Pole Pole - A Walking Meditation by KAVU
Skip to content
Home
10%

Pole Pole - A Walking Meditation

By Greg Morrissey

KAVU
By KAVU

Pole, pole - in Swahili means slowly, slowly.

This was the mantra that Chief Guide, Yesse, and his joyful team of porters instructed our group of 10 young men to follow.

Ascend Slowly. 

A photo in this story
A photo in this story
A photo in this story

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).

A photo in this story
A photo in this story
A photo in this story
A photo in this story

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.

A photo in this story

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:

A photo in this story
A photo in this story
A photo in this story
A photo in this story

Now that I have returned to normalcy in the United States: work, traffic, the New York Rush, the challenges and joys of the daily routine; I have come back with perspective – a lesson that only Kilimanjaro can provide:

A photo in this story

Put one step in front of the other.

Pole, Pole: slowly, slowly – more than just words.

A photo in this story
A photo in this story
A photo in this story

© 2025 KAVU

KAVU is an aviation acronym for “clear above visibility unlimited,” when there isn’t a cloud in the sky and you can see to the horizon. That limitless feeling is our guiding philosophy. It means treating every day like it’s special, and then getting out and doing whatever brings on the perma-grin. That’s KAVU.
Join 433 others
By subscribing to the mailing list of KAVU your email address is stored securely, opted into new post notifications and related communications. We respect your inbox and privacy, you may unsubscribe at any time.
Loading, please hold on.