

The view was amazing. The glaciers were stunning, standing serenely with the sun reflecting off them and a blanket of cloud behind them . We walked between ridges from frozen snow and looked down towards the snowy crater. It was fabulous. All around us were the most marvelous photo opportunities but I was too tired to notice, too tired to get the camera out. All I wanted now was to reach the crooked old signpost.
I reached the summit alone. Gordon was already there sitting alone on the rock beyond the signpost. I took off my rucksack, laid down my walking poles and sat on the rock. I was here. I had made it. Suddenly I was crying. Sitting on a cold rock on the tallest free standing mountain in the world almost 6 kilometres above sealevel staring at the amazing scenery through a veil of tears. I don’t know how long I sat there. I don’t know how many people will get their summit photos back and see a pathetic women in a green down jacket huddled in the corner crying.

After a while I realised I wasn’t tired now and I wasn’t crying. I was at the top of Kilimanjaro I needed to take photographs. I needed to find the rest of the team, We needed to be together. I took a photo of the sign and of my rucksack propped up against the rock even remembering to check the 1000 mile logo was visible. Then I walked over to Gordon. We didn’t speak at first, we just hugged and then we were both crying. We went back to the signpost and started meeting the others, Dave, Scott, Paul, Steve. We were all hugging each other, most of us were crying. It was such an emotional experience. I do not know if it was happiness or sadness, relief, elation or just total exhaustion. The rest of the team were joining us now, we were jostling for chances to get photos at the summit of each other and trying to get everyone together for a group photo. Dan had removed his shirt and was smoking his victory cigar.This was it, this was what we come for. For some people they had waited two years for this moment. We had reached the summit of Kilimanjaro. I wanted that moment to go on forever.

Let’s hope we all make it to the summit too.

We are nearly at our fundraising target of £20,000 for Breakthrough Breast Cancer. If you can help us reach it please donate at either www.twin-peaks.co.uk or www.justgiving.com/attitudeataltitude

Thank you xxxx

The sun was already blazing and the forecast was for a hot, hot day – and for once the weathermen had got it right.

We set off up the Pyg track, a 3 ¼ mile steep track up to the summit, and 3 hours later were sat having a very welcome cup of tea outside the café 1085 metres above sea level!

It was very hot and tough going, well except for Paul who had done it in half the time a few weeks previously! After a brief rest, packed lunches and a few photos by the summit stone we set off back down the Pyg until we came to the Finger Point and headed off down the very steep incline of the Miners Track to the tarn below. From there on in it’s a steady slope down for about 3 miles back to the car park at Pen y Pass.

2 hours later we were back in the car heading to Betwys Coed for a fish and chip supper and bloody lovely it was too.

We were all suffering in various ways; a few achy joints, some sunburn, wobbly legs due to glucose tablet overdose and blindness due to sun cream in the eyes but after a change of driver (a blind one isn’t good in anyone’s book) and 3 hours rest during the drive home we all agreed it had been a great day.

103 days to go until Kili and still plenty of work to do but we know that together we will get there.

Just below the summit of Snowdon

Kit bags packed, only to discover later, with far too many useless items, map in hand and off for a pub lunch on route – just in case we didn’t get fed for the rest of the weekend….oh how wrong we were!

The Youth Hostel was nestled in the foothills of Snowdonia, the scenery breathtaking and as we were to find out, climbing Snowdon literally took our breath away!

At 40 something this was our first experience of staying in a Youth Hostel, well deserving of its title as throughout the stay we felt like teenagers again, bedroom sharing, sleeping in bunk beds and a lot of laughing and giggling.

Time to meet our expedition leader, fellow trekkers and not forgetting the ‘Last of the Summer Wine Boys’, who, until our arrival, had enjoyed a week of walking in Snowdonia, no sharing of the showers or bar… Sorry boys!

As predicted our new found friends very quickly became good friends and our expedition leader Brian, an inspiration to us all, *even if long term use of anti malaria medication had taken its toll and made him ever so slightly hyper!

