What 19,341 feet looks and feels like

It feels pretty good standing on the roof of Africa! We must thank OperationFISTULA CEO Seth Cochran for all of his support and guidance, and our official sponsor, Trilipiderm, for making this amazing trip possible.

Stay posted for more pictures from the trip!

22.7 miles and 19,341 vertical feet later... WE DID IT!

Jambo from Arusha!

I am pleased to announce that on January 8th, 2014 at 8:00am the entire Mountains for Moms team made it to Gilman's Point on Mt. Kilimanjaro to summit the world's tallest freestanding mountain. It was a wild journey, the likes of which we will never experience again, but completely and totally worth it. Every single member made it up there safe and sound, and back down again in similar fashion. The mountain pushed us to dig deep and believe in ourselves more than ever before, and we were thankful to have guides that helped us every step of the way. In the end, we made it, and it felt so amazing to know it was for such a great cause.

As an overview of the last week, we departed from Flamingo Lodge to have our second safari in the Tarangire National Park on January 3rd, where we were able to see unbelievable amounts of elephants and giraffes! We were able to take tons of photos, and enjoyed a lunch in the park before departing for Marangu Hotel, which was about 4 hours away in a very bumpy car ride. We had one stop to make - in Moshi - where George, the director of Mtaki Brothers (our travel agency for the safari), insisted we stop for a certificate ceremony and some beers. He doled out t-shirts galore to our team, and shook each of our hands enthusiastically as he presented each of us with our safari certificate. After that, it was on to Marangu Hotel where we would have dinner before getting a good night's sleep and preparing for the start of our climb on January 4th!

Thankfully, we did not have orientation the night of January 3rd, like I thought we would, and instead we had a wonderful group dinner at the hotel before heading straight to bed in some very nice rooms! The hotel has a courtyard, bar, a dining room, and a nice lounge, and so we understood why it was one of the top-rated hotels in Moshi. The next morning we woke up early for our 7:30am breakfast, and had to have everything out on our beds that we planned to pack, because Dora, one of the managers (a tough little lady who had climbed the mountain many times back in her day) would come around to make sure we had everything we needed. Following our pack-check, we stuffed everything into our duffles and our day-packs and went to orientation with Seamus, a fantastic guy with large ears and a charming accent. Only a person like him could make nausea, vomiting, and cerebral edema (many of the things he warned us about) sound so delightful. After the orientation, we met our crew of 7 guides, 1 chef, 2 waiters, and 23 porters. It was a huge crew, and all to make sure we would get up the mountain! They were very nice, and clearly extremely athletic, and so after quick introductions we loaded onto our bus and were off to the Marangu Gate! 

We signed into the park, received our permits, and were off. With about 3 liters of water and a packed lunch, we had a 4-5 hour hike ahead of us to get to Mandara Hut. The main thing that the guides told us to focus on when hiking was "pole, pole," which means "slowly, slowly," as the altitude could have serious effects if we ascended too quickly. So we went very "pole" up the mountain, at a pace that seemed excrutiatingly slow, but according to Seamus, we'd be doing it wrong if we ever found ourselves out of breath. We arrived at Mandara Hut full of energy, and excited to be there. We were even more elated when we found that all 13 of us would be bunking together in the top floor of the dining hut! Also, it was our first chance to see what the food would be like on the mountain, and we were not disappointed. Our meal then, and all that followed, started with a vegetable soup, then rice or potatoes, cabbage or some other veggie, with a veggie stew in a sauce, with bread, and fruit for desert. We were never hungry, and they even accommodated members who were gluten-free, vegetarian, or carnivorous - they did anything! 

Our next day was a long hike to the next hut, Horrombo Hut, at about 12,500 vertical feet. It was going to be a large jump in altitude, so pole pole we went. Charlie, our lead guide, headed up the train of us hikers as we made our way through Maundi Crater, an area where the ground had collapsed, up out of the rainforest and into the alpine zone, and then up to Horrombo Hut, a more desolate environment that was already above the clouds. During our first night there, some began to feel the altitude, but after drinking lots more water, everyone felt better and was able to rest after the long day of hiking (8:00am-5:00pm). 

The next day was our acclimatization/rest day at Horrombo, and was welcome after the previous day's travels. We hiked to Zebra Rock, a natural black and white rock at about 14,000ft, where we had beautiful views of Mwenzi, the neighboring peak (still part of Mt. Kilimanjaro, but not the highest peak - the highest peak is Uhuru, and that's where we summitted). Leaving after breakfast, we made it there at about 11:30am and were able to return for a large lunch at the hut. Then all afternoon we made use of the rest day; so some napped, some journaled, and others explored the area around the huts!

