Reaching new heights: spending my 69th birthday at 19,341 feet

by Rachel Price

LW contributor

On my 69th birthday, I celebrated a yearlong dream and milestone: standing on the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. This incredible journey, a seven-day camping trek in Tanzania, Africa, led me to Uhuru Peak, the highest point on the continent and the world’s tallest freestanding mountain.

This adventure was a testament to the power of preparation and the support of my amazing team. The trip was fully supported with porters to carry our camping gear and a dedicated cook who prepared all meals. While having initial concerns about altitude sickness— which can affect climbers at this altitude—I was fortunate to have the anti-sickness drug Diamox and avoided the headaches and nausea, allowing me to fully enjoy the climb.

I was part of a group of 17 women, hosted by the company Hike Like a Woman. The group’s ages ranged from 30 to 69—I was the oldest! In the end, 15 of us successfully reached the summit.

One of the most memorable parts of the trip was “summit night.” We began our ascent from Barafu base camp at midnight, with only head lamps to guide us, and with the goal of reaching the summit in time to watch the sunrise from above the clouds. Looking up, I could see a winding queue of headlights above me on the mountainside. The sky was so full of stars, it was impossible to pick out constellations.

I found my rhythm hiking in the back of the group each day, accompanied by a couple of guides. I loved listening to their conversations and jokes in Swahili as we walked. On summit night, I was incredibly grateful to have my own invaluable personal guide, Haji. He carried my daypack, which was a huge gift. I don’t know if I could have made it to the top without him. Haji also helped me with my zippers when I needed to layer up or down, so I didn’t have to take off my gloves. He made sure I had easy access to water and snacks whenever I needed them.

This journey was the culmination of a year’s preparation. My practice hikes included climbing to 10,000 feet on Mount Whitney, and to 11,000 feet on Mammoth Mountain. I climbed Mount St. Helens in Washington State twice this year.

This entire experience was so much fun and an incredible accomplishment for me. The sense of achievement was so powerful that I’m already thinking about my next adventure. I’d absolutely consider doing it again, perhaps for my 70th birthday!

Rachel Price at the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.