Climbing Kili Barefoot: Mark

Everyone knows why people climb mountains, but what on earth would compel a group of climbers to scale Mt. Kilimanjaro, one of the world’s most famous towering peaks, without shoes?

As far as the Old Mutual Barefoot Kilimanjaro Team is concerned, conquering Africa’s tallest mountain (19,341 feet) sans boots was meant both to issue a statement and, more noteworthy, to raise money for the Children’s Hospital Trust in South Africa.

The team achieved its lofty goal Tuesday, presumably with major callouses, after a week of climbing, and proclaimed on its website, “We may be on top of Africa, but we feel like we are on top of the world.”

In a blog post by renowned endurance athlete Andrew King is this passage: “We reached the peak as one very emotional tribe knowing that we had achieved what we set out to do. The entire barefoot team had summited — sore — but with no serious injury.”

More

About these ads