My mountain experience

When I think about my experience on the mountains, this is where I fully understand the significance of Jesus Christ praying at the mountains and Moses receiving the commandments on the mountains. So many examples can be drawn from the Bible but this is what I have learnt, there is a divine transfiguration that takes place on the mountains.

Snowy peaks of Mount Kenya

Friday morning.
Yes it was finally here. The long awaited trip to the highest point in Kenya. I remember when I first signed up for this trip I was anxious and excited at the same time, not knowing what lay ahead of me.

Running for the 5th time, the hike to Mount Kenya was organised by Pastor Flavia of Parklands Baptist Church as part of the Trooper Challenge. I first learnt about this challenge when I saw photos of Pastor Flavia at Mt Kilimanjaro and when I asked her how I could be come part of her hiking group she explained to me the process. A few weeks later, I was added to a WhatsApp group "Mt Kenya Troopers 2018". I reviewed the line up of pre-hikes we were expected to participate in before going up Mount Kenya and looking at this list, a feeling of excitement and anxiety took over. I knew there was no reason for me to turn back seeing that I hadn't even participated in any of the pre-hikes

On a sunny Saturday on January 29th we hiked the famous (well I think they are, at least in Kenya) Ngong Hills. I remember how nervous I was seeing that I hadn't been working out and true to my concern, after the hike, my body was left begging for a massage but hey, I had gone up the seven hills all by mys... no, by the power of God.

Ngong' Hills

Next stop for us was Menengai Crater. I convinced myself that having experienced Ngong' Hills perhaps my body would not let me down. I remember I had visited Menengai Crater while in primary school but going up and down the crater on that day, I wasn't sure that was the same Menengai Crater I had visited. It seemed tougher and it dawned on me that in primary school all I had done was stare down the crater in awe but not actually walk through it. I remember going up the crater and my legs almost fell numb. I will tell you this for free, at this point you are able to understand what King Solomon in Proverbs 20:24 meant when he wrote, "A person's steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand their own way?" Six hours later I was done, boy! was I tired. In the end I gave all glory to God because that last stretch was only conquered by His power.

Menengai Crater with team!

We did it! Glory to God!

Mount Longonot was our third pre-hike and this time round I had learnt an important lesson - only God can get you to the top. My friend had joined in on this particular trip and going up she asked me, "aren't you getting tired?" I told her that I was but I had learnt to keep going even when it got tough. In the wonderful company of fellow troopers, we went round the beautiful crater on Mount Longonot (2760m above sea level). Another mountain conquered only by the grace of God.

Mount Longonot with friend Beth and Kate

At the top most point of Mount Longonot

To a more challenging experience, somewhere in Kinangop, we went up Elephant Hill (3700m above sea level). I remember before we went up this hill, Nairobi was experiencing very heavy rains and our guides had confirmed that indeed it was raining at Elephant Hill. Looking through our WhatsApp group, nobody seemed to comment on the rains and at this point I knew we were actually going up the densely forested Elephant Hill, oh yes, there are elephants on this hill and buffaloes too. What I came to learn about being in this challenge is that one needed to keep going. We trusted God to protect us and true to His word, we went up and down the hill unharmed. It was chilly and rained at some point. Going down the hill was quite tough due to the rains. We slid a couple of times but what humbled me was the helpful response of my fellow troopers. Everyone was quick to help each other up in such an occurrence. Our wonderful guides Toro, full name Daniel Toroitich, no not the president and Dennis of Outdoor Circuits East Africa encouraged us to keep moving even when it got really tough and helped us out whenever we needed help and not forgetting our wonderful ranger, Raphael.

Going up Elephant Hill

At the top of Elephant Hill with our ranger, Raphael

Rurimeria Hill would be the last mountain to conquer before the trip to Mount Kenya. What excited me about this particular hike was that we would camp overnight after the hike. Unfortunately we didn't make it to the very top of this hill because it got late and our guides advised us that due to the foggy nature of the place and undefined paths, it would be very easy for one to loose their way coming down in the dark. We know we have unfinished business here so we are hoping to get back sometime this year, God willing. The camp site (Steve's Camp) however, was breath taking. Talk of beautiful scenery and of course good food :)

Steve's Camp

Going down Rurimeria with our ranger and Beth

Our tent :)

The day was finally here, we got to Mount Kenya National Park through the Sirimon Gate which is 2600+ m above sea level. My heart was racing in excitement and thanksgiving because I couldn't believe that this was actually happening. Two months before, this had only been a dream but now it was really happening. We met our wonderful potters who carried our bags as we went up to the first camp site known as Old Moses which was 9km away. We were welcomed with hot soup before gobbling down a scrumptious meal prepared by the potters. This was followed by a short session of fellowship before retiring to bed.We spent the night there before heading out the next day to the next camp, Shiptons, which is closest to the peaks of Mount Kenya. Yes, it was freezing cold,and that is why you need the right gear for mountain hikes especially in cold areas. Our walk up to Shiptons was characterized by beautiful vegetation, streams and the inevitable, rain!

Mount Kenya National Park

Old Moses Camp

Shiptons Camp

At 2:00 am on Sunday 29th April and we started our hike up to the Lenana Peak of Mount Kenya. Fully dressed in our water proof jackets, gloves & trousers with our headlamps to give us light, we followed the guides in a straight line order. I think one hour after the walk, my stomach started acting up, yes, it was happening, I was experiencing altitude sickness. I couldn't believe it since the rest of the hikes I could say were smooth. I told God to please not let this happen on this day since I really needed to get to the top. One of our guides from Tanzania who by the way has hiked Mount Kilimanjaro 385 times had no choice but to encourage me to continue pushing up to the top despite the excruciating pain in my stomach from time to time - God had sent an angel. Most of my friends who I had began with were now a distance away since I had to slow down from time to time until the pain subsided. I remember at one point I held my hands together and told God, please just help me get to the top. At exactly 8:15am or somewhat there about, I got to the peak. Yes, God had helped me. Even though it was one hour after most of the troopers had reached the peak, I had finished, that is all that mattered. I sat down and told God, thank you! I was finally 4, 985 metres above sea level!

Going up Mount Kenya, yes the sunrise is breath taking

At the Lenana Peak, I thank God

Team at the peak!

Today, I will not share my all lessons on this post but tell me, what lessons do you pick from my experience after reading it?

Our guides:Outdoor Circuits East Africa
Hiking gear provided by: Temboh Mountain Wear and Equipment +254 724 456101
Photography: Troopers Machoka, Beth, John, Judy, Deno, Toro, Martha