Cancer Climb for Prostate Awareness

Mt Kilimanjaro  19,341'
Tanzania, Africa

September 18 -23, 2008

The Top of Africa – Mt. Kilimanjaro

Preparation

In mid-September a crazy group of eight was on their way to the top of the highest point on the continent of Africa, Mt. Kilimanjaro at 19,340 ft. (5,895 meters). The group –four chiropractors (including myself) and four friends of one of the chiropractors—flew to Africa on September 16^th. Our reason for climbing was the standard, “Because it is there!” However, we also climbed in the name of the Prostate Cancer Awareness Foundation to raise money for prostate cancer patient education and outreach programs. Each climber was expected to raise at least $1,000 for the Foundation as well as pay their own climbing expenses. In the end, the group of eight raised more than $13,000 for the Foundation. Being a prostate cancer survivor, I felt especially motivated to raise funds and to climb.

In alphabetical order, climbing team members were Kim and Heath Haner (father and son), Josh and Adam Jacobs (brothers), Steve Kraus, DC, Mary Beth Larsen, DC, Jennifer McCleary, DC, and myself, Reed Phillips, D.C., Ph.D. Tom Hyde, DC was scheduled to climb with us and lead the team but a family medical situation required him to stay behind.

As every climber and hiker knows, good nutrition and proper foot wear are absolute essentials to not only a successful climb but also a healthy and comfortable climb—at least as comfortable as circumstances will allow.

Team member Dr. Larsen, the chiropractic company representative for Standard Process, provided each climber a complete regimen of nutritional supplements to be used during a month-long, pre-climb training program, individually designed but fully supported with Standard Process supplementation. We were also supplied with enough of the same supplements to carry us through the climb. And if that was not generous enough, Dr. Larsen brought with her additional supplements to give each of us a boost in energy—nutritional snacks along the trail and even some support supplements should any of us succumb to intestinal disorders and/or upper respiratory complications. Her nutrition-carrying pack surely weighed ten pounds more than any of the rest! We extend gratitude to Dr. Larsen and Standard Process for their generous support to all us who made the climb.

Africa is considered a high-risk area for contracting malaria. We were fortunate to have an ample supply of an anti-malarial herbal supplement called Artemisinin that is in common use in Africa today. Eco Nugenics was generous supplier of enough Artemisinin to protect all eight climbers for the entire time we were in Africa.

There are no roads to the top of Kilimanjaro. The hike is about 16 miles from trail head to base camp, and then another mile from base camp to the peak. And of course you had to retrace your steps back. The trek is nearly 35 miles in six days with altitudes ranging from 6,000 to 19,000 feet. Without comfortable footwear, you simply wouldn’t make it.

Foot Levelers came to our rescue by providing each climber a pair of their New Balance hiking shoes, lined with appropriate foot levelers spinal-pelvic stabilizers designed expressly for each climber’s needs. This contribution was especially important for me because in my early training (four months prior to the climb), I contracted a severe plantar fasciitis in my right foot. It was so paralyzing that I could not walk more than three miles a day before my foot cramped, making weight-bearing impossible.

Before we knew that Foot Levelers would provide shoes and spinal-pelvic stabilizers, I had purchased an expensive pair of climbing shoes with custom made shoe inserts built just for my problem. I continued my training with this appliance and was seeing only minimal improvement. The most I could walk or run was five miles, twice weekly. Each training episode aggravated the fasciitis.

When my New Balance shoes arrived with the spinal-pelvic stabilizers designed from a scan of my foot on their new digital scanning device, I was faced with a dilemma – wear the expensive shoes I had purchased with the custom made supports or wear the new shoes and spinal-pelvic stabilizers just received from Foot Levelers.

Since I was only doing the 5 mile walk/run twice a week I wore one pair of shoes on the first round and the other shoes on the second round. Over the course of about three weeks I noticed the pain in the plantar aspect of my foot was less intense for more days when I wore my New Balance shoes and spinal-pelvic stabilizers from Foot Levelers than when I wore my other shoes with their inserts.

With three weeks of training left, I switched to the New Balance/spinal-pelvic stabilizers exclusively and before departing, I was without foot pain and could do my 5 mile routine four days a week. I also scaled two local 9,000 foot peaks in the southeast Idaho area with no evidence of any pain or soreness in my feet at any time. Needless to say, I took my Foot Levelers New Balance shoes and spinal-pelvic stabilizers to Kilimanjaro.

The Climb

The trail to Kilimanjaro is steep, but wide and relatively well-traveled. We were constantly passing people coming down as we went up. The common question, “Did you make it to the top?” was answered in the affirmative just 20% of the time. We began to realize that what we were attempting was perhaps more rigorous than projected. Being the oldest in our group by almost 20 years, I began to sense doubt that I could make a successful summit.

