'Climbing Kilimanjaro was a huge challenge'

Socks weren’t just for keeping his toes warm when Raharney hurler Gary Conroy did a charity climb of Kilimanjaro in February – they also stopped his water from freezing when he was near the summit.

Gary, who did the trek to raise funds for Pieta House, explains: “When we reached Stella Point (5681M), the main checkpoint before the summit, it seemed everything was going to plan but at this stage everything had frozen, including my main water bottle and my toes – but I kept another bottle wrapped with a pair of socks to keep from freezing and this worked like a charm.”

 

By that stage his adventure was nearing its end, but it started in September of last year with the planning, and and really got serious when he arrived in Tanzania on February 16, and began a seven-day climb of Kilimanjaro on February 17.

By 11pm on February 21 his group was departing Barafu Camp (4673M) for “the roof of Africa and Uhuru Peak (5895M)”, he said. 

“We started in the dark with just a headlamp to see 3-4 feet in front on you, each step bringing me closer and closer to the top.

“One step at a time and only concentrating on the 3-4 feet in front of you and then eventually I made it.

"It was a mental test from start to finish, and the altitude was a huge strain both mentally and physically. 

"It is a uneasy feeling seeing people suffering from altitude sickness being carried down past you, barely catching their breath, as you are attempting to climb higher and higher to the summit.”

Night time temperatures on the mountain are about -7ºC, closer to -12ºC thanks to the wind chill factor, but Gary says that didn’t bother him on the summit when he stripped off three or four layers of clothing to get the pictures taken with the Uhuru Peak sign. (“Adrenaline had an influence!”)

“At the top of the mountain, I got to witness the amazing sight of the sunrise over Africa," he said.

"Climbing Kilimanjaro was a huge challenge and it was a great personal achievement to conquer it.

“I would like to thank everyone who donated to Pieta House over the past couple of months.

"Being someone who has lost friends and family through suicide, it is a charity that is very close to me.”

Gary’s charity fundraising page is open until April 15, and further donations are welcome – all money raised goes to Pieta House.

www.idonate.ie/kilimanjaroclimb