Then we were off to Kibo Hut, the last hut before the summit, at about 15,000ft. Leaving early, we hiked past the last water point, where porters had to pack in all of the water for the next part of the trip. We could only imagine how heavy their loads were after that. We had lunch in some rocks, as trees had completely disappeared by that point, and slowly made our way through the completely barren landscape until Kibo hut was in sight, where we had popcorn, cookies, and tea waiting for us. 

It was summit night ahead of us. Something different was in the air, and there was a general feelig of apprehension, anxiety, and nausea, in the hut (especially as we walked by those who were not so fortunate in how the altitude affected them). However, our group was in the best of spirits! We were joking around, eagerly eating our food (despite warnings that altitude would destroy our appetites) and excited for the adventure ahead. Summitting Mt. Kilimanjaro requires a crazy schedule - you arrive at the hut at about 4:00pm (if you're slow like us, between 1:00pm and 3:00pm if you go faster) and have dinner at 5:00pm to load up on carbs for energy for the hike. Then, you have about 5 hours to sleep before waking up at 11:00pm to prepare for the hike, which requires that you leave from the hut at midnight, no matter what. Waking up at 11:00pm was somewhat disorienting, but we gathered our things, had a couple last cups of tea and biscuits, and were off, trudging into the dark, following our brave leader Charley into the night. It was pole pole again, and soon the steepness required a pace almost slower than crawling. The altitude began to affect some, and we took periodic breaks about every hour and a half in the shelter of caves or other large rocks. The hours dragged on, and more than one of us doubted exactly why we were doing this. But there the guides were, confident that we could make it, and helping us each step of the way, holding a pack here, and offering words of encouragement when necessary. After a long and tiring 8 hours, all 13 of us made it to Gilman's point, and happily snapped photos in our altitude-induced delirium. We then had a decision to make, as Gilman's Point is not the highest point. You can still receive a summit certificate upon reaching Gilman's; however, the highest point and true summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro is Uhuru, which was another 2 kilometers away. That may not sound like much, but at that point many of us felt nauseous, were extremely cold, and didn't have much water as many of our Camelbaks froze. However, 11 decided to bravely continue, and reached Uhuru at 10:30am, after another exhausting 2.5 hours of trudging along the crater ridge in the snow. Unfortunately, it was cloudy and we couldn't see anything at the top, but nothing in the world will ever compare to the feeling we had when we finally made it to the summit, knowing that we have accomplished one of the biggest feats that any of us will ever attempt in our lives. 

Then we had to go back. It was another hour to Gilman's, then another hour and a half down to Kibo, and by this point it was well into the morning and we saw the true nature of the landscape we had just climbed, and it was STEEP. We essentially skied down the mountain, sliding on the "scree," or small pebbles, that covered the slope. Our thighs burning, we slid faster and faster to beat the hailstorm that was fast approaching us. Finally, we all made it back to the hut, and had a large lunch before an all-too-short recovery period to pack and get ready to hike another 10 kilometers back to Horrombo Hut, where we would stay for the night. Total hours hiking that day: 16 hours. Something we hope we will never do again, but will always treasure the crazy day that summit day was, and all the ups and downs throughout.

After our last night on the mountain at Horrombo, we walked down to Mandara huts for lunch, and then down to the gate by 2:00pm, where we officially finished the hike. With burning muscles and sore knees, we collapsed at the bottom to wait for all the members and guides to come down before heading back to Marangu Hotel.

We all gratefully grabbed our room keys in anticipation of much-needed showers and then quickly sorted tips before running to our summit certificate ceremony with Charlie and the entire crew! All 33 members were there, and after presenting our tips, we were serenaded with two traditional songs, one about Kilimanjaro, and one called "Jambo." It was so much fun, and we took a fantastic group picture with all of Mountains for Moms and the whole crew (to be uploaded when we are back in the US). Then we all gathered as a group to celebrate both Rebecca's and Alyssa's birthdays, and the successful completion of the climb, which went better than any of us thought possible!

We are now volunteering in Arusha (about 2 hours away) at the United Africa Alliance Community Center, where they run computer, English, music, yoga and engineering classes, as well as provide a home to 21 wonderful children between the ages of 5 and 16. We've been enjoying time getting to know all the kids, work on English skills with the students, decorate their computer lab, and even teach Excel and Powerpoint. It's been amazing to get to know the people that call Tanzania home, and we couldn't have had a better way to end the trip.

