We are all on a journey in this lifetime. Many of us are on a quest for adventure as we live for each exciting day. I recently had the opportunity to travel to Tanzania for an incredible trip to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Mount Kilimanjaro. The first step in preparing for my Kilimanjaro summit trek was to read a short story by Ernest Hemingway titled “The Snows of Kilimanjaro”. Next, I decided to work out and train for the occasion. Finally, I was ready both physically and mentally. Searching For Snow on Mount Kilimanjaro was a spiritual journey as much as it was a physical challenge. It is an experience that will stay with me forever.

Searching For Snow on Mount Kilimanjaro

When I decided to train for Kilimanjaro, I knew that I wouldn’t need to significantly alter my normal fitness routine. As a guide in Yosemite National Park, I am able to hike over a thousand miles in a season. This year, I was fortunate enough to hike Half Dome and Clouds Rest several times. I was also able to add a summit of Mt. Whitney this past September. The peak is 14,505 feet and the tallest in the lower 48 of the U.S. so I knew it would be my best chance to prepare for some significant altitude. My buddy Ziggy and I achieved the summit and returned in under twelve hours so I was confident I was ready for Africa’s tallest peak.

Summer and fall training went well, but I was more concerned with the winter conditions for my winter conditioning. I was expecting to be able to train with a few snowshoe hikes like in year’s past. One of my favorite activities is downhill snowshoe racing on my Yukon Charlie’s snowshoes. The snowshoes in the photo are the lightweight Pro Series I’ve had for a little while. They are so lightweight and durable. As a Yukon Charlie’s Ambassador, I was hoping to test out my new snowshoes before my trip, but it wasn’t meant to be. Instead, I completed my training by summiting Half Dome in early January on a completely dry trail.

If you think escaping the Sierra Nevada across the globe to Africa in search of snow is a bizarre plan, you’re not the only one. The safari portion of the trip was productive for incredible wildlife photos (Instagram: @yexplore_global), but I felt I was rapidly losing my fitness with each prepared meal we enjoyed. Not being allowed to leave the vehicle for a few days added to the challenge. Fortunately, we adjusted with some acclimatization hikes during the Ngorongoro segment of this African Adventure. There was a real sense of restlessness when we arrived at Kilimanjaro, however. We were well fed and well prepared for the trek.

Having the proper gear is essential for any adventure. I was prepared and confident. Included in my gear were my Yukon Charlie’s ultralight Flipout Poles and Slip Nots traction gear for the bottom of my shoes. With a very steep trail leading up to the summit, I wanted to be ready for anything.

Searching For Snow on Mount Kilimanjaro

Soaring Flamingo had such an incredible team that led us on the mountain. Our excitement grew as we moved from rainforest to Mooreland. Then we headed to the alpine desert before finally reaching the ice cap. Our team of experts led us confidently on every step of the way, and I am eternally grateful.

The seven day journey was never very difficult, but the extra days were spent to protect our bodies during the acclimatization process. We still managed to take in the scenery and even get in a jump shot or two.

Julius was our lead guide, and he prepared us well for every meter of this journey. Trekking poles were necessary to navigate the steep terrain in the diverse weather conditions. I was fortunate to have my Flipout Poles that folded up compactly on the side of my pack and were ready at a moment’s notice for when I really needed them. They were especially helpful on the descent through scree and slippery rocks.

Camping in some of the most amazing locations imaginable was a true highlight of this trip. We often hiked through rain and snow, but the conditions never dampened our spirits. Our confidence grew with each setting sun. I felt unstoppable as I bedded down on summit’s eve while peering out at this view of Mawenzi peak of Kilimanjaro. Our goal in the early morning was Kibo. At 19,341 feet (5895 Meters), it is the tallest of the three separate volcanic peaks of Kilimanjaro.

Waking up at midnight reminded me of an earlier summit I made on Mt. Rainier in 1997. The excitement was palpable as we prepared for our pre dawn ascent. We were greeted by this beautiful sunrise over Mawenzi just before we reached Stella Point in the early morning hours. We were all determined to continue on to our ultimate destination of Uhuru Peak.

We reached the ice cap just below Stella Point, and I immediately felt a calmness throughout my being. I was elated to finally set foot on Hemingway’s fabled “Snows of Kilimanjaro”. My body began to carry me at a pace that was far faster than any we had sustained all week. My tolerance for “polepole” escaped me as I moved full steam ahead. I charged past the crowded summit sign all the way to the crater’s edge in search of a sliver of solitude. There I was able to sit and reflect on the events of this epic journey. Killian, my trusted guide, was very understanding of my needs. He accompanied me all the way to what seemed like the edge of the world.

The rest of the team soon followed. We reunited for this group shot at Uhuru Peak, the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Julius and Bonaventure allowed us to spend a little extra time reveling in our success. “One Team,” Julius exhorted. “One Dream,” we replied. “All the way to the top!” It was a true team effort in every way imaginable. Searching For Snow on Mount Kilimanjaro yielded the best result each of us could ever have imagined.

After almost an hour, it was time to make our descent. I posed for this final photo to show some love to Yukon Charlie’s for providing me with some great gear that was essential to this trip. I am thankful for this great relationship that allows me to enjoy my adventures with an added sense of safety on the trails. As a thank you for the adventures I share, Yukon Charlie’s has allowed me to share a special promotion for my readers. Please feel free to use the PROMO CODE below:

• 25% off purchase at YukonCharlies.com
• Free shipping for orders over $50
• Starts: 3/2/18 at 12:00 am (Pacific)
• Ends: 3/16/18 at 11:59 pm (Pacific)
• Limited to one use per customer
• Cannot be combined with other discounts or offers
• Not good on sale items or parts

Searching For Snow on Mount Kilimanjaro

All photos for Searching For Snow on Mount Kilimanjaro were take on a Canon EOS M5 and an iPhone 6s by John P. DeGrazio, Bonaventure, Travis V, and a fellow explorer on the summit of Kili. The photo of John snowshoeing in Yosemite was taken by Kim Lawson.

Get an overview of all our global treks here. We published an interview about Everest Base Camp in this post.