Brian has lead 14 expeditions on Kilimanjaro, and over the course of the weekend gave us an amazing amount of knowledge that will surely make the difference between making it to the summit or not and more importantly enjoying our time on expedition, where we will surely be so far out of our comfort zone it doesn’t bear thinking about.

The weather was perfect for climbing Snowdon and so after an enormous breakfast we set off with all the gear and no idea! The camaraderie of the group instantly evident, the day filled with fun, bad language on the challenging slopes and eventually a ritual dip in the lake at the foot of the mountain by our leaders *.

The next day brought new challenges as we headed for Tryfan, scrambling rocks and scree walking. Our lovely Debs coming a cropper, but she did it, as always, with grace and style, saved only by the new boobs and Brian grabbing her rucksack.

And so to debrief;  An amazing experience, we learnt so much in such a short time, had so much fun, met the most inspirational people, some who will come to Kilimanjaro with us and some going on to adventures of their own. We wish you all a safe journey and success with your fundraising.

Life can so quickly change, whilst we can, let’s go for it.

Audra 18.5.10

Thank you to everyone involved in this magnificent event – I am sure it will be remembered for a very long time.

To view one of the ‘Village People’s’ numbers check out the YouTube link below:

PRO-AM Music Management donated a fantastic Rat-Pack Swing Show ‘Lazy River’ and the staff of the Kilton provided the venue and donated a  buffet supper.

The community spirit and generosity of all involved was amazing. From local companies donating raffle prizes, to talented graphics and photographers helping to promote the evening, to our very own ‘official sponsor’ stripping off to promote the sales of the ‘Chaps for Baps’ calendar…what a great night.

We would like to say an enormous ‘thank you’, for the hard work, the team-work, time and the expense, that went in to organising the evening, in particular we would like to thank Mr. Bob Bracewell for his amazing enthusiasm and energy on the night.

The evening raised an incredible £590, add that to the donations already made in the collection tin on the bar and the sale of the ribbon pins, the total raised for Breakthrough Breast Cancer by the Kilton Inn now exceeds £700.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH

Well what a day…

Even as we were setting up the stall, at the entrance to Morrisons, money was being thrown in to the buckets and collection tins, a trend that was set to continue throughout the day.

From tots to teenagers to the more senior customers of Morrisons, donations were made and often stories shared of how they had been affected by cancer.

Just as we were cleaned out of ribbon pins and stickers the gorgeous team of bag packers arrived fresh from a hard day at school! What a great job the girls did, they cheered up weary shoppers and were in big demand from the check-out staff…THANK YOU GIRLS YOU DID A FABULOUS JOB.

Three generations of my family were out supporting this event and this was only made possible because of charities who are working hard to win the battle against breast cancer. We were overwhelmed by people’s generosity and raised £448.22 for Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

A special thank you to MORRISONS of STOCKTON HEATH.

Submitted by Audra Selley

The ‘Muddy Marvels’ washed cars, Team Attitude at Altitude added a touch of glamour, the U8’s played tag ….. Oh, and the Bulls beat Huntingdon!

On a Saturday Matchday afternoon bathed in glorious Autumn sunshine, Banbury Rugby Club put on a show of non-stop action at Bodicote Park.

First up the Under 12’s – the Muddy Marvels – washed over 40 cars to raise money for their forthcoming tour to Yorkshire. Later this month the team will take on reigning Yorkshire Champions Otley, plus County runners-up York.

Next up was Team Attitude at Altitude who are raising money for the Breakthrough Breast Cancer charity. The team is committed to raising £20,000 and their efforts culminate next September with a 9-day trek to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

There was merchandise on sale in front of the grandstand plus a bucket collection at half time. Buzz from Banbury Sound helped get the crowd digging deep into their pockets and the girls raised over £200. This was topped up by a £50 donation from the Muddy Marvels car washing exploits.

Before the Bulls v Huntingdon Midlands 2 East (South) fixture Banbury’s mighty Under 8’s gave a demonstration of their tag rugby skills. The budding rugby superstars then formed a guard of honour as the players took the field.