We will be leaving from here tomorrow (January 14) and heading to the Kilimanjaro International Airport for our flight at 6:15pm. We'll arrive in Dar Es Salaam at 8:25pm, where we will be picked up and transported to Tanzania Executive Suites for the night, a nice hotel about 10 minutes from the airport. On January 15th, we will head to the airport at about 1:00pm, for our 4:15pm flight from Dar Es Salaam to Dubai, then to Milan, and on to JFK, where we will arrive at 7:45am (EST). 

Our experiences in this country with the people we have met, the challenges we have faced, and the incredible energy our group has carried along with us each step of the way has made this trip a life-changing experience for each member in their own way, and I hope that each person will carry these memories with them for a lifetime. Not only have we climbed the world's tallest freestanding mountain, but we were able to change the world in our own way, and share our love, energy, and knowledge with all we met, so we could learn about this wonderful place and learn about ourselves too.

Thank you for all the support, we cannot come close to expressing how much it has meant. Asante sana (thank you very much) and we will see you all soon!

Dar Es Salaam --> Arusha --> Ngorongoro Crater --> Flamingo Lodge

After over forty hours of travel, we arrived safe and sound at the Kilimanjaro International Airport to be greeted by the smiling face of George Mtaki, our tour operator for the safari and transportation for the trip. We then proceeded to take our own bus for the hour ride to Arusha, where we stayed for the night. Arriving at 12:15am, we got settled and had "dinner" at 1:20am. We were exhausted, but in true Cornell fashion, we all thought, who needs sleep anyways? After finally settling, we slept for a few hours then got up for a 6:30am breakfast before departing to the Ngorongoro Crater for our safari today. The crater is a former volcano that has since collapsed, forming a large depression with a lake and plains that are home to a variety of animals. We arrived at the gate after about two and a half hours of travel, and in the process of checking in, we noted the baboons everywhere! To our delight we snapped photos, until we realized we had two of them in our car eating our lunches... Luckily, some other guides helped us and got them out, but not after they'd torn through a few of the boxes and pooped on Carleen's seat. It ended up being alright though, and soon we were off! Even on the ride into the crater, we saw elephants and water buffalo, and we only got more excited. Once actually inside the crater, we came across hyenas, zebras, Thompson gazelles, more buffalo, wildebeests, flamingos and even a lion! We avidly snapped photos and captured some awesome sights. Finally, we decided to head back, and were taken to the Flamingo Lodge where we were greeted with warm towelettes and fresh-squeezed mango juice. After napping the afternoon away, we had a wonderful dinner and are about to go get a good night's rest as we prepare to go to the Tarangire (Elephant) National Park tomorrow for what we expect will be another fabulous day!

6 hours away from Africa!

After 24 hours of travel, we find ourselves safe and sound in Dubai and we are about to board the flight to dar es salaam! We had just ten hours in Dubai at the Millennium airport hotel, but made the  most of it. Taking directions from the emirates rep, we rushed to exchange our money and quickly boarded the metro to go downtown! It was absolute insanity but we all made it back together as a family, and got some much needed rest at the hotel. On to Africa we go!!

2 years, and $14,545 later...

I am proud to announce that Mountains for Moms at Cornell has raised $14,545, enough funds to forever change the lives of 72 women. 

http://www.opfistula.org/m4m/

Today's the day. We have held countless meetings, sent even more emails, held awareness events, plastered the campus with quartercards, sprinted up and down the slope (way too many times), and spent months getting ready for this trip, and it's finally here. We depart tonight at 10:20pm from JFK, and after two long days of travel, we will be arriving at Kilimanjaro International Airport on January 1, 2014 to being this marvelous adventure. 

After the fistula-free climb in 2008, no one knew whether this trip would happen again. However, the club resurfaced as Mountains for Moms in the fall of 2011, and after two years, we are finally getting to Kilimanjaro! We restructured the club with a new executive board, and kicked into high gear. Led by myself, Madison Grasty, Peter Noback, and Eric Obeng, some of the die-hards who had been with it from the start, we began to plan. Little did we know what we had gotten into. 

However, after hours and hours of negotiating with travel agencies in Tanzania, airlines, and the local M&T Bank for all those wire transfers for deposits (who now know me and Peter by first name), we got the trip together, and made this adventure possible for 13 students. The beauty of this process is that we did it together, in our collective effort to change the world through just one small trip.

