In January 2009 the second “3 Peaks-in-3 Weeks Team” traveled to Africa and climbed 3 of the continent’s tallest peaks: Mt. Kenya, Mt. Meru and Kilimanjaro. The goal was to raise money and awareness for Africa’s 3 “peak” issues: HIV/AIDS, Education, and the Environment. The Team’s raised money over a one year period for these important causes and our award was to climb these three peaks in just three weeks.

The team which was comprised of 13 women from around the world ranged in experience from intermediate climber to beginner; some never being over 3000 meters in their lives.

While none of the mountains required any technical mountaineering to summit, it was challenging nevertheless considering the elevations we all endured.

Our adventure started with Mt. Kenya (Point Lenana), at 4,985m. This was a great warm up climb for what awaited us. All the way up I was captured by the beauty of Pt. Batian and imaged myself one day coming back and climbing up the remaining glacier slowly being destroyed by global warming.

Mt. Kilimanjaro …..what we all had been waiting for! The largest free standing mountain in the world without needing oxygen or technical experience. We took the Machame route and circuited the southern part of mountain. It rained and snowed every day except for summit day. We couldn’t have been any luckier.

I would say it was an experience of a lifetime but I’ve had a few of those already and plan on having a few more… maybe better just to say, what a great way to begin 2009! Yes I know it’s already April. I’m still trying to catch up with my everyday life.

Learn more about our cause at http://www.3peaks3weeks.org