The Mt Kilimanjaro Diaries – Part 2

ALL THE GEAR AND NO IDEA!

“All the gear and no idea! How will I do this?”

That’s very much how I feel right now. All the gear and no bloody idea. To say I am not an experienced mountain trekker is an understatement and Kilimanjaro is a challenge and a half! Well, I’ve always been a bit of a “go big or go home” kinda girl.

Seriously how bad can it be, I just need to prep and plan – which is what we do with everything, right?

ONE STEP AT A TIME

If the team feel a bit overwhelmed when we’re mega busy juggling one event to the next, I always tell them “Let’s take one step at a time”. So, taking my own advice, it’s time to kick of the pink high heels and tackle the first thing on the list – the boots!

To climb Kilimanjaro, I need a pair of boots that will be fit for the challenge so I went to Zoe Wilson, ZW Clinics, Kirkby Lonsdale. Zoe won the Health & Wellbeing award in last year’s Enterprise Vision Awards. I knew she would be the expert person to kit me out with appropriate three weather waterproof walking boots and to advise on foot care for feet more used to high heels. I’ve already started using her foot cream which has been an absolute treat for my poor blistered feet.

The list of kit I need for this trek is endless and the yellow highlighter is getting lots of use as mark off each purchase that’s made.

A TRUSTED NETWORK

Next, it was time to book the flights and I used the services of another Pink Link member Jane Sedgwick, Travel Counsellors.

Not only is Jane an expert travel adviser, but she is the real deal experienced mountain climber. She’s completed Everest Base Camp and is a keen walker. She advised me to get zinc oxide tape – pink of course – to protect against blisters and to rub surgical spirit into my feet for two weeks ahead of the trek as it hardens the skin. Another tick on the shopping list and thanks for the advice, Jane!

Like anything we do in business, we go to trusted sources and my network will be the first point of call for my purchases. We don’t know it all and I always say to people don’t be afraid to ask for help and advice. I’ll be doing just that too.

SHE BELIEVED SHE COULD, SO SHE DID

I am taking on a massive challenge. I’m a novice and those experienced mountaineers are looking at me in disbelief and shaking their heads. No doubt they’re wondering, does she know what she is letting herself in for?

Well, there is a favourite saying of mine, “She believed she could, so she did”. If you have any advice to share – let me know – I’d really appreciate it.

I’m doing this to raise funds and awareness for the Prince’s Trust “Women Supporting Women” campaign which helps disadvantaged young girls into entrepreneurship. If you’d like to support me on this challenge, please donate here.