6 Jack-Fueled Women Aim For Kilimanjaro
3/21/2007
Their wild sides were already pretty well developed: Starting with the fact that these friends were scattered around the globe, each living in unique and sometimes exotic places around the world. But in February of 2006, Heidi, Marit, Marianne, Marcia, Susan and Jessica were about to challenge themselves as never before.
They decided to reach new personal heights by climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. But before they did, they wrote to Jack. These self-proclaimed avid Jack Link's fans described how they wanted to feed their wild sides, fueled in part by Jack Link's Beef Jerky. We sent them a good supply of protein filled Jack Link's Beef Jerky, a few hats and t-shirts for good measure, and our best wishes for success.
At 5,895 meters above sea level (19,340 feet), Mt. Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world. Every year, around 15,000 people attempt the climb, which could be called the world's most dangerous hike since it is accomplished without technical climbing gear. Still only 40% of attempts are successful (we bet they forgot to pack some Jack Link's). Even though these women were ordinary wives and mothers -- not fitness instructors or marathon runners -- and, averaging forty years of age, their group would do better than most.
On February 17th, with Jack Link's riding shotgun, the trek began up the Rongai Route. Over the next six days, the women would ascend, along with their porters and guides, through five climate zones, from rainforest to the frigid, single digit temperatures of the summit zone.
Not long into day two, Heidi began to experience some problems. Still, she pushed on through two days of increasingly difficult grades. By the end of day three however, Heidi knew she would be unable to go on.
Meanwhile, for two-days, Jessica had been encountering her own personal, physical struggle. And as day five began, Jessica made the difficult decision to join Heidi and head back down the mountain.
It may have been a life-saving decision, as the women witnessed one man, unconscious, being carried down Kilimanjaro on a stretcher - and had heard of another less fortunate climber, who'd suffered a fatal heart attack after ignoring his guide's advice to descend.
Day six. At 2300 hours, or 11:00 pm, the remaining four women were awakened by their guides, and with Jack Link's at the ready, prepared to climb the final seven hours toward the summit. With muscles screaming for relief and extremities numbed by the harsh cold, they trudged on - at times oblivious to anything but the conscious will to put one foot in front of the other.
Marcia's journey would end less than 800 meters from the top. She fought to keep up with the rest of the group for nearly two hours. As she passed William's Point, altitude sickness got the better of her. An hour later, at 5200 meters, she was simply too exhausted to continue.
On the morning of February 23, the sun rose on Kilimanjaro just as it always had. But on this day, three newly successful climbers were watching it from the summit at Uhuru. Marit, Marianne and Susan had done it. They celebrated momentarily for themselves, wishing the other three members of their party could be with them. They embraced and took photographs next to the sign, which greets each climber, "Congratulations you are now at Uhuru Peak, Tanzania, 5895M." Now that's what we call feeding your wild side.
The three rejoined their friends in Kilimanjaro Village the following day. They shared stories, congratulations and their last few packages of Jack Link's before heading home, lives changed.
Six more wild sides, appropriately fed.
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