Wings of Kilimanjaro – It’s time to climb!

I can hardly believe that I am here, in Tanzania, at the foot of Kilimanjaro and about to begin the adventure!  It seems like no time at all since I had my first Skype conversation with Adrian Mcrae – founder of Wings of Kilimanjaro.

This trip of a lifetime will see almost 100 adventurers from all over the globe come together for a world first event – to climb and fly from the world’s tallest freestanding mountain and in doing so raise over $1 Million dollars for charities on the ground in Tanzania.

And here we all are!

In just a few hours time we’ll be making the first steps up Kilimanjaro…   The trip has been pretty cool already.  Despite the bad weather my flight from Amsterdam took off and I’ve had a couple of days here in Tanzania to acclimatise (by the pool!) and do final kit preparations.  It has been a joy to meet so many of the other people joining this trip.  Last night we watched Babu’s film about his flight from the summit of Mt Everest which was amazing!

It’s always an exciting time just before the start of an expedition.  I’m also feeling a little bit nervous.  Climbing Kili is not an easy task but having been to the top a few months ago I know that if all goes to plan and I look after myself I should be fine.  Even so, the thought of taking off makes me feel pretty anxious!  Unusually for me though this trip has its fair share of world class pilots so I’m very reassured by that.

I’m looking over at my bags… I’ve got my day pack almost ready to go; it’s laden with chocolate and other important items, and sitting next to it is my duffel bag that has my paraglider, my knickers and a couple of other things in it!!

As with all my trips I wouldn’t be here at all or able to do this without my team, so thank you to everyone; from my friends, family and sponsors at home to the porters who carry our kit and equipment and who make what we’re doing possible.   It’s been an honour to raise – with your help – a contribution to the $1 Million dollars that will make a difference to other peoples lives.

Time to go…. please send me positive climbing, flying and coming home safely vibes! xx