It is estimated that between 35,000 and 50,000 people attempt to climb Mount Kilimanjaro each year, and of those, only 60% – 70% make it to Uhuru peak—the summit.
Climbing Kilimanjaro is probably one of the most dangerous things I will ever do. Every year, close to 1000 people are evacuated from the mountain and approximately 10 deaths are reported. The actual number of deaths is believed to be two to three times higher, with altitude sickness being the main cause of death.
So Why Do People Risk Their Lives by Climbing a Mountain?
People climb “Kili” for many reasons: boredom, prove something to another or others, seeking a thrill, not enough excitement in one’s life, on a dare. But most people do something as drastic as risking life and limb because of something much more personal and important.
Things like:
- mark a greater personal accomplishment
- prove to oneself they can do more than they think they can
- overcome personal fears head-on
… or something that goes beyond one’s self to a greater purpose like… - to raise money in support of a charity.
What comes of testing your own limits and boundaries is far more than what is to be expected. When I stood at the bottom of this overwhelming giant, I could have never imagined the changes that would come to me from this experience.
You see, it wasn’t specifically the mountain that changed me. It was the fact that I had faced my personal fears, weaknesses, inadequacies and negativity… any and all of the things that, as a person, had the power to hold me back, keep me down or hold me captive … if I granted those things any power.
We ALL Have a Mountain to Climb
I share many of the realizations I’d gotten from my physical climb up Mount Kilimanjaro in my book, The Mountain We Must Climb, which I hope you will read when it is released this year to get what I share that I believe will help you to understand life better and be empowered by it.
But today, I want to share with you a very important point…
Live is like climbing a mountain that we must climb!
Today, you stand at a certain level. Maybe it’s at the bottom of a canyon or you’re halfway to the summit of your dreams…but you’re at some place on your personal journey to higher attainments.
From this website, my blog and my forthcoming book – The Mountain to Climb – you will gain insight into life; more specifically—the attainment of real success and true happiness—by taking a unique and fresh perspective on how to overcome your own personal fears, weaknesses, inadequacies and negativity… that are holding you back.
So start preparing yourself for a journey up YOUR own mountain with your personal guide—yours truly, Dr. Wayne Swan!
I’m so excited to share with you all that I have learned from this rare experience of reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. I KNOW these tips, learnings and realizations will cause positive change for you!
Feel free to reach out to me through the contact page with questions or what you would like to know or perhaps to be mentored personally on a one-to-one basis. What ever the reason, I’d love to hear from you.
In my next post, I’ll share with you why I personally decided to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Here’s a bit of what it will be about…
So why would someone who (I’m of course referring to myself here) has no climbing experience at all, has never experienced an altitude of 5895 miles outside of an airplane, who lived at sea level on an island in the middle of the Atlantic, an asthmatic, father of two beautiful children, someone with a loving supportive wife and family, a great job… attempt to climb the world’s tallest freestanding mountain in the world?
I’ll tell you in my next blog post.
Go Bless!
Till then,
Dr. Swan, out.
Last modified: July 18, 2019
