As someone who described herself as a “non-exerciser,” the idea of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro seemed like a faraway dream. But all of this was about to change when Carolyn stepped out of her comfort zone and took on one of the world’s Seven Summits. After months of training, working muscles she never knew she had, hiking countless trails for the first time, buying unfamiliar gear, and trying her best to learn how to use it, Carolyn had done all she could to prepare for Kilimanjaro. It was time to put her newfound skills to the test and stand atop the “roof of Africa.”

Touch Down in Tanzania

“I’m a chronic overthinker and stresser, so I had to try really hard not to think about anything too far ahead of time because I knew I would completely spiral,” Carolyn said. This mindset was reinforced when Carolyn’s trekking group, strangers who would soon become like family, had their first briefing with their head guide, MC. He gave them a brief overview of the day-by-day itinerary but made it clear: “We’re not going to really talk about the summit bid until the night before. We’re going to take this day-by-day.” “With this in mind, I really just tried to focus on the very next thing I had to do,” Carolyn recalled. “Like, right now I just have to weigh my duffel. Right now, we’re walking to the park gate.” But then, that seemingly innocuous sentence hit her — they were at the park gate, ready to begin.

Ready. Set. Go.

“That was a punch in the gut,” Carolyn said. “It’s starting.” In her mind, her peers seemed so calm and collected as they began their trek, while a sudden wave of self-doubt washed over her. She wasn’t sure if she was ready... or maybe she was? Thankfully, her apprehension soon turned to pure joy as she and her fellow trekkers approached camp. The melodic sounds filled the thick rainforest air, as the porters sang them into camp, welcoming them to Kilimanjaro. For the first few days, the mountain was shrouded in clouds and fog, keeping the destination just out of reach. But on day four, Carolyn finally got a clear view. “The guides pointed out the top of Kilimanjaro and it just seemed so incredibly far away. It was intimidating to see where we were going,” she said. “Yet, on the other hand, we could look back and see how far we’d already come.”

Trust the Process

As all who climb Kilimanjaro learn, the most important thing you can do on the mountain is to trust your guides. With 100-200+ professional Kilimanjaro summits under their belts and the highest guide certification on the mountain, it’s easy to feel at peace. “In retrospect, it’s pretty funny; it usually takes years to build trust with someone, yet here you are, putting all your trust into these guides immediately,” Carolyn said. “But here’s the thing: they make it so easy. They are just remarkable, remarkable people.” On the morning of the summit bid, with only hours left to trek, Carolyn described an eerie calm washing over the group: “I don’t know if everyone was tired or nervous or focused. It was extremely surreal.” At that point, Carolyn reverted to a simple tactic to cope with exhaustion. “I literally just stared at our guide’s shoes for seven hours. I put my feet where his were. Everything was just matter of fact,” she said. “If he thinks we can climb up this rock face, we can climb up this rock face. If he thinks we should take a break, we take a break.”

Stella Point Tears

As she put one foot in front of another, those tired yet determined feet finally reached Stella Point, the last stop before Uhuru Peak. Knowing she had made it through the hardest stretch, Carolyn burst into tears. “Because I had reached Stella, I now knew I could get to the summit,” she said. “It got really encouraging at this point. On the way to the summit, we passed groups coming down. Every single person you pass congratulates you. That was really great.”

Uhuru Elation

One hour later, Carolyn stood atop Mount Kilimanjaro and cried again. She had reached Uhuru Peak. “Every single trekker, porter, and guide—we all hugged each other,” Carolyn said. “It was such a celebration. Pure joy.” Then, one of the guides Carolyn credits with getting her up the mountain said something she’ll never forget: “He said, ‘You’re here because you’re so strong, and you had this in you the whole time.’ I’ll never forget that.” “I know it sounds cheesy, but I left part of myself on the mountain,” Carolyn said. “That is my home now, and the guides and porters are my family. It’s where I will always belong. I feel like I will spend the rest of my life trying to get back there.” At I Artist Adventure, we know that Kilimanjaro is more than a mountain—it’s a life-changing journey. Are you ready to start your own story? Book your Kilimanjaro adventure with I Artist Adventure today and take the first step toward the summit of Africa.