kilimanjaro

Has anyone done any treking at altitude i have been thinking of doing this trip to kilimanjaro for some years but now am worried about any extra problems i could possibly encounter?

2 Comments

Kilimanjaro is tough for anybody

by BillMFl - 2009-02-05 06:02:25

Its not just the altitude, its a very long trek even before you get real high. You need to try some long hikes that are on relatively smooth improved trails. Then do some vertical trails at medium altitude and rougher terrain. I've been over 14,000 ft with my pm and the pm wasn't a problem. The real issue is how good is your conditioning, and jogging on a nice smooth sidewalk is not a true test. Scrambling up a difficult unimproved trail with a rapid altitude gain is about as tough as it gets. Its not likely that pm issues will hold you back if you are properly training. Have fun.

Do it!!

by E from Spain - 2009-02-12 10:02:39

I agree with BillMFI. I’m living in Spain and every now and then I’m going to the mountains. The problem is not only the altitude. You have to consider 3 things:
1. Your condition. I did some nice climbs before my implant (a couple of mountains higher than 18000 ft). When you try a high mountain you have to walk long distances. For the Kili normal route you have to be able to walk 8 hours per day at list 3 days in a row. The good thing of the Kili is that you don’t need to carry anything, only a bit of water and something to eat during the day.
2. The Altitude- The main problem with the altitude is that your heart beats faster always. Do you have any upper limitation or the PM is there to control that you are not going to low? That’s important because when you go high in the mountain you will need all the beats that your heart can give.
3. The weather. It’s the only point that I’m not sure about. All electronic devices are running slower with cold weather, and I don’t know how superficial is your implant or how could the cold weather influence your PM. I went canyoning last weekend and the water was around 6ºC, although I did not feel any difference, I don’t know the real influence on the device and on the battery.

In your case I would train a lot. You can try to climb the Kili and if at the end you can not do it to the top, don’t worry too much. Anyway, the Natural Park of the Kilimanjaro and the experience are challenging enough.

Take care and enjoy,

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