SLOW and steady is the motto a Mt Pleasant team will use as they make the long, hard slog to the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro this week.
Husband and wife Nigel Harris and Julie Harris-Jones depart Perth for Tanzania on Wednesday, planning to reach the top of Africa’s highest mountain by October 12.
Mr Harris said they would tackle each of the 5895m to the peak one step at a time.
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READ NOW“It’s hard to have too many expectations as reality is always different from thoughts you have while sitting on the couch,” he said.
“We know that we have trained hard and employed similar training schedules to previous high altitude expeditions.
“One thing we do know is that once we get over 4500m it will be walk 10m, stop to catch your breath, then repeat the process.
“Slow and steady wins the race.
“There will be sleep deprivation, lack of appetite, perhaps some vomiting and an early rise on summit day.”
The retired couple have had many overseas adventures, often supporting charitable causes, such as their three-month stay in Peru teaching English, making gardens and helping with various community-level projects.
They spent a month in Guatemala helping build dwellings for poverty stricken communities and helped run a turtle protection program in Costa Rica.
In Ecuador, they spent two weeks assisting a sustainability program for the Shuar people.
Besides being something they have always wanted to do, the duo will use their latest expedition to raise money for Ronald McDonald House Perth, where they are family ambassadors.
“Recently opened routes allow us to take more days (to complete the climb), therefore we have more chance to acclimatise and overcome any effects of altitude sickness,” Mr Harris said.
“We decided that it would be nice to help others less fortunate than ourselves at the same time.”
To donate, visit https://give.everydayhero.com/au/nigel-julie-trek-kilimanjaro-for-sick-children.
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