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.
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).
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.
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:
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:
Put one step in front of the other.
Pole, Pole: slowly, slowly – more than just words.
Greg Morrissey
Mountain Goat Movement
IG
© 2026 KAVU
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