Tale of the Tape

Height of plain of Africa: 3,340 feet above sea level
Height of Kilimanjaro: 16,000 feet above African plain

Height of Edmonton: 2,192 feet above sea level
Height of Cathy: 5 feet, six inches above Edmonton

Fleas can jump 38 times their body length
Number of times Cathy would have to jump her body length to get to the top of the mountain: 2,910

Geology of Kilimanjaro: formed from three distinct dormant volcanoes
Geology of Cathy: made of too much junk food (205 lbs worth)

Last eruption of Kili: 200 years ago
Last eruption of Cathy: today 9:00 am

Major health issues of Kili: potential for altitude sickness, hypothermia, malaria
Major health issues of Cathy: overweight, out of shape, injured knee from falling down stairs last month

Kilimanjaro from space:



Cathy standing on the Great Wall of China, which is visible from space:


Pounds lost this month: 6

And So It Begins!

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go." T.S. Elliot



My grand adventure started with a brief email titled, "Kili!!!"

A group from Helen's gym is climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in February, 2013. Five minutes and four pages of information later I was registered for info night. First Lobster (my husband) was already not impressed I was considering a three week trip to the "dangerous middle of no-where".

Info night has come and gone. No discussions scared me off and my credit card has since been dinged for the deposit.

I have stepped out of my box and will be climbing the tallest free-standing mountain in the world. ME! I am horribly excited and scared "poopless" at the same time. What was I thinking?

So far I have started going to the gym more regularly than before (of course, even once in a row is more regularly the before!)

I am posting this picture of Kilimanjaro on the fridge and on my wall at work. Might as well start visualizing now.

Oh, a visit with the sport psychologist is included in the training...I think I'm gonna need it!