The Snows of Kilimanjaro

Sandy Kilpatrick • Published 7 Apr 2010 14:11 0 Comments

A Mauchline man has battled with the elements in a five day trek up Mount Kilimanjaro.

Ayrshire Hospice Fundraising assistant, Graeme Strawhorn, 28 says the Tanzania hike up the highest mountain in Africa is the toughest challenge he will ever take part in.

But after enduring balmy rainforests, heavy rain, and sheer cold, finally reaching the summit at 19,341 ft made everything worthwhile.

Graeme said: "Every day was a completely different season. One day it was roasting the next it was freezing. When the snow came it was lashing down, up to our ankles. At some points it was nearly up to our knees. The guides told us it was the worst snow they'd seen in a long time."

But the freezing temperatures didn't just affect the hikers. Camera batteries had to be kept warm, and mobiles and GPS trackers went haywire as the ascent approached. Graeme added: "Batteries had to be kept wrapped up in socks. The cold drained them instantly."

After sustaining cracked ribs from a football injury back in January the fundraiser from Loudoun Street, says he didn't get to train as much as would have he liked to. Graeme added: "Towards the summit the altitude hit me hard. I started to become fatigued and had to be escorted along the way.

But after traversing sharp ravines, scrambling over volcanic craters, and barren moon like landscape, Graeme says the view from the top was out of this world. The group of 12 charity hikers from all over Ayrshire reached the summit on March 25. They raised almost £30,000 with Graeme raising over £5,000 alone.

Graeme, a Leader at Mauchline Scouts added: "Seeing the sun rise in one side and the other in complete darkness was amazing. As the light hit the land you could see the curve of the earth's surface. I just want to thank my parents who encouraged me to go ahead with this, my friends, family and Black Bull staff, and everyone else who donated. It was an amazing experience."

You can still donate to the Ayrshire Hospice at the Just Giving link - http://www.justgiving.com/Graeme-Strawhorn

Graeme kept a diary of his adventures. Follow this link to read more: http://tiny.cc/kilimanjaro

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