We traveled the Marangu Route, often called the Coca-Cola route because it has the most gradual, yet longest of all possible ascents. This approach allowed us more time to acclimatize to the changing altitude. We started at the trail head (1970 meters) and hiked to Mandara Camp (2700 meters). We hiked through a beautiful forest/jungle with pleasant temperatures. The second day’s climb took us to Horombo Camp (3720 meters) through a treeless moorland full of many types of shrubs and bushes. Large rocks thrown from the crater’s mouth centuries ago were abundant. The third day was primarily spent to acclimatize. We took a two-hour hike but returned to camp for rest.

I felt a noticeable change in my ability to draw in oxygen on our third night. My body was re-adjusting itself to “thin air.” Day four was a rigorous hike. Our goal, Kibo Hut (4703 meters) was the base camp to the final ascent. We hiked through what is termed an Alpine Desert with little to no plant life, a few scavenger birds and a lot of rocks. It was cool enough to justify a jacket and when we stopped to rest we added an extra layer of clothing to stay warm.

We made it to Kibo Hut by late afternoon but it was already getting dark. We were shown our sleeping quarters—Spartan but dry and shielded from the cold outside air.  Our guides, cooks and porters helped feed us dinner and immediately ushered us to the sleeping quarters. The night sky was without a moon and had more luminous stars than this city dweller had ever seen. We were to be awakened just before mid-night to begin our ascent.

Whether it was anticipation of conquering the tallest summit in Africa, the freezing temperatures, or the altitude playing havoc with our brains, no one could say—but sleep pretty much evaded our entire group.

The wait was finally over as we were summoned to layer up with thermo underwear, insulated pants, down filled coat liners and water-proof over jackets. Our head lamps were needed to light the way. We carried drinking water inside our jackets to stop it from freezing.

Our goal was to reach Gillman’s Point, the crest of the crater or the summit (5685 meters), before sunrise. The very hearty could go on to the ice cap (5,895 meters) if time allowed. We didn’t need to obsess about getting separated from each other because at this altitude no one went anywhere very fast.

The climb up the side of the crater was more demanding than I expected. The trail was nothing more than a footpath through loose scree (fine dust mixed with small pieces of shale, volcanic rock and gravel) at an incline of about 60 degrees. For every step forward we slid backward a half step. It was an awesome site to watch the string of headlamps on the hikers who had previously departed winding their way up the mountain and then disappearing as they went over the crest at the top.  It was also disheartening to see several of them reversing their direction and coming down—with the cold reality they could not make it. At this altitude, forcing oneself beyond bearable limits can be deadly. Guides keep a close look-out for danger signals and symptoms in the climbers they are responsible for, and will not take chances with their ultimate wellbeing.

I was the slowest hiker in our group, a privilege that goes with age—or at least can be justified because of age I suppose. As such, our climbing party was divided into two groups. Those who went ahead at a faster pace, and those that struggled to move each foot forward. I never felt the headache, nausea or disillusionment associated with altitude sickness. I just couldn’t capture enough air through my lungs to take more than two steps at a time without resting.

At about 5:30 am it was down to me and my guide in the second group. The professional hikers, local native Swahilies, never left anyone unattended on the mountain. We were just 300 meters (900 feet) from the summit, but I was going slower and slower. My guide suggested I sit and watch the sunrise for a few minutes before pushing myself any more. It gave me time to work through the fact that I was at least two hours from the top at the rate I was walking, and another two hours to the ice cap. Then I began to envision the walk down—not just to Kibo Hut, but all the way to Horombo Camp. They wanted us to descend to a lower altitude as quickly as possible. I knew within myself that if I pushed to the summit I would not have the stamina left to get back to Horombo Camp. It was at this point (18,400 feet) that I decided the sunrise and the vista below would not look any different if I were to climb up another 900 hundred feet. I started my descent.

Because of the loose scree we were able to take giant (two meter) steps down. In spite of the steepness of the slope there was no fear of falling because your feet sank 10 to 12 inches into the loose gravel and dust. If I had my snow board I could have ridden it all the way down with little effort.

In the end, four of our eight team members made it to the ice cap, another to Gilman’s Point, and I closed down just short of Gilman’s Point.

We all made it back safely and were jubilant for having had the experience. I know of no one who complained of anything more than a few sore muscles. My plantar fasciitis never reappeared and I am grateful to my New Balance hiking shoes and their accompanying spinal-pelvic stabilizers from Foot Levelers for getting me through this arduous experience. The entire group is appreciative beyond words for the literal support of Foot Levelers and Standard Process, who supported us, and also to those friends and family who made donations to Prostate Cancer Awareness in our behalf.

What a breath-taking part of the world. What a breath-taking experience to be so high with great friends. The world can be a beautiful place.