Summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro Inspires Author David Schachne

It’s hard to believe it was exactly five years ago this coming week that I reached the summit of Kilimanjaro. The U.S. was about to enter a deep recession, with the stock market reeling, but we were only focused on one thing – getting to the summit. The trek was an amazing experience.  My guide was the nicest guy in the world.  The porters were amazing – constantly singing and dancing and enjoying themselves as they accompanied us each day, while carrying our heavy gear.  I gave them a generous tip and much of my gear at the end of the trek.  We couldn’t have done it without them.

It was a huge accomplishment to be able to reach the summit. It has inspired me to do so many new things. I recently just published my first book, The Trek, about a journey I took in the Himalayas a few years prior to going to Africa. It’s a comedy adventure and describes in detail my experience trekking to the summit of Kala Patthar near Everest Base Camp.

The Kilimanjaro trip, in retrospect, was perfect (as I describe near the end of my book) since it’s one (very) big hill to climb, in a reasonable amount of time, versus what I went through in Nepal. I look forward to doing it again with my family one day.

David Schachne
Kilimanjaro Western Approach Trek, September 2008

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