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Pole Pole - A Walking Meditation
By Greg Morrissey
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Having witnessed fellow hikers fall victim to Altitude Sickness, we were well aware that our 7-day trek of the Umbwe Route could not be taken lightly – certainly not en route to Kilimanjaro’s summit of 19,341 feet (5895m).
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The idea of hiking slowly, and I mean slowly, was counter intuitive for our group of young, fit men, many of whom are accustomed to making quick ascents of peaks in the Adirondacks and Catskills – the New York pace of life – where competitive spirit often drives us to climb more, and climb faster. We had to adjust.
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Our summit bid of Kilimanjaro took roughly 16 hours to complete. While on the roof of Africa, which felt otherworldly, our team cried – another process that is counter intuitive to see among young men in 2022. This vulnerable moment brought to the forefront the reason why we climb mountains:
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