Summiting Mount Kilimanjaro: unlocking a resilient mindset from the mountain

One team, one dream. That was the team motto throughout the 6-day, 42-mile, 19,341-foot trek to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro – the highest mountain peak in Africa and one of the seven summits in the world.

Preparing for the climb to the roof of Africa, I thought my biggest challenge was going to be my physical strength and endurance. However, I quickly realized my physical limits weren't going to be the biggest setbacks on the mountain – it was going to be the ultimate test of my mental resilience.?

In this article, I'll share a few parts of my story and the challenges I faced submitting Mount Kilimanjaro, as well as how unlocking a resilient mindset can help you reach your goals.

Day 4: Base Camp

Just before 11:00 pm, the light from a bright white headlamp woke me out of a deep sleep that only the cold, hard ground of the mountain could provide. The sub-zero temperatures of nightfall on Mount Kilimanjaro rushed through the tent as the zipper released and the door opened: it was time to prepare for the 7+-hour journey to Uhuru Peak – Mount Kilimanjaro's summit.?

A mere 8 hours ago, upon arrival at Barafu Camp (base camp), my blood oxygen levels plummeted into the low 70s. To successfully summit Mount Kilimanjaro, blood oxygen levels need to be in the 80-90s. Anything less than that is not sustainable for the grueling 2.3-mile, 4,085-foot elevation gain hike to the summit.?

As my blood oxygen levels were tanking, my resting heart rate had jumped into the low 100s: my normal, sea-level resting heart rate is generally in the mid-50s. This deadly combination made the hike to base camp earlier in the day significantly more challenging – and it was about to make the trek to the summit harder than I ever imagined.?

While sitting at the table taking the deepest inhales and exhales in and out of a small oxygen tank I thought, "there's a chance I will get pulled from the mountain and I won't make it to the summit."?

Doubt and fear quickly took over my thoughts, and the reality of making it to the summit seemed to be rapidly slipping away. As my body was aggressively fighting the altitude and environment, the battle to the summit was a battle that I wasn't convinced I'd win.?

Day 5: Summit Day

We departed base camp for the summit at 12:30 am; the cold, harsh climate of the mountain was far more grueling than I anticipated. High winds and below-freezing temperatures of the early morning hours amplified the challenges I was already facing and continued to threaten a successful summit.

Because my health conditions had rapidly declined, an additional porter was assigned to help me throughout the ascent and make sure I was as comfortable as possible. With every step we took up the mountain, my physical ability to do anything continued to diminish – to the point where the only thing the porter wasn't doing for me was moving my body forward. As I became incapable of doing small things like lifting my water bottle to my mouth for a drink, opening food packages and feeding myself, taking clothing layers off and adding them back on, and putting warmers in my boots and gloves, he was there to do all of this for me. My only physical job on the climb to the summit was to put one foot in front of the other – I just had to keep moving forward.

During one of the many breaks that morning, our guide turned and asked me, "How are you feeling." The only response I could muster was, "tired, but determined". As my body continued to fight harder against the environment, I became even more determined to make it to the summit. My only option was to keep pushing through the exhaustion and pain until we reached the summit – I had to keep fighting back and make it to the summit.?

Climbing higher up the mountain, my heart rate continued to increase and my breathing more labored. About ? of the way up, just as the sun was rising, our guide ushered us to a nearby rock and administered more oxygen for me; his hope was that the additional oxygen would help with altitude sickness and sustain me through the summit. We continued up the mountain, but the higher we climbed, the sicker I became – I was becoming physically unrecognizable.?

The entire trek to the summit was a constant battle between my body and mind. When I could feel my body giving up with every step I took, my mind was fighting even harder to stay focused on making it to the summit. At 8:50 am, 7 hours and 20 minutes after we started the ascent to the summit, I looked out and saw the most amazing view I’d ever seen. We had finally made it to Uhuru Peak – the summit and the top of Africa.

2 Keys to Unlocking a Resilient Mindset

My experience on the mountain taught me a lot about being resilient and how having a resilient mindset can take you farther than your physical strength and stamina ever could.?

Having a resilient mindset allows you to achieve much more than you think you’re capable of, uncovering your untapped potential and pushing you into new areas of growth. Here are the two biggest lessons the mountain taught me about unlocking a resilient mindset:?

1. Define the Goal and Enlist Your Team

One team, one dream: the team motto for the week. Everyone on our 15–person team was focused on achieving one common goal – making it to the summit. From myself and my trek mate to the guides and the porters, everyone on our team believed in our goal.?

We didn't know what challenges we would face individually and collectively on the mountain, but with one common goal, we were able to meet every obstacle with the relentless attitude and resilience needed to continue moving forward. The entire time believing and focusing on one goal was the first key step for our ability to successfully make it to the summit – no matter what obstacles came our way.?

2. Focus on the Things You Can Control

There is a lot of uncertainty on the mountain, and my journey to the summit was not short of challenges that were outside of my control: it was a constant physical, environmental, mental, and emotional battle.

But, as powerful as the mountain is, the human mind is much more powerful.

As my body was fighting against the environment, I knew one of the biggest factors in my ability to successfully summit was to focus on the things I could control. What I could control were my thoughts and emotions.

When we arrived at base camp and my oxygen levels had declined, I let doubt and fear enter my mind; I wasn't convinced I was capable of making it to the summit. However, I quickly realized that the way my body was reacting to the environment was out of my control and if I focused on things that were out of my control, it would only lead to unnecessary anxiety, panic, and stress.?

I realigned my thoughts to the goal and rooted myself in a possible mindset – a mindset that doesn’t limit you by what has happened but, rather, sees obstacles as opportunities and focuses on the positives of the journey and the end destination. With a team behind me and control over my mindset, I was able to focus on the one thing that mattered: making it to the summit.

Conclusion

The phrase "mind over matter" isn’t just saying. It's a hard truth that I never fully understood until summiting Mount Kilimanjaro. The magnitude of the mountain completely shattered all of my limits – physical, mental, and emotional – or what I thought my limits were.?

We are all far more capable of achieving our dreams and goals than we give ourselves credit for. A key part of being able to achieve anything you set out to do is to reject your limiting beliefs and unlock a resilient mindset.

So, what’s your Kilimanjaro? How can you unlock a resilient mindset to achieve your goals?

If you'd like to hear more about my experience on Mount Kilimanjaro or share ideas on unlocking a resilient mindset, don't hesitate to send me a quick message. I'd love to chat.