Abort Kilimanjaro!!!

I made a decision in the middle of August after working with physical therapists most of the summer, that my leg and foot problems were severe enough to abort the Kilimanjaro climb.  It was a very difficult decision!! For 12 months I had been preparing for the climb and had become very fond of the women that had embarked on this journey.  Throughout the summer many of us hiked three times a week in Breckenridge, many of us biked three times a week, and some of us worked with a trainer.  It was a committment that no one took lightly.  The average age of the 13 women was around 70 years of age.  I was inspired by two ladies that were 76 and 78 years age.  My first fourteener was Mt. Evans the middle of July.  About half way up I could no longer look down to where I had come from!!  Every Tuesday we hiked up Mt Royal which is 1300 vertical and 1.9 miles and usually took about two hours, up and down.  The upward grunt was worth the climb for the views.  I measured my  progress every Tuesday with the Mt Royal hike.  Some of the other hikes were Mayflower, Ptarmigan, Angler, Mohawk, Wheeler, McCullough, and Quandry.  I was in Arusha in Tanzania to welcome these amazing women as they came down from the mountain and back to the Impala Hotel.  They were beaming with joy as they stepped out of that loaded van.Their very, very dirty and dusty clothes told the partial story of their nine day trek!! It was emotional to hear their stories recounting their successful trek to the top!!  I salute the 11 women,  many celebrating their 70th birthday, that trekked to the top of Kilimanjaro.  THEY MADE IT!!  THEY DID IT!!  There were eight of us that went on to do the Serengeti Safari.  It was a fitting climax to a year long journey .  I am inspired by and so, so proud of these 11 women that made it to the top of Kilimanjaro!!!  They are amazing women!!!!!!!!