Dr. Sara’s bucket list had one item on it for years: climb Mount Kilimanjaro. What started as a personal journey turned into one of family and overcoming adversity. Here is Dr. Sara’s firsthand account of the experience:
Some mountains are climbed for the view; others are about something more.
This was both.
Luis and I took on Kilimanjaro to carry my nephew James, my mother, and every brave soul fighting cancer with us in spirit. While our aches on the mountain would fade, their battles went on for far longer. With each taxing stride, we were reminded of the sheer grit it takes to confront life’s harshest trials.
The Challenge Ahead
Rising to 19,341 feet (5,895 m), Mount Kilimanjaro ranks among the Seven Summits—the highest peaks across all continents—and stands as the tallest independent mountain on the planet.
Of the many things that set Kilimanjaro apart, what stands out is that it lets climbers pass through five climate zones in a single trek:
- Rainforest
- Heather & Moorland
- Moorland
- Alpine Desert
- Arctic Glacier Zone
One Step at a Time
We chose the rugged 9-day Western Breach path, one of Kilimanjaro’s most punishing yet gratifying routes. Rather than follow the usual trail, we scrambled up ancient volcanic rock, traversed timeworn ice fields, and ventured into terrains that most climbers never witness.
The mountain pushed every limit we had—body, mind, and spirit. Sickness, fatigue, sleepless nights, and the brutal pull of altitude challenged our resolve. Seeing my 15-year-old son dig deep and refuse to give up became a moment I will treasure for a lifetime.
First Struggle, Then Triumph
From lush, moss-draped jungles to jagged lava ridges, from centuries-old glacial sheets to the final rise at Uhuru Peak, each day revealed a landscape unlike the last.
Reaching the roof of Africa side by side wasn’t merely about planting our feet at the top. It was about endurance, trust, thankfulness, and a quiet truth—that the biggest wins are never done alone.
We owe endless gratitude to our phenomenal Kiliwarrior Expeditions guides and porters, whose expertise, cheer, and warmth turned an impossible dream into reality.
To anyone in the middle of their own cancer fight or personal uphill battle: just keep moving forward. Pole Pole—slow, steady, stride by stride. That’s how even the tallest mountain falls beneath your feet.
