
Earlier this year I listed four things I want to achieve in 2023. It is my way of ensuring I use the year wisely. Many of us fill up time with activities and then we think we are progressing. Instead, we should approach time with the intention of allocating important tasks to spend time on. That way we live intentionally. In this age of distractions (led by social media) we easily get to the end of the day and wonder where the time went. The day or week is over and we don’t have much to show for it. That’s why I scribbled some key milestones on my whiteboard so that by Christmas I will give a good account of the year. Remember time is not a renewable resource folks. Once it’s gone it’s gone forever so we need to spend it wisely.
Climbing and summiting Mt Kenya was one of my 2023 goals and I achieved that last week. I will tell you, guys about the other three goals, once I achieve them hehe. It’s the first on the list to be accomplished and I’m glad we did it in the first quarter of the year. Let’s call it a birthday gift (or torture) to myself hehe. I last climbed Mt Kenya when I was half my age back in 1997. It was the year I graduated from campus and going to the mountain was a sure way of ending university on a high literally. A few of my pals and I decided to do it with little thought. In comparison to last week and last year when I did Kilimanjaro, we were ill-prepared back then. But we had youth on our side which covered for a lot of ignorance. We are now older, colder, and wiser.
Last week five hiking friends and I set off to the Sirimon gate via Nanyuki with our good guide Agata. We were all in high spirits and optimistic that we will conquer this mountain. We all had different reasons for climbing Mt Kenya. Mine was just to give thanks even as I take some petitions (mine and others) up there. I still believe sir God doesn’t bluetick you up there hehe. This year has begun with good vibes. It feels like the sixth year of the bamboo after five years of growing underground. Small seeds of progress are germinating and are now visible. Thought leadership on transition coaching, halftime engagements, and destiny connections have characterized this year so far.
With that plus my love for nature I set out with excitement. I’m learning to be present, in the moment, and enjoy. I’m glad that happened on the mountain well apart from the chilly nights that weren’t fun at all. Necessity is the mother of invention because I learned that one way of keeping warm in a sleeping bag is to shed off as many clothes as possible. I can now confirm ni ukweli. But the downside is you have to layer up while in the sleeping bag when you wake up if you want the cold not to bite you hard.
Mt Kenya has amazing views. My camera was happy. From the twenty-five small lakes to the streams with crystal clear water that refreshed us all the way up. The downside was the sorry state of the cabins at old Moses, Shiptons, and Mackinders. They look the same as they were in 1997. KWS needs to upgrade them or allow private investors to. I’m sure there are many willing to donate for their love of this mountain. They were an eyesore. Not good for our image.
We didn’t allow that to dampen our spirits. The food was good, our porters encouraging and it didn’t rain. That’s a lot to be thankful for. Sometimes we just need to do something huge and its significance will make sense later and that’s what I did. I look forward to the blessings from the mountain as we move on. A good man who became my mountain brother was climbing to break many barriers in his life. Getting to point Lenana for him was symbolic of reaching many summits in his personal life. Being there to encourage and witness him achieve this feat brought me joy.
We all made it to the summit on Wednesday at about 11 am and took photos like kids from a shags school visiting the Nairobi ASK Show hehe. To add to our joy my buddy and I even wrote solemn declarations on the snow of undying love for our better halves. I think we’re good going forward as Sir God was the witness of those snowy vows hehe.
The descent was treacherous but somehow fun too. It got gentler as we approached Mackinders camp where we spent the night. This was after searching for a lonely rock for a bar of wifi to call home and update our stakeholders. It felt nice waking up and looking back to see how far we had come. Folks maybe we should look back more often to see what we have achieved so that we remain charged to keep moving forward despite the obstacles ahead.
The thought of a warm bed and hot shower plus a celebratory dinner and drink kept our feet fueled on that last stretch to the Naro Moru Met station. The stories got so hot that the distance shortened significantly. We got to Met station and still had enough energy to continue. That was the end of our 45-kilometer Mt Kenya excursion. The evening bonfire at the Nook restaurant in town will be a night to remember for a long time as everyone shared their stories from the mountain and lessons learned.
Climb a mountain folks if you can. Life may be full of troubles, but often it is the mountain within that needs to be conquered. As our GOAT, Eliud Kipchoge reminds us, No Human is limited.
Thanks Lucas for the reminder. Need to check on the progress we are making so far.
Please advise on how one can get a group to hike with.
Awww I love that you declared your undying love for our Nya!!!
Thank you!
Great Stuff! And CONGRATULATIONS for a successful summit. Mt Kenya is truly beautiful.
Mt Kenya is special. And super beautiful. Congratulations on your summit 💥
The mountain sure is beautiful. Congratulations.
“Often it is the mountain within that needs to be conquered”. Thank you for the reminder to evaluate what might be holding me back from climbing to the heights desired.
Rathimwo muno!