For more information, or to make a donation to Team Attitude at Altitude, please click here:

http://www.twin-peaks.co.uk/in..

For more information on the Breakthrough Breast Cancer charity, please click here:

http://breakthrough.org.uk/..

For more information on Banbury Sound 107.6fm, please click here:

http://www.banburysound.co.uk/..

It is not every day that we get to deliver a course aimed at four pink bras!  But today we did just that to an awesome foursome with a mad mission in mind!The ladies in question (in the photo below) are Deb Hunt, Helen Taylor, Annemarie Smith and Audra Selley. Their story starts (ironically) on April Fools’ Day 2008 when Deb was diagnosed with breast cancer. After a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy she is well again and decided to do a skydive to raise money for Breakthrough Breast Cancer. After that amazing feat, the others, three of her friends, decided that they wanted to do something in support. They became a sort of Three Musketeers to Deb’s d’Artagnan – the self-styled “Four Pink Bras” and they have embarked on a challenge to raise £20,000 by way of a sponsored climb to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. Naturally they are looking for cash but were also asking seeking sponsorship in kind. The Four Pink Bras, Deb, Helen, Annemarie and Audra At NewTricks we know how vital it is for speakers going out onto the networking circuit – in order to raise funds – to deliver a cracking presentation. However great the cause, nobody wants to be bored out of their mind at 7:30am! And so with that in mind we offered one of pur Powerful Presentation Skills training course for the “Four Pinks Bras”… and what a great day we enjoyed with them all. Four nervous ladies arrived at Bloxham Mill Business Centre – who kindly donated the use of one of their conference rooms – and four far more confident ladies have departed. In our day together we concentrated on putting together a talk with a good structure and explored the ways in which they could hold an audience’s attention. We then focused on how to make the presentation memorable and achieve the objectives that they have set themselves. Some time was spent on ways to overcome nerves and on delivering a presentation with real flair. Finally (and vitally) we looked for alternatives to the dreaded bullet points in PowerPoint… see our twitter post on that very subject! Good luck to the ladies with your fund raising (you can make a donation – dosh or services via their splendidly titled (or is that tittled) Twin Peaks website) and we are looking forward to hearing all about it when they return. That’ll be another presentation then – we’ve already booked them in to The 729 Club in Chipping Norton! All for one and one for all!

Team Attitude at Altitude aka 4pinkbras(on Twitter) attending a presentation skills training course

Well, that’s what we went for. What actually happened was that before the evening got started, said MP – Mr Tony Baldry, MP for Banbury, came over to chat to us – no doubt thinking we were local business women. We explained what we were doing there and that we were planning on climbing Kili next year to raise £20,000 for Breakthrough Breast Cancer. We chatted about the training and he suggested that we get people to sponsor us by the foot eg £5 per foot up the mountain. Rather cheekily, Helen enquired if he was offering to sponsor us and that’s when he put his hand in his pocket and came out with £20! ‘There you go, that’s a fiver for each of you’. Now, following the MP’s expenses debacle we thought it would be prudent to offer him a receipt, at which point we all fell about laughing! 

We obviously struck a chord with him because he opened his talk with a big plug for the team, something we certainly were not expecting. Half an hour later and his speech all done we were then dragged up to do a speech of our own!

We were totally unprepared, totally unaware that this would be happening. Ray Avery told the audience that Bloxham Mill are committed to ensure that we will reach our total and that the business centre will do everything possible to make it happen and then asked us up to explain what we were doing and why! 

So there we were, Annemarie and I, stood in front of 70-80 business men and women, legs shaking and expected to perform!

Rather amazingly we managed to make them laugh but we still got our message across. I think the opening line about me being diagnosed with breast cancer last year certainly got their attention! By the end of it we had a queue of people wanting to offer help and advice and some amazing contacts that will be really useful in helping us reach our goal. It was a fabulous evening and big thanks are due to Ray Avery at Bloxham Mill for throwing us into the lions den, sometimes it really is worth taking the sink or swim approach.

This may have been our first networking event but we’ve no doubt that it won’t be our last – our legs are still shaking though!!