Woman Climbs Kilimanjaro In A Wheelchair

Found in the East African nation of Tanzania, Mount Kilimanjaro is known for being the tallest mountain in Africa, with a level of 19,340 feet above the sea level. It is estimated that approximately 25,000 people try to climb the mountain every year. About 10 people that try to reach the peak die annually.

In the first month of 2010, a 28-year-old woman by the name of Erica Davis of Carlsbad flew from L.A. to Minneapolis, to Amsterdam, to Tanzania, in her pursuit to climb the famous mountain. It was a six-day expedition for an 8-person group and on their last day, with snow draping the mountain and a 0 Celsius temperature, she managed to reach the summit. She stated that �just being up there, the feeling is so incredible. It’s beautiful. Its sunset, we’re above the clouds, it’s a fairly clear day. It’s so awe-inspiring. You get that joyous, elation inside.�

Her successful attempt to climb the mountain has proved to be historic as she is considered to be the first paralyzed woman that was able to climb Kilimanjaro. Another woman in the same condition that succeeded in this attempt is Tara Butcher, originally from Mission Hills, aged 27.

Prior to doing this, she trained for approximately 18 hours per week by cycling and working with a personal trainer. She also emphasized her efforts in climbing the steep roads in Oceanside and into Torrey Pines. She was able to move to trails in Big Bear, Poway, Elfin Forest and Penasquitos Canyon by using her day-to-day wheelchair but customizing it with knobby tires and wheels which included gears that allowed more torque.

Mount Kilimanjaro is located at approximately 200 miles of the equator. At the outset, when the expedition began at 6,000 ft, the temperature was in the 80s. She dressed in a tank top and shorts. In this attempt, a photographer and two videographers record the climb for a documentary that they entitled � �Through the Roof.�

To fully understand how difficult her attempt was, in some areas she was not able to pass because the terrain was very rocky, rugged and most of all narrow, not allowing her to pass. For those parts of the attempt, she was carried by porters. It is estimated that 60% for the effort put in belongs to Erica Davis.

In a recent statement, she said that �the trip was definitely something I believed in, spreading awareness that anything is possible.� This very special Kilimanjaro expedition was possible thanks to Derek Gates who is the marketing director of the Vista-based C.H.E.K. Institute. This institution offers advanced education for personal trainers. He stated that his goal �was to prove that anything is possible.�

The lesson we need to learn from this incredible expedition of the Mount Kilimanjaro is that anything is possible if we put our mind into it and really believe in our power and strength. It goes without showing that with ambition; we can achieve great things, like climbing one of the most difficult mountains with a wheelchair.