What goal are you working toward? How do you challenge yourself? What makes you happy?

These are questions I ask myself periodically, and especially at the start of the year. Ever since I completed the Rock'n'Roll Phoenix (raising $3k for the American Cancer Society!) I've been looking for a new big goal to work toward and challenge myself.

I've always enjoyed hiking and over the last few years I've pushed myself to go longer distances and get further out into the beauty of nature. The beauty, tranquility, and simple self-reliance of getting myself and my pack to the peak and back brings me happiness. So I've decided my new challenge for myself will be to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro!

Mt. Kilimanjaro is one of the Seven Summits - the highest peak on each of the 7 continents. Mt. Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa (located in Tanzania) and the highest single free-standing mountain above sea level in the world: 5,895 meters above sea level and about 4,900 meters above its plateau base.

I'm aiming to embark on this adventure in February 2024. As there are no direct flights from San Diego to the Kilimanjaro International Airport, it'll take about 24 hrs of traveling to get there. The flights will cost about $1500. I'll likely take the Lemosho route, which would mean 7-8 days on the trail. It will cost about $3k-5k for the tour company/guides and roughly $400 to give to the porters. Based on my estimates for the gear I still need to buy for this, it'll take about $3100 to get fully equipped. This comes to $8k-10k for the costs of the hike itself, not including any side adventures (I'm definitely going to do a safari if I can manage it!).

Everyone I've talked to so far has been very supportive and at least a half dozen suggested I make a GoFundMe to help offset the costs of this grand adventure. I'm aiming for $2k, which would cost the flights and porters. If you want to be part of the adventure and help make my dream come true I would be deeply honored and very appreciative! Every bit counts, and I am grateful to anyone who considers donating.

"It's not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves." - Sir Edmund Hillary - mountaineer, explorer, and philanthropist. On May 29, 1953, Edmund Hillary and Tibetan mountaineer Tenzing Norgay became the first people confirmed to reach the summit of Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world.