After recruiting across campus to find similarly inspired and motivated individuals, we ended up with a solid team who inspires me every day. They have raised money, told friends and family about the trip, and have wholeheartedly dedicated themselves to this awesome mission. Here's the team:

Luke Mehringer

Alyssa Troutner

Carleen Altinok

Lilia Karimi

Quinn Cox

Amanda Steckel

Jennifer Brenner

Rebecca Li

Jenny Tang

Peter Noback (VP Finance)

Eric Obeng (VP Service)

Madison Grasty (Vice President)

Kristen Barnett (President)

We want to thank so many people for helping make this possible - our families, for supporting us with this crazy idea and actually letting us go to Tanzania with 12 other students; our friends, for putting up with our constant "I'm climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro this January and this is why..."; acquaintances, for listening to us and becoming involved in this mission and donating, and everyone who has ever taking a second glance and an extra moment to learn what Mountains for Moms is all about.

We also must thank Seth Cochran, founder CEO of OperationFISTULA, for providing us with invaluable guidance, advice and inspiration through this journey. 

We are doing this to have people as "Why?" A question that would never come up otherwise, if we were not about to summit the world's tallest freestanding mountain. There are too many women suffering in silence, and we are climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro to finally make their voices heard, and give them the chance to have a life they never thought possible after obstetric fistula. Obstetric fistula is 100% fixable, and this is our way of working towards a fistula-free world. 

Please follow us on this blog, as we will be updating it as much as possible throughout the trip with pictures and a daily journal of what we are doing! 

Mountains for Moms Thanksgiving

[reposted from Slope Media on November 28, 2013]

As we all gather round the table with family and friends, we all ponder this question together – what are we thankful for? Well for me, I’ve been thinking about this all semester, all year, and essentially my whole time while at Cornell. Arriving here during the craziness of freshman move-in day, and jumping right into the insanity we call o-week, I haven’t stopped being thankful for the friends, education and experiences I have been able to have while at Cornell, and one in particular, Mountains for Moms. There are so many reasons to be grateful in the world and Mountains for Moms is a group I feel lucky to be a part of.

Mountains for Moms is a group of students who is continually thankful. We are thankful for our good health, our loving and supportive families, and all the opportunities that Cornell has given us, a small student group looking to change the world. The biggest thing we are thankful for: our moms and our health.  We cannot stand the thought that mothers in this world are suffering, and we want to change that. Look around you – look at what great health you all have! Even if you’re not 100% healthy, we are at least lucky enough to have access to the resources to get us better in most cases.

Last year, I was diagnosed with chronic lyme disease. For those who don’t know, lyme disease can be a debilitating disease that affects your immune system greatly, leading to flu-like symptoms, aches, pains, dizziness, neurologic dysfunction, anxiety, depression, disorientation, memory problems, among many other things. Months of anxiety, depression, losing my vision, dizziness, and other mysterious symptoms finally drove me to get tested, and suddenly there I was, 19 years old, with chronic lyme disease, microplasma pneumonia, and coping with the idea I would have to modify my lifestyle completely in order to have any chance of getting better.

Most people might view this as a tragedy – I have not lived a “normal” college life for the past year – however, I think it has been a blessing. I will never again take my health for granted, and none of us should. I am beyond thankful for my supportive family and friends who have helped me cope with this disease, and my doctor, who has guided me throughout my treatment.

So many people are not this lucky. Can you imagine have a debilitating condition with no one to help you? Your own family won’t even look at you, let alone associate with you. You do not have the funds to get to any doctor, let alone get the surgery you so desperately need. This is the unfortunate reality for women with obstetric fistula.

I’m thankful for my health. I’m so thankful, I’m climbing the tallest mountain in Africa. I’m not asking everyone to do that, but I do hope you join us in spreading awareness and raising funds to give these women the gift of health that they never even dreamed was possible.

Volunteer Project

Service Project January 2014!

We will be volunteering with the United Africa American Community Center in Arusha, Tanzania, a community-based NGO founded by Pete O’Neal in 1991. It was founded for the purpose of providing programs and projects for the enrichment of the Arusha community, both urban and rural, and to promote closer cultural ties to communities in America and around the world. They currently have several ongoing, daily programs which target the youth in the community, including computer classes, art and craft classes, music, history, health and nutrition, sports and yoga, and English classes. There are also HIV/AIDS awareness and outreach programs that encourage expression through the arts such as Community Theater, song, and poetry. The UAACC is affiliated with the Cornell University Global Health Program in Tanzania. The second half of their 8-week program involves volunteering, which often takes place at the UAACC. After speaking with the UAACC leader and also with students who volunteered there last summer, we determined that this is a fantastic program to dedicate our volunteering time. For the three days we will be there, we will be structuring a camp itinerary for the children affiliated with the center. In the past, volunteers have taught English, music theory and flute, played games with the kids, and invented other fun activities - we can't wait to do what we can to create a fun program for the kids!