Safety and Altitude
At MountainQuest, we believe that every expedition to altitude is a serious undertaking. So what is the secret to staying SAFE? It's Simple... Knowledge.
What you need to know before you go
Mount Kilimanjaro is the crown of Tanzania. At an altitude of 5895m - almost 20,000 feet - it is the highest mountain in Africa, the highest freestanding mountain in the world, and one of the largest volcanoes ever to burst through the earths crust.
On a clear day it can be seen from more than 160km away, and although it stands only three degrees below the Equator, its peak is permanently covered with snow and ice.
Kilimanjaro is a reachable goal... and there is good reason that it is on every lifetime 'To-Do' list. But Kilimanjaro can be VERY dangerous if you are not prepared... Here is how to do it...
You CAN do it... Here is how:
About 19,000 people trudge up the mountain annually. Martha Stewart made the summit. So did a guy wearing inline skates, and a 62-year-old South African man... walking backward! But Kilimanjaro can be dangerous, and unprepared trekkers end up in big trouble on a yearly basis.
Just 40 percent of climbers who attempt Kilimanjaro ever reach the summit, and each year about 15 people die trying. This is why we place SO MUCH emphasis on acclimatization.
Remember... MountainQuest is owned and operated by high altitude mountaineers. We know altitude - the good, the bad and the ugly. When we build a climb for a client, we take a 'teaching' approach with each team member.
How do we 'teach' our climbers about altitude..?
From our free and friendly 'ask a question' service - that you can use right now - to our 30+ page expedition dossier, our 'training for altitude' booklet, and our 'required reading' list... Our goal is to have the best prepared climbers (yes... you!) on the mountain.
Each of our climbing routes is also built with your safety in mind. From our side, we look at 'escape routes' from every camp. Ask us about it... we will happily explain how to get you down if you are feeling sick.
Ultimately, our first focus is helping you understand what to expect as you climb. Our job is to prepare you for your experience at high altitude, because it can be an amazing -- and SAFE -- experience if approached correctly!
How to deal with and prepare for altitude related issues
Acclimatization and recognition of symptoms. Climbers must be prepared to recognize and respond to early symptoms of altitude sickness, which is caused by reduced levels of oxygen and air density. Any feelings of nausea, headache, fatigue or severe breathlessness should be reported immediately to the guide.
Our guides and our experienced high altitude climbers are experts at recognizing the early stages of altitude sickness. We will insist that climber affected by altitude descend before carrying on.
This need not affect the success of an individuals climb. The human body is well capable of adjusting to altitude (the actual individual rate of acclimatization is a genetic factor), but the process takes time and the best way to minimize the symptoms of hypoxia is to ascend slowly. In addition to our excellent staff, we like to use the 'buddy system' to cross check our level of health and acclimatization as we ascend towards the summit.
All climbers should familiarize themselves with the symptoms and signs of mountain sickness, pulmonary and cerebral edema. We will provide you with a required reading list of books on these topics before we leave for Africa.
Diamox and other altitude related drugs
You may also like to consider taking Diamox, which is widely used to combat the effects of mild altitude sickness by causing the body to breathe more deeply during sleep. This is of course a personal preference and it is important to seek professional medical advice before leaving home.
Diamox is a diuretic and so you have to be particularly careful of the level of fluid intake during your climb. It has also been reported (Climbing Magazine, May 2003) that Ginko Biloba helps climbers adapt to altitude with no known side effects. It was said that Ginko helped to reduce the fuzziness caused by extreme altitude. However, recent studies using a placebo have determined that there are no benefits to taking Ginko.
