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Steve DeWalt chats with Rotarians after his presentation.
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Friday’s guest speaker, Rotarian Steve DeWalt (Past President, Overlake Rotary Club), spoke with some passion about his trek to the highest point in Africa, 19,340-foot Mt. Kilimanjaro. “On
February 16, 2000, I, along with others in my party, reached the summit of Africa’s highest mountain. Only as I came down the mountain did it hit me what I had accomplished!”
Hiring Mountain Madness, a Seattle firm specializing in operating trips to mountains throughout the world, DeWalt began his training in March of
1999, in preparation for his climb in February. “I wanted to experience the thrill of climbing one of the world’s highest mountains. I worked hard, trained, and then the time had come.”
Transported from the noise of Seattle to the utter calm of Tanzania, “leaving behind lattes and ATMs to be introduced to the wonderful people
of Africa was a real experience for me. My fears and expectations about the climb were reduced to one question: how will I do in the air?”
(Meaning, what would happen when he reached the rarified air high on the mountain?)
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Shira Plateau
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“It took eight days from the start of our expedition … there were 9 of us, with about 50 helpers. We approached from the southern and western side of the mountain, across the seldom-traveled Shira
Plateau. We started in heavy forest, to shrubs, and then broke out above the tree line. We took our time once we reached 10,000 feet, to acclimatize our bodies to the thin air.”
The Mountain Madness guides brought the group to 18,500 feet, and the Summit day was celebrated by a hearty 7:00 a.m. breakfast before
heading up the mountain. Just an hour later, the party reach the summit, and it was pictures and cheers all around. Steve said he “was moved by the experience when I got to the ‘top of the world.’”
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Mt. Kilimanjaro
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Heidi Osler, who runs the Africa operations for Mountain Madness, when asked about fees, said the climb itself costs about $3,300. Steve reported he spent about $8,000 total for his experience. As
noted in the Mountain Madness brochure, the company offers a Seven Summits package that includes the highest peaks on each continent. They have climbs to
Kilimanjaro (Africa), Aconcagua (South America), Denali (North America), Elbrus (Europe), Carstensz Pyramid (Oceania), Everest (Asia), and Mt. Vinson (Antarctica).
Mountain Madness was founded by Scott Fisher of Seattle, who perished on Mount Everest during a tragic storm in May of 1996. He helped raise funds for AIDS research and for CARE. Mountain Madness
continues with Scott’s dreams, “to safely bring the beauty and excitement of adventure to those who pursue it. The company’s philosophy maintains
the vision of achieving serious, high quality guiding and instruction while having the most fun possible. Our approach to life and business are the
same – enjoy and immerse yourself in the experience.”
Thanks to Dick Brown, who promptly ran away to Hawaii, leaving the introduction to Steve Goldfarb, whose job it really is.
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