TimSummers

Well, it’s been a couple of weeks since I last updated this blog. It’s not helped that I’ve been without my laptop, for what seems like an entire lifetime (but in reality it’s only been a couple of weeks) since it’s been getting repaired due to an ‘accidental fall’ – I do hope that is the only ‘accidental fall’ that I’m going to mention here. Time has flown by and it’s now exactly ONE WEEK till I meet up with my walking friends at Heathrow Terminal 4 to start this long awaited adventure. Apprehensive – Absolutely, Nervous – Undeniably, Excited – Occasionally Confident – Not particularly (if I’m being totally honest). Should/Could I have done more training – For sure. It is all too late now to do anything that’s going to make any kind of ... read more

So, as I may have already hinted previously I'm not actually all that keen on exercising, After a day at work the last thing that I'd want to do is to get myself down to the gym, or do anything active actually. I'd much prefer to ponk myself down on the sofa with a beverage of some description, and become an armchair supporter of whatever football match they were deciding to show on Sky TV and relax with my family. I found that workouts just got put on the back burner and only spoken about around the time that New Years resolutions were getting branded around. But that's all just an excuse really, and, if I'm completely honest, far from being a gym bunny, I actually hate exercise. I'm a '30-something' year old male ex-smoker and ... read more

I have signed up to do a 10-day expedition to climb Africa's highest mountain (5,895 metres or 19,341 ft), which will consist of 5½ days climbing up, 1½ days coming down, 1 day recovery, and 2 days travelling to and from the UK. We are taking the Rongai Route up Kilimanjaro, which, while not technically being considered the most easiest of routes, it is the one which our hiking company has the highest success rate with – which I suppose is the ultimate goal at the end of the day. The bit from the brochure Rongai Route: The Rongai Route approaches Kilimanjaro from the north and retains a sense of untouched wilderness which has been lost on the crowded Marangu and Machame trails. This route up has a relatively gentle gradient and short daily stages as ... read more

Countdown to Kilimanjaro A year has passed since THAT e-mail dropped into my inbox at work, from the corporate events team, detailing various exciting and worthwhile charity events, including climbing Mt Kilimanjaro. My eyes lit up, possibly a little hastily ! 'Ahh, Why not?' I thought. A challenge could be exactly just what I need. 'Where do I sign myself up ?!' I work the standard 9 to 5:30 (boring) office job in Cambridge, so the idea of having an extracurricular challenge seemed like a good one. As the months have passed, and the trip has become to loom - it's just under 3 months away now - my gung-ho mentality has weaned, and the prospect of ascending 20,000 feet that stand between me and the summit suddenly feels ...... awfully daunting, to say the least